Personal Injury Law

Four injured in car accident near Fredericktown, Missouri

By Ryan Bradley, Esq.

Four people were hospitalized, two with serious injuries, after a head-on car crash Friday on Highway 67 near Fredericktown, Missouri.

The accident took place shortly before 11 p.m. as Emily Hoss, 18, drove her 2002 Dodge southbound on the highway, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. For an unspecified reason, she crossed the center line and her car collided head-on with a 2002 Chrysler, driven by Benjamin Minkel, 33, that was heading north.

Hoss and Benjamin Minkel both suffered serious injuries and were taken to separate local hospitals for treatment. Natalie Minkel, 28, and Haley Minkel, 3, who were riding with Benjamin Minkel, were also treated at the hospital, but for less serious injuries.

All of the people involved were wearing a seatbelt. Both cars were totaled.

There has been a string of accidents involving cars crossing the center line of country highways. Many times, this is caused by negligence on the part of one of the drivers. Sometimes a third car will be involved that is driving erratically and forces one of the cars into oncoming traffic. In any case, if one driver?s negligence leads to another person?s injury, those injuries are to be covered by the at-fault driver?s insurance.

Unfortunately, in many cases this process is not so cut and dry. Issues of liability arise as the parties debate who was truly at fault. Insurance companies will also do all they can to limit the amount of damages they pay out. Because of these challenges, it is important that anyone injured in a Missouri car accident seeks the advice of a qualified personal injury lawyer.

Full post as published by Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog on September 05, 2009 (boomark / email).