Drivers falling asleep at the wheel might seem rare. But it happens all the time. And people get hurt. Each year, driver fatigue causes 100,000 car accidents nationwide. That’s one accident every five minutes. Sleeping driver accidents result in roughly 71,000 injuries and 1,550 fatalities each year across the country.

More than 60 percent of adult drivers have admitted driving while feeling drowsy in the past year. Even more shocking, 37 percent or 108 million drivers nationwide have confessed to falling asleep at the wheel. Of those who fell asleep at the wheel, 13 percent revealed they have done so at least once a month.

Who’s asleep at the wheel? Most people rightly realize that long-distance truck drivers often fall asleep. That’s why the Federal Highway Safety Administration has designated driver fatigue as the number one priority for truck safety. But it’s not just tired truck drivers causing accidents. Other drivers falling asleep include:

• Men, who are twice as likely to fall asleep while driving as women.
• Drivers on the road between midnight at 6 a.m.
• Adults 18 – 29 years old.

What would you do if you were injured by a driver asleep at the wheel? You need someone with experience dealing with such serious accidents. You need someone who will tenaciously fight for justice. You need a dedicated team on your side. You need the Law Offices of Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave.

Our knowledgeable lawyers have years of experience handling accidents involving drivers asleep at the wheel in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. We understand complex state and federal laws. We know how to hold big trucking companies responsible and unresponsive insurance companies accountable.

Driving while tired seems innocent. But tired drivers choose to drive. They refuse to take breaks. They ignore warning signs. They put everyone at risk on the road.

Don’t let someone else’s reckless behavior ruin your life. Take action. Contact Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave today. We mean business.

Starting a new school year can be an exciting time in a child’s life. New teacher. New subjects. Maybe even new friends or a new school.

That’s why everyone needs to keep an eye out for kids going to school. Children sometimes get caught up in the excitement of seeing a friend and forget to look both ways when crossing the street. That’s when pedestrian accidents happen.

Sadly, a staggering number of pedestrians injured and killed are under 15 years old. In 2008, pedestrians sustained 69,000 injuries and 4,378 deaths in accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Those statistics include 15,000 injured and 316 killed under 15 years old.

But the statistics are even more startling for bicycle injuries and deaths for children. Cyclists under 14 years old account for 24 percent of all bicycle-related deaths and 50 percent of all bicycle-related injuries.

Riding a school bus can be dangerous too. Recently, an Arkansas school bus carrying nine students rolled over in Berryville, causing numerous injuries.

Why so many accidents? Sometimes, children aren’t paying attention walking to their bus stop, riding a bike or walking to school. Other times, it’s the driver doing something besides driving. Texting while driving, talking on a cell phone, fiddling with the radio – all of these activities distract drivers and put everyone at risk.

Accidents happen. Everyone feels sorry. But actions have consequences. Don’t let someone else’s careless behavior ruin your family’s lives. You need a team you can trust to fight for your rights. You need someone determined, knowledgeable, fearless. You need the Law Offices of Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave.

Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave have years of experience defending families traumatized by accidents involving school children in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. We know how precious your children are to you. And we will do everything in our power to right any wrongs done to them.

Don’t be a victim. Fight back. Contact Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave today.

Tractor trailer trucks can be intimidating. These large, 18-wheeler trucks tower over our cars and weigh 30 times more than the average vehicle. There seems to be more of these massive trucks than ever as well – and you’re right.

In the last 40 years, the number of tractor trailers has more than doubled. In 1970, there were 905,082 tractor trailers. By 2008, that figure had skyrocketed to 2,215,856. The number of all large trucks (vehicles over 10,000 pounds) has also increased sharply in recent years, from 7.7 million in 1998 to 9 million in 2007.

Not surprisingly, large trucks are involved in many accidents. One out of nine traffic fatalities in 2008 resulted from a collision involving a large truck, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In Missouri, 117 large trucks were involved in 9.3 percent of all fatal accidents statewide in 2008. Just recently, a Missouri tractor trailer truck driver killed 10 people in an accident on a crowded highway.

In an effort to prevent such accidents, numerous laws exist governing the trucking industry. Drivers must undergo rigorous training to obtain a license. Strict rules govern exactly how many hours drivers can operate a truck. Weigh stations make sure trucks do not exceed legal limits. And this year, the federal government banned texting while driving for all commercial truck drivers nationwide.

But accidents happen. Truck drivers flaunt the law and send text messages. Others ignore rest breaks and fall asleep at the wheel. Some drivers overload their trucks and lose control of their vehicles. Such irresponsible behavior is unacceptable.

Some truck companies will try to use every trick in the book to get out of compensating you for your injuries or your family’s loss. Insurance companies can be frustrating too, doing everything they can to blame you for something you didn’t do.

Don’t fall for their scare tactics. Fight back. Get the professional help you need to defend your rights. Get someone who knows how to get tough and win complicated cases. Go with the Law Offices of Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave.

Based in Springfield, Missouri, Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave has years of experience defending victims of large truck accidents in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma. Let our team of dedicated attorneys thoroughly investigate your case and vigorously fight for your rights.

Get your life back. Take action now. Contact Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave today. We mean business.

Business owners have a duty to take reasonable steps to protect their patrons from harm. To illustrate an example of negligence by a business owner, imagine a situation in which two men are thrown out of a Branson bar for being drunk and belligerent. Moments later, a woman passes the bar bouncers who ejected the men. The bouncers don’t bother to mention that the intoxicated men are outside. If the woman leaves unaware of the potentially dangerous situation and is attacked by the men in the parking lot, she may be entitled to compensation. In this hypothetical case, the bar owner would be held liable for the woman’s injuries in what is known as a premises liability case.

If you are injured on someone’s property because of inadequate security measures, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses. It’s crucial for property owners to maintain safety, especially if they are doing business in an area that has a high crime rate. This may include having adequate lighting, hiring security guards or installing video cameras for surveillance. Whether they own a restaurant, a bar, a hotel or any type of business, property owners have a duty to warn the public of known dangers and carry adequate insurance.

An assault on someone’s property can be a frightening and painful ordeal. If you sustained such an injury, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages as well as psychological injuries and pain and suffering, among other losses. Attorneys for the insurance company may try to minimize your losses to pay you as little as possible. It’s wise to get in touch with an experienced attorney.

Serving families in Springfield, Columbia, Jefferson City, Joplin and throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave LLC fights aggressively for clients. Our goal is nothing less than returning maximum compensation for injury victims. If you were injured due to negligent safety measures, you deserve justice. Put the power back in your hands. Contact us today for a free and confidential initial consultation.

Children drown more often than you may realize. Among children 1 to 14 years old, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental deaths nationwide.  And among the 3,443 people who died nationwide from drowning in 2007, one out of five victims was under 14 years old. Just recently, a 5-year-old boy drowned and died in a swimming pool in southwestern Missouri near Springfield.

Swimming pools are magnets for children on a hot, summer day. But children can drown just as easily in streams, lakes or even in water as shallow as a bathtub. And for every child who dies from drowning, another four must be rushed to an emergency room for nonfatal injuries caused by being submerged under water. Nonfatal drowning injuries can sometimes result in severe life-altering injuries, including permanent brain damage, learning disabilities and permanent loss of basic functioning, including being in a vegetative state for life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sometimes, children drown accidently. Other times, other people’s reckless behavior results in your child’s death or serious injury. That’s why laws exist requiring swimming pools to be properly fenced in. That’s why responsible adults put life preservers on children any time they ride in a boat. Accidents happen. Be prepared.

Has your child been seriously injured or killed in a drowning accident? Don’t be a victim. Take action. You need someone who knows how to hold irresponsible people accountable for their actions. You need someone who will vigorously fight for your rights and make sure your family gets the compensation you deserve. You need the Law Offices of Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave.

Serving Springfield and other communities throughout Missouri, Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave have years of experience defending families victimized by a child drowning. No parent should ever have to go through such a traumatic experience. If you do, let us help guide you through this painful process. Contact Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave today. We’re on your side.

Authorities continue to investigate a fatal, four-vehicle accident on Interstate 44 in Missouri involving two school buses, a tractor trailer and a pick-up truck in a construction zone which killed two people and injured more than 50 passengers. The initial investigation by police has concluded that bus driver inattention and short following distances may have contributed to the crash. However, authorities have said the final investigation could take up to one year to complete.

Fatal car accidents happen every day in Missouri. Last year, motor vehicle accidents killed 652 people and injured 29,922 people on Missouri’s roads. What can you do to protect yourself? How can you stay safe?

The Interstate 44 accident reminds us about the importance of driving carefully in construction zones. In 2008, 720 people died nationwide driving in highway work zones, including 18 people in Missouri, according to federal government statistics.

The fatal accident on Interstate 44 also reinforces the importance of remaining focused on the road while driving. Distracted drivers cause accidents all the time. People lose focus behind the wheel for many reasons. Talking on a cell phone. Changing the radio station. Distractions caused by passengers in the vehicle.

What would you do if you were hurt in a serious car accident? What if someone in your family was killed in an accident? Who would you turn to for help? Who would you trust? You need someone who has experience dealing with such traumatic events. You need someone who can help guide you and make sure you and your family are taken care of during this chaotic time. You need the Law Offices of Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave.

Our experienced lawyers can give you the attention and peace of mind you deserve. We understand what a difficult time people can have after they’ve been injured or a family member has been killed in a car accident.

Car accidents are serious business. You need skilled, attentive professionals on your side to make sure all your needs are fully addressed. Contact Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave today. We’re here for you.

Every 13 seconds in America, someone sustains an injury in a car accident. That’s more than 2.3 million people injured in auto accidents every year, according to the latest government statistics from 2008.

In Missouri, injuries sustained in car accidents also remain a serious risk. In 2008, car accidents injured more than 31,000 people and killed 960 people in Missouri. Just recently, a two-car crash on Route 71 injured six people.

The drivers of both vehicles in the Route 71 crash reportedly sustained minor injuries in the car accident. Some seats are more dangerous than others in a vehicle, especially if you’re a passenger in a car. If you’re riding in the back seat, you’re much safer than the passenger riding in the front seat. But if you’re riding in the front passenger seat, the driver has a much better chance of surviving a car crash than you.

Car accidents cause a wide range of injuries. The most common injuries in car accidents are to people’s head, neck or back. And even though you might not feel injured immediately after an accident, serious injuries can develop days or even weeks later. That’s why it’s crucial you seek immediate medical attention after being involved in a car accident.

Knowing what to do after being injured in a car accident can be difficult. You feel terrible. You just want to rest. But there’s so much to do. You have to deal with insurance companies, doctors, maybe even the police. Questions often lead to more questions. Bills pile up. You feel completely overwhelmed.

Relax. We can help. We have years of experience dealing with auto injury accidents. We know how to navigate through all the red tape to make sure you get back on your feet without going broke. We’re Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave, LLC.

Our experienced lawyers can evaluate your case for free. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Contact Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave today. We’re on your side.

What would you do if your child was injured at a playground? Sound far fetched? Such injuries are more common than you may realize. Each year, emergency rooms treat more than 200,000 children under 14 years old for injuries sustained on playgrounds across America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some injuries are severe. And in some cases, children even die as a result of playground injuries.

The most common type of non-fatal playground injuries include severe–fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations and amputations, according to the CDC. Where do these injuries happen? Often, kids get hurt on playgrounds at schools. Statistically, girls get hurt more often than boys. And the age group most at risk for playground injuries is children 5 to 9 years old.

Knowing what to do after your child sustains an injury on a playground can be extremely difficult. You’re terrified, confused, anxious to make sure your child receives the best care possible. You might not even understand the laws regarding injuries to children. Did you know that statute of limitation laws in Missouri place restrictions on how long someone can seek compensation for such serious injuries?

Relax. We can help. The Law Offices of Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave know how to get results. Our lawyers have years of experience defending families who have been affected by a traumatic event like a serious injury to a child on a playground.

Understanding what to do after your child has been injured at a playground can be extremely difficult. Let us take the mystery out of knowing what’s the right thing to do. Contact Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave today. We’re on your side.

We all are so busy these days with family, work and other responsibilities. If you sustained a personal injury, you may be tempted to put off taking any immediate legal action.  But it’s important to be aware that your rights may be affected if you wait too long to initiate a lawsuit for any type of wrongful conduct, from an auto accident to a workplace injury or a slip and fall. You may be unable to obtain the justice you deserve in your case because time has run out under the Missouri statute of limitations.

In personal injury law, the statute of limitations refers to the window of time you have to file a lawsuit after wrongful conduct has caused you harm. In general, the time period runs from the time the accident occurs, or in some cases when it was “discovered,” to the date the time expires to file a lawsuit.  If you are injured and try to file a lawsuit after the statute of limitations expiration date, a court may dismiss the lawsuit entirely.

The time period on statute of limitations varies from state to state and from claim to claim. Because it can be difficult to keep track of the various statutes and exceptions, it’s wise to contact a qualified attorney who can tell you how the statute of limitations might apply to your specific case.

The following are examples of different types of Missouri cases and how the statute of limitations would apply to them:

• Personal injury: 5 years for a case arising out of negligence; 2 years for an intentional wrongful act; 3 years in Arkansas and 2 years in Oklahoma
• Products liability: 5 years
• Professional Negligence: 2 years
• Negligence resulting in death is 3 years in Missouri and Kansas
• Fraud: 10 years

Don’t delay filing your case beyond the time period outlined in the statute of limitations. If you wait too long, you may lose your rights. It’s a good idea to consult with a lawyer well before the statute of limitations expires. If you or a loved one was injured due to another’s negligence, contact Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave today. An experienced attorney can provide a free and confidential consultation and answer any questions you have about your case and the statute of limitations. Get in touch with us today before it’s too late. We vigorously defend the rights of our clients and pursue the full compensation entitled to them under state law.

Everyone loves celebrating July 4^th. Sadly, this weekend is also the most dangerous time to drive on America’s roads. Statistically, July 3^rd and 4^th are the two deadliest days of the year to drive. On average, 161 people are killed each year on July 4^th in car accidents nationwide, making Independence Day the deadliest day on America’s highways. But serious accidents can happen at any time, especially during the summer months on busy highways like Missouri’s Interstate 44. That’s why Missouri State Police will be stepping up enforcement efforts this weekend.

The July 4^th holiday also ranks near the top for alcohol sales each year nationwide. Statistically, this holiday ranks number one – ahead of Labor Day, New Year’s Eve and Memorial Day – for beer consumption nationwide.

Not surprisingly, drunk driving can be a serious hazard facing people on the road this holiday weekend. What can you do to protect yourself? How will you stay safe on the road this July 4^th?

If you don’t have to travel this weekend, we advise staying off the road. If you must travel to get to your holiday destination, travel on days other than July 3^rd or 4^th. Or at the very least, drive during daylight hours. Statistically, fatal accidents involving drunk drivers are more than four times as likely to occur at night versus during the day.

Drunk drivers wreak havoc on the roads across the country. Don’t let such reckless behavior ruin your life. If you’re a victim of a drunk driving accident, take action. Contact the Law Offices of Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave. Our experienced lawyers will vigorously fight for your rights and the justice you deserve.

Drunk driving accidents are serious. That’s why you need a law firm who means business. That’s why you need Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave.