Personal Injury Law

Missouri teen crashes into another car sending four to the hospital

By Ryan Bradley, Esq.

Victor Byrd, 17, was seriously injured early Friday morning along with three others in a separate car after an accident on Highway 60 near Monett, Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Byrd crossed the center line in his 1996 Chevrolet and hit a 2003 Chevrolet, driven by Tamara Roux, 43, head on.

Byrd was flown to St. John?s Hospital for treatment. Roux was taken by ambulance to St. John?s with serious injuries. Two passengers in Roux?s car, Aimee Roux, 22, and Jeremy Roux, 20, suffered moderate to minor injuries that were also treated at St. John?s.

The investigating officer did not specify why Byrd may have crossed the center line.

From a Missouri personal injury attorney?s perspective, the fact that a minor driver was involved is important. First, Missouri law says 16 to 18 year olds receive an intermediate driver?s license that has some limitations. Teens with an intermediate license may not drive alone between the hours of 1 and 5 a.m., and this Missouri car accident occurred shortly after 2 a.m. The crash report did not indicate wheter there was another person with Byrd at the time of the crash.

Another complicating factor about cases involving minors is that the parents can sometimes be liable for their child?s actions if they are found to have negligently allowed the minor to use something like a car when conditions are not safe. Many details still have to emerge from this case, but the parent?s liability will probably be investigated should a personal injury lawyer be contacted.

Full post as published by Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog on December 12, 2008 (boomark / email).