In September of 1997, the Canadian Olympic judo team hopeful and eight grade teacher, was riding his motorcycle to work when he was struck by a driver who failed to check for oncoming traffic. After numerous surgeries and two weeks in a coma, he woke up and came back to life to serve a purpose.

“I believe i came back to give people a message,” said Aquan-Assee, who’s since written two books about being a brain injury survivor. “My message is that you have to stay safe, and that means to be visible.”

Experts agree, visibility is the number one key in avoiding most pedestrian collisions. To help avoid such accidents, wear bright clothing and only cross streets at signals and well-lit intersections.

The winter months makes pedestrian safety worse. The season provides dark roads and hazardous road conditions. A driver’s visibility is reduced up to 50-60% at night while it’s snowing. When pedestrians are covered up with hoods and ear muffs, they are reducing their senses and the miscommunication at an intersection is what causes 85% of the traffic accidents.

Additional winter driving tips:

* Don’t let the lack of snow lull you into a false sense of security. Cold temperatures overnight cold create black ice on the pavement even if there is no snow.

* Be prepared. Prepare a toolkit with extra warm clothing (mitts, gloves, coats, hats), a well-stocked supply of windshield wiper fluid, snow brushes and scrapers, a shovel, booster cables, and extra wiper blades.

* Keep your gas tank above the half-empty mark.

* Build extra time in to your drive to work to accommodate for a longer commute due to inclement weather.

* Slow down. Don’t speed! On a posted 60 mph road, with snow on the road, people shouldn’t be travelling more than 40 mph.

If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a pedestrian accident as a result of the negligence of another, please contact our attorneysfor legal assistance immediately. Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys is experienced in helping those who have been hurt as a result of others. We will aggressively seek compensation for past and future medical expenses, past and future wages, pain and suffering, disability and other damages. We even offer a free initial consultation. If you cannot make it to our office, we will come to you at the hospital or at your home. Contact the attorneys of Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys today by calling 816-471-5111.

The snow that hit the area this week caused several hundred car accidents in the St. Louis area alone.

Though not heavy, the snow that began to fall at 4 a.m. Thursday, created slicks roads making the commute especially slippery.

PATIENCE is the biggest requirement when driving during the winter months.  Getting to your destination safely should be your biggest concern – not how fast you can get there.  Slow down and allow yourself plenty of time.

Here are some more snowy weather driving tips to keep you safe:

Before you leave:

1. Check the weather report.
2. If possible, stay home when the weather is bad.
3. Never warm up your car in the garage or other enclosed space.
4. Make sure your tires are in good shape and properly inflated.
5. Make sure you have at least half a tank of gas. If your tank is less than half full, your gas line could freeze up.
6. Let someone know where you are going, which route you are taking, and when you expect to arrive.
7. Keep extra gloves, blankets, warm clothing, snacks and water in the car.

While driving:

1. Be PATIENT.
2. Keep your eyes on the road.
3. Slow down and allow extra time for stops.
4. Don’t use cruise control.
5. Bring your cell phone – but only use it if you have to.

If you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury in a car accident in Missouri or Kansas, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses.  Contact the Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys at 888-348-2616 for a free consultation.

This past weekend, a 19 year-old woman from Blue Springs was seriously injured in a single vehicle rollover crash on U.S. Highway 50 near Lee’s Summit, Missouri. The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.

Our experienced Kansas City Auto Injury Lawyers see a great number of single vehicle accidents that happen late at night. We’ve seen enough of the to know that a lot of the mistakes that are made my motorists at this hour are the same typically no matter how old the driver is. Late night accidents can be caused by inattentive driving, driver fatigue and drunk driving, among many other things. Sometimes it is even more important to focus on the road late at night because it becomes easier to lose focus on a dark empty road.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury in a rollover accident in Kansas or Missouri, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses, including but not limited to lost wages, medical bills and even legal fees. Call our experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyers. We may be able to help you and your family get through this difficult and stressful time.

Contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys today to set up a free consultation to discuss your claim. Get started today by downloading our free book, “10 Essential Steps to Protecting Your Injury Claim“. We want you to know your rights as a victim.

Seat belts laws exist to protect motorists in Kansas and Missouri.

Last week, north of Kansas City, a 37 year old woman was seriously injured in a rollover accident that also injured her 2 year old son. The accident happened near Claycomo, MO. Both mother and toddler were rushed to a nearby hospital and treated for injuries listed as serious to moderate.

Our experienced Kansas City Auto Injury Attorneys want you to travel safe this winter. Remember to take highway on ramps and exits at the posted speed limit. These laws are there for a reason. Speeding on ramps is a high cause for serious injury accidents in these areas. As indicated in the news story, the woman was not wearing a seat belt, which could be the reason she was so seriously injured. While seat belts can be uncomfortable, they do help reduce the severity of injuries in single vehicle accident.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an auto accident in Kansas or Missouri, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Contact our experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyers today to set up a free consultation to discuss your claim. At Kanas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we want you to know your rights as a victim.

Get started today by downloading our free book, “10 Essential Steps to Protecting Your Injury Claim“. You’ll be glad you did.

A call went out to the Highway Patrol and they were told that the accident occurred west of M-131.  However, the accident actually happened about two miles east of M-131.  This mistake caused the ambulance to be delayed in getting Kelley medical attention.  Kelly arrived at the Research Medical Center in Kansas City,MO with serious injuries, but he was alive.  No new reports have been received about his condition.

If your automobile were to break down on the highway, it is best to pull over as far as possible and stay with your vehicle. Dial “47” on a cellular phone to get a hold of the Highway Patrol Dispatcher for assistance.  If you do not have a cellular phone and need to get out of your car to do maintenance or walk somewhere for help, stay out off of the highway and do not cross the highway.

Crossing a highway is extremely dangerous.  The reaction time of a driver while driving at such high speeds is about 0.68 seconds and the breaks take about the same amount of time to work.  Other personal factors could contribute to how long it takes and driver to react, such a drowsiness, distraction, or drug and alcohol use.

If you or a loved one has been hit by a car as a pedestrian, the Kansas City Auto Accident Attorneys may be able to assist you.  Call 816-471-5111 for a free consultation or “Just Ask”.

You can also follow Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys on twitter or friend us on facebook.

Captain Erik Holland, of the Platte Count Sheriff’s Department, says that they do not yet know what exactly caused the accident, but that they suspect the slick roads made Demps lose control of the vehicle.

Demps and Johnson were headed home for Christmas, but, tragically, Demps did not survive the accident.  Luckily, Johnson did and with non-life-threatening injuries.  Johnson was taken to an area hospital and should be home soon.

The Benedictine College basketball coach, Ryan Moody, says that their team lost a very valued team member who “had an infectious personality and would be remembered for his enthusiasm.”

Moody went on to say, “This is a devastating and tragic day for Benedictine College, Benedictine men’s basketball, and, most importantly, for the family of R.J.  He had an impact on his coaches, his teammates, and the entire Benedictine College community.”

This tragic story is nothing new.  Many are killed or injured in weather-related accidents every winter season.  There are preventative measures that you can take to avoid being in a highway accident.

• Get plenty of rest before driving.
• Have your vehicle checked out by a professional to make sure that the tires, windshield wipers, belts, lights, and fluids are all up to snuff.
• Know your route and know where construction zones are.
• Give yourself plenty time to get to your destination so that you don’t have to rush.
• Avoid distractions like texting, talking on the phone or eating while driving.
• Drive defensively.

Sometimes, no matter what we do, we can’t avoid an accident.  Just in case this happens, have a car emergency kit in your vehicle at all times.  Stay out of the road and dial “47″, if you have a cellular phone, to contact the Highway Patrol Dispatch.

If you or a loved one has been in a weather-related auto accident, the Kansas City auto accident attorneys may be able to help you.  For a free consultation, call 816-471-5111 or “Just Ask”.  You can also follow Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys on facebook and twitter.

Even if this is not the case though, Kansas City commuters should always drive carefully when the roads are wet.  Wet roads can be just as slick as ice and/or snow.

These icy areas of the road were mostly on overpasses, bridges, ramps and parking lots, but some main roads were also affected by them.

The National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill, MO had released a weather warning to let people know that they should be cautious because of these possible slick spots.  They said that the slick spots should melt by 8 a.m.  To be aware of the road conditions, listen to the radio for any National Weather Service announcements that might affect you.  Or go online to check the NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill, MO website.

Before the bad winter weather hits, you should have your tires, windshield wipers, lights, vehicle fluids, and belts checked by a professional.  Also, always have a car emergency kit in your vehicle in case you are in an accident or your vehicle breaks down.

To do more to avoid being in an accident, get plenty of sleep every night so that you can be alert and drive defensively.  Driving defensively means assuming that the people around you don’t know you are there and being attentive of what the drivers around you are doing so that you might anticipate their actions in case they cut you off or do something else that might put you and others in danger.

Try not to take what the other drivers do personally; they might simply not see you.  Keep your anger in check.  More angry people on the road will only make the situation more dangerous.

If you or a loved one has been in a winter related accident, the Kansas City auto accident attorneys might be able to help.  Call 816-471-5111 for a free consultation or go to the “Just Ask” section of the website and fill out the form.

You can also follow us on Twitter or friend us on Facebook.

Some of the following may seem like common sense solutions, but many people do not take these precautions:

• Do not drink alcohol before driving and do not ride with someone who you know has been drinking.
• Always be attentive of what is going on around you.
• Be very well rested so that you can be alert and attentive to the other vehicles on the highway and so that you don’t miss your off-ramps.
• Be comfortable with the route you will be taking.  Using a hands free GPS device, if you have access to one, can help you be more sure of your exits and such.
• Check for construction zone locations and for weather-related road conditions and plan your route accordingly.
• Drive defensively (always assume that you can’t be seen and drive appropriately), but courteously.  Stay calm even if the driver of another vehicle is not calm and don’t take what other drivers do personally.  Anger will only make things worse.
• Allow more than enough time for delays so that you won’t be in a hurry.  If you are rushing, then you won’t be as attentive or alert and might be more likely to become angry and/or frustrated.
• Make sure your vehicle is ready for travel.  Have your windshield wipers, breaks, tires, vehicle fluids, belts, and lights professionally tested often.
• Have a car emergency kit.
• Always wear your seat belt.
• Because weather conditions can change so quickly inKansasandMissouri, be sure to change your speed and distance from the vehicle in front of you accordingly.  Keep in mind that wet roads can be as slick as ice and snow.
• Avoid distractions while driving; i.e. texting, talking on the cell phone, or eating.

If your car breaks down:

• Turn on your hazard lights (4-way flashers) so that those around you will know that something is wrong and that they should be cautious of your vehicle.
• Pull as far over onto the shoulder as possible to avoid a collision.
• Stay with your car.
• Lock your doors.
• Roll down your windows a little.
• Dial “47” to contact a Highway Patrol Dispatcher if you have a cell phone.

If you or a loved one has been in a highway collision and have questions regarding your rights, the Kansas City Auto Accident Attorneys may be able to help you.  Call 816-471-5111 to ask about a free consultation or “Just Ask” on the website.  Many other resources can be found on the Kansas City Accident Injury Attorney website that you may find useful.

You can now follow us on Twitter and/or Facebook.

What does a Free Consultation Include?

Car Accident Myths Revealed: Part 1

Car Accident Myths Revealed: Part 2

Car Accident Myths Revealed: Part 3

Recently, a driver drove around the flashing railroad gate and was struck by a freight train  just outside of Kansas City in Independence.  The accident left the driver and one passenger injured and another female passenger was killed.

When the gates are working, never go around them unless a police officer is directing you to do so.

Railroad crossing accidents can have devastating consequences for Kansas City drivers.

The driver of this car mostly likely knew a train could have been coming because the gates were down and the flashing lights were on.  Never try and beat a train across the track. Chances are you aren’t going to be able to judge the speed of the train. Those large vehicles are moving a lot faster than you realize and are so heavy that it is difficult, almost impossible, for them to stop in time.

Once those lights start blinking and the safety arms go down, STOP. Even if you think you have enough time to snake through the gates before the train gets to you, don’t do it. You’re putting your life and the lives of your friends and family in danger.

If you’ve been seriously injured in a car or train accident in Kansas or Missouri, contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys. We have over 15 years of experience in Auto Accident

s including Train Accidents in Kansas or Missouri. You can get started today by downloading our free book, “10 Essential Steps to Protecting Your Injury Claim“. We want you to know your rights.

The family of 46- year old Topekan man, Christopher Ginzel, may just be feeling that pain.  Ginzel lost his life in a fiery crash on I-70 a few weeks ago.

If you experience such a tragedy occur in your family, you should know that the laws in Missouri and Kansas provide a way for family members to obtain compensation for the emotional and financial loss of a loved one. This type of claim is known as a wrongful death claim.

What is meant by the term wrongful death?

If you or someone you love was killed in a motor vehicle crash, work site or from negligent medical care in Kansas or Missouri, let Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys help.  We have helped family members of wrongful death victims just like you and we know the enormous difficulties presented by your situation. We want to see you get back on your feet after the loss of a loved one and get the justice and compensation you deserve.

Contact the experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys, and let our  attorneys fight for you while you concentrate on your family because at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, you come FIRST.