When there is road construction on the interstate, it’s often necessary for drivers to merge. If the left lane is closed, for example, all of the vehicles need to merge over into the right lane. The unfortunate reality is that many drivers do not understand how to merge correctly. As soon as they see that there’s a backup in traffic, they all start merging to the right. This creates a very long line of cars all using one lane, which is highly inefficient when two lanes are still open. Merging at the front To merge correctly, drivers should use the zipper merge. This means that both lines of tr ..read more

Motor vehicle crashes can lead to significant injuries for the victims. One of the catastrophic results that might occur is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). These injuries can range from a relatively minor concussion to a vegetative-state-inducing injury.  Approximately 166 people in the United States die from TBI-related causes each day, but not all of those are due to motor vehicle crashes. This shows how devastating an injury of this nature can be. Understanding a few points about these injuries may benefit individuals who are facing a TBI. Penetrating or non-penetrating injury In a pen ..read more

Heavy traffic can be both frustrating and dangerous. High volumes of traffic can lead to traffic jams and longer commutes. The more vehicles there are on the road, the more likely collisions become. Especially when traffic slows down near an intersection, people may become quite aggressive in heavy traffic. Drivers may proceed through a red light even though they could have stopped when it was yellow. They might turn right on a red light directly in front of oncoming traffic. The conduct of motorists at intersections can directly lead to severe collisions that cause worse traffic conditions. M ..read more

As we enter time of year when Missourians and visiting tourists are going to be taking to the water, it’s important to know that those who own and operate watercraft are required to take certain steps to keep their passengers safe. That’s true whether a vessel is someone’s private boat or any kind of commercial boat. It’s been six years since 17 people (many of whom were part of the same family) died when the duck boat they were on sank in a lake near Branson. This wasn’t the first time that passengers had been killed in one of these retrofitted World War II-era vessels despite warnings by the ..read more

If you live in proximity to the Lake of the Ozarks, it is quite likely that you might own a boat. Boating on the lake is a great family activity for three out of four seasons of the year here in Missouri.  One of the rites of passage of teens who grow up in the many communities surrounding the lake region is to head out on water in a boat with their friends. But allowing them to enjoy this freedom must be tempered with the responsibility of ensuring their children have first been properly trained in boating safety. Start with the basics  Kids six and under must always wear personal f ..read more

Self-driving cars were a thing of science fiction until several years ago. The idea of self-driving cars is that users would be able to get to their destination without having to take control of their vehicle. A user would be able to input their destination and their vehicle would make turns, change lanes and stop for pedestrians automatically. This would, in theory, make roads safer and allow drivers to focus on other things instead of driving. Today, many people are being sold on self-driving electric cars.  Unfortunately, the technology for fully autonomous vehicles is still far from r ..read more

People often rent boats to go out for fun on Lake of the Ozarks. Others who live locally might actually purchase a vessel so that they can head out onto the open water whenever they want. Boating can be relaxing and enjoyable, but it does come with a certain degree of risk. Sometimes, what should be a pleasure cruise out on the Lake results in a collision with another vessel. Most people don’t anticipate boating crashes even though they recognize that they are possible. They might therefore make serious mistakes when handling the aftermath of a boating crash. The three mistakes introduced belo ..read more

In Missouri, the driver who causes a crash is responsible for paying for the damages and injuries of the other parties involved. What happens if you were hurt in a crash but you were also partly at fault for what happened? Will it affect your right to compensation for the harm and losses you’ve suffered? The good news is that your contribution to the crash will not bar you from recovering damages under Missouri’s pure comparative negligence rule. You are still entitled to compensation even if you bear most of the fault, provided that others can be held liable for their contributions to the col ..read more

Visitors to Lake of the Ozarks often enjoy meals and drinks at local restaurants before heading out on the water. They may even pack a cooler full of beer to enjoy out on the water. The safe use of alcohol while on vacation can enhance people’s experiences, but some people take it too far. Those who drink too much could very easily cause injury or property damage to others if they go out on a boat while under the influence or overindulge while boating. Those under the influence of alcohol may experience impaired coordination and decision-making ability — both of which could contribute to a pre ..read more

Picture this scenario: You’ve been involved in a car accident, and negotiations for a settlement for your damages are underway. The insurer’s settlement offer on the table seems fair, and the prospect of a swift resolution while avoiding a lengthy court battle seems appealing. Can you accept the offer and seek additional compensation later on? Most car accident claims are resolved outside the courtroom, where the involved parties agree on a settlement. However, it’s advisable to understand the implications of accepting an out-of-court settlement for your claim, especially when it comes to seek ..read more