If you or your loved ones are injured in a highway crash in Columbia, MO, our Columbia highway crash lawyers are here for you. People suffer life-long injuries, lose their sense of safety going from point A to point B, and end up in stressful insurance battles. The team at Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers is always eager to help restore people’s lives and fight for justice for them when the unexpected happens.
Contact us today or call our law office in Columbia, Missouri at (314) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation with a Columbia highway crash attorney.
How Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Highway Crash in Columbia
Our Columbia personal injury lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience helping accident victims, and we are here for you every step of the way as you navigate the aftermath of a highway crash.
The experienced Columbia car accident lawyers at Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers can help with your highway crash case by doing the following:
- Conducting a thorough investigation
- Gathering evidence
- Discussing your legal options
- Handling communications with insurance companies
- Negotiating for a fair settlement
- Representing you at trial if necessary
Reach out to our law office in Columbia, MO, to schedule a free consultation with a Columbia personal injury attorney.
How Common Are Highway Crashes in Missouri?
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported there were 1,057 highway crashes in our state in 2022. Sadly, that represents a small increase from the previous year. Of the highway crashes that were fatal, about one-third involved speeding. One-quarter of the fatal highway collisions in Columbia and throughout Missouri involved impaired driving.
The aftermath of these crashes is tragic, and many of these collisions are entirely avoidable.
Types of Highway Crashes
Unfortunately, highway crashes are far too common in Columbia, MO. How these accidents occur may vary. Consider the following types of highway crashes:
Single Vehicle Crashes
According to the National Safety Council, single-car crashes made up 43% of all accidents in 2022. The most common single-vehicle accident is colliding with a fixed object. Over one-quarter of single-vehicle deaths were, in fact, caused by hitting fixed objects.
Whether someone hits the guardrail, loses control due to debris on the highway, runs into a ditch or tree, hits a deer, or spins out due to bad weather, single car collisions can be just as deadly as multiple vehicle ones. Other factors in single vehicle crashes on I-70 could be distracted driving, falling asleep at the wheel, or speeding.
Single-vehicle accidents should still be reported to the police if there is any damage whatsoever. At highway speeds, it would be hard to imagine any single-car crash that didn’t warrant calling the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Jack-Knifed Semi Trucks
These accidents are typically only seen at highway speeds. The term “jack-knifed” refers to a semi-truck folding in half at the trailer hitch, which causes it to look like a folded pocket knife. Semis can end up getting jack-knifed due to mechanical defects like brake failure or skidding caused by making a sudden stop or water on the road. Jackknife accidents are especially common in the winter due to snow and ice.
Jack-knifed semi trucks often turn into rollovers, particularly if speeding is involved. These types of accidents can also result in multiple car pile-ups. Generally, a jack-knifed semi in Columbia, MO, would result in all of the lanes of I-70 being closed on the side where the accident occurred. Jack-knifed semis tend to take up multiple lanes and require some careful maneuvering to clear.
Rollovers
Recently, a rollover accident on I-70 in Kansas City killed a 50-year-old woman. The woman was a passenger in a Nissan Altima in what ultimately became a four-car crash. As you can see, rollover accidents can indeed be quite devastating.
When a car destabilizes and rolls over onto its side, injuries and fatalities are all too common. Speeding, aggressive maneuvering, and poor road conditions often contribute to rollover accidents. Furthermore, some vehicles are more prone to rollover due to their designs. Vehicles with high centers of gravity like trucks and SUVs do roll over more often.
Other factors that often cause rollovers are hitting a pothole unexpectedly. Rollovers can even be caused by hitting a curb or guardrail. Any sudden turn, such as trying to avoid debris, a stray animal, or a stalled vehicle, can also lead to rolling over. Additionally, wind that moves across the road also causes rollover crashes.
Head-On Collisions
Like rollovers, head-on crashes, whether in Columbia or anywhere in Missouri, are tragic.
Head-on collisions on a highway are typically caused by:
- Drunk driving
- Getting on the freeway in the wrong direction
- Distracted driving
- Falling asleep at the wheel
- Poor visibility
- Speeding
- Rain, snow, or ice on the road
Rollovers and jack-knifed trucks can also lead to head-on crashes. Either way, these devastating accidents often lead to injuries ranging from amputations and internal bleeding to traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Many people do not survive head-on collisions.
Multi-Vehicle Car Accidents
Multiple-car accidents are unfortunately common on highways due to the high speeds and density of vehicles. For example, once on a foggy day in Los Angeles in 2002, a semi truck hit the concrete center divider, ultimately causing a 216 car pile-up that led to 45 injuries. As a result, two miles of the I-710 were closed.
If you are involved in a pile-up accident, call the police and be patient. It can take Missouri State Highway Patrol time to investigate, get everyone medical attention, and safely clear the roadway.
Contact Our Columbia Highway Crash Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Car accidents on I-70 in Columbia and any other highway collision leave a wake of injuries and property damage. At Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers, we have unfortunately seen some tragic car crashes. Our legal team is always proud to stand with victims and help them fight for the financial compensation they deserve. If you have questions about a recent highway collision you were involved in, don’t hesitate to reach out for a free consultation with a Columbia highway crash lawyer.
