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Common Injuries That Are Not Covered by Workers’ Compensation in Missouri
Curious about what injuries that are not covered by workers compensation in Columbia, Missouri, are? This guide will walk you through the specific scenarios and types of injuries that Missouri law excludes from workers’ compensation benefits. Knowing...
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Understanding Employer Responsibilities for Auto Plant Worker Injuries in Columbia
Auto plant worker injuries in Columbia often include repetitive stress injuries, crushing injuries, and back problems. This article discusses common accidents, their causes, and the workers’ compensation options available in Columbia, Missouri. Common Injuries Sustained by Auto...
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Vision Loss Workers Comp Claims in Columbia, Missouri: What You Need to Know
For workers in Columbia, Missouri, vision loss from a workplace incident can lead to significant challenges. If you’re facing this, understanding vision loss workers comp claims in Columbia Missouri is critical. This article will guide you through...
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Watch Out for Respiratory Illnesses in Your Workplace
Although many of the restrictions surround the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic have been lifted, that doesn’t make the virus or any other kind of disease go away. Even if it’s a small case or laryngitis, it’s important to...
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Number of Injured Workers Drops Year Over Year in Missouri
Although you may not have seen it in your workplace, the reality is that workers in Columbia get injured while on the job every single day. From broken bones to ringing ears and everything in between, there...
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3 Details to Include on Your Workers’ Comp Injury Report
Whether it’s a minor scratch or a broken leg, any incident that leads to an injury in the workplace must be reported through the proper channels. Even incidents that resulted with no injuries should be reported if...
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3 Ways You Could Get Injured on Your Jobsite
While it is true that you can get injured on the job regardless of your industry or position, there are certain groups of people who are particularly at-risk to getting hurt in the workplace. Perhaps one of...
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How Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Happens (And How to Get Treatment)
There seem to be a million different ways of getting yourself hurt in the world, and this is especially true in the workplace. From lacerations to broken bones, people get hurt at work every single day. Not...
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The 3 Most Common Hazards in a Warehouse
No matter what you do or where you work, there are probably at least a couple safety hazards in your workplace. For some people, working in potentially hazardous conditions is an everyday occurrence. Typically, employers will put...
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How to Navigate Your Recorded Statement
Although it feels tedious and draining, there are several hoops that every person must jump through when going through the workers’ compensation process. If you want your injuries and lost wages covered, you are required to navigate...
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MMI Explained: What You Need to Know
Throughout the long and difficult process of having your medical expenses paid by workers’ compensation, you will likely hear a lot of words and phrases thrown around. So many, you might notice, that many of them are...
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Special Victim Assaulted by Columbia Man
There are very few instances where hitting another person is acceptable. Most of the time, attacking another person will very quickly land you an assault charge. Due to the violent nature of an assault charge, these kinds...
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I Reported My Workplace Injury Late: What Do I Do?
Although it is unfortunate, the truth is that a lot of workers’ compensation cases end with the injured person not receiving the benefits they need. This is partially because of the workers’ compensation process. It is, after...
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Four Ways You Can Reduce Your Probation Sentence
In the state of Missouri, we have many avenues to help people who commit crimes. Not every conviction needs to end in incarceration, and for many Americans, this is the case. The Bureau of Justice Statistics finds...
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Tips For Driving Safely at Night
We have long since passed the winter solstice, and the days are slowly but surely getting longer. Even still, the sun will continue to set relatively early in the evening until we’re well into spring. The lack...
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The 4 Most Common Unsafe Conditions at Work
Workplace safety should always be the top priority of any employer, no matter what industry they’re in. Whether your place of work is a field, a warehouse, a restaurant, or an office, there are rules and regulations...
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Three Common Field Sobriety Tests
If you’re of legal drinking age, you know well that drinking alcohol causes a lot of changes to a person. Not only do they typically act in a different way, but drunk people also will experience a...
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Car Accidents in Columbia Spike Amid Falling Snow
Although we missed the opportunity for a white Christmas, the winter weather has hit Columbia hard and fast. For many people, this influx of snow does not put their lives on pause. Many Columbia residents still need...
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Two Passengers Die Over Christmas Break
We all know that the holiday season is a stressful time for everyone, both young and old. This is especially true to drivers during Christmas time. It’s a well-documented phenomenon that the United States experiences a huge...
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Man Drives Vehicle Into Cole County Home in Possible DWI Case
During this time of year, we typically see car accidents happen due to poor lighting, winter weather conditions, or roads deteriorating due to ice and slush. There is a lot that can go wrong in a car...
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Injured Drivers in Jefferson City May be Entitled to Compensation
When a car accident happens in or near Columbia, there are a multitude of factors that go into that accident. Many times, very preventable occurrences were involved in the accident and may have even been the reason...
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Number of New Year’s Eve Fatalities Drop in 2024
New Year’s Eve celebrations were in full swing in Columbia, as people all across town watched the ball drop and welcomed in 2024. Many people spent their evening at parties or in bars, drinking, eating, and celebrating,...
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Two-Year-Old Injured in Speeding Car Accident
Whether we like to admit it or not, almost everyone has driven faster than the speed limit allows. It’s also very likely that you’ve received a speeding ticket because of this behavior. Research reports that nearly one...
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Jefferson City Sheriff’s Deputy Involved in Accident
No one is truly safe on the road, nor are they immune to being involved in a car accident. The fact of the matter is that car crashes happen every day, and many of them are fatal....
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The Four Most Common Reasons Why Car Accidents Happen
Perhaps it is simply a consequence of living in a state where the primary form of transportation are cars, but car accidents happen every single day in Missouri. What’s worse, the state has noticed a rise in...
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Injured Drivers in Cole County Could Benefit From a Car Accident Lawyer
Ever since 2019, the state of Missouri has seen a concerning trend in the number of fatal car accidents. In 2023, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has been working hard in the hopes that this trend ends...
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Thanksgiving Fatalities Drop in Missouri for the First Time in Three Years
 As we’ve discussed before, Thanksgiving can be one of the deadliest times to drive in the United States. In Missouri, it can be particularly rough. Data pulled from FASS (the Fatality Analysis Reporting System), Missouri is actually...
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Veterans Day Brawl Injures Four Columbia Police Officers
For many Columbia residents, the weekend of Veterans Day is meant to celebrate our service members, both past and present. Many people hold barbecues and parties to celebrate their family members who served in the military. For...
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How to Prepare for Your New Year’s Eve Party Safely
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, where we all come together to celebrate the end-of-year festivities. There will certainly be good food and plenty of alcohol in everyone’s future. Just because you’re cutting loose, however,...
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3 Teens Injured in Possible DWI Car Accident
Although driving in a vehicle feels like a part of everyday life in Columbia, there is so much that can go wrong in such a short amount of time. The fact of the matter is that car...
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DWI Conviction Highlights Necessity of Wrongful Death Lawyers
Legal proceedings are, if anything, lengthy. Sometimes it can take months of even years to reach a conclusion or decision, but these proceedings have a purpose. This gives everyone involved the chance to fully explore and understand...
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Pedestrian Killed in Columbia: How a Wrongful Death Claim Could Help
Fatal car crashes are terrible tragedies, and they’re unfortunately incredibly common. In 2021 alone, Missouri experienced 117 pedestrian deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. There are many factors that go into how an accident...
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Columbia Man Surrenders After 6-Hour Standoff
Although it doesn’t happen often, the Columbia Police Department has the ability to temporarily close streets or neighborhoods within the city. It might seem like an inconvenience at first, but most of the time it is to...
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4 Tips for Driving Safely This Winter
With the holiday season in full swing, people will be traveling, above all else. As a matter of fact, the United States sees a drastic spike in car accidents around every major US holiday. This is largely...
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Passenger Death in Columbia Shows Necessity of Wrongful Death Lawyers
As we transition to winter months, it’s more important than ever to avoid distractions while driving. In winter months, the sun goes down sooner and sooner with each passing day, just as the days get colder and...
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Beware Thanksgiving Eve and the Dangers of Driving While Intoxicated
There’s so much to enjoy about the holidays, and certainly there’s plenty to love about Thanksgiving. Whether your gathering is big or small, it’s a time to come together with your family, express your gratitude for the...
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Four Ways to Prevent Injury While Tailgating
November is possibly Columbia’s favorite month of the year! Tailgating season is in full swing. Before packing up the hot dogs and the cooler, however, it’s important to make sure you and your party have safe, responsible...
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Head-On Collision Injured 2 in Boone County
Anyone traveling in Boone County on Friday, October 13 might have noticed that Highway 124 was closed for about an hour and a half. This was not due to maintenance or construction, however. An accident occurred that...
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Can You Get Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Mental Health Issues?
When we imagine the kinds of accidents that lead to a workers’ compensation case, we often think of things like slipping on a slick floor or lifting an object that was too heavy. Physical injuries are certainly...
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MU Hazing Case Highlights Importance of Personal Injury Lawyers
College is supposed to be a time of growth and opportunity, where young minds come together to learn the skills they need to succeed. There is, naturally, also plenty of time for wild nights out and crazy...
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Possible Mold Contamination in Columbia Fire Stations Highlight Importance of Workers’ Compensation
October might be the month for horror and Halloween, but no one wants to have to deal with the horror of dangerous pathogens in your workplace. Unfortunately for the firefighters in the Columbia Fire Department, they may...
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What To Do When Your Workers’ Compensation Claim is Denied
The road to receiving workers’ compensation can be rough and long, and if you fail to take the right steps, your work comp claim could very easily be denied. It could be because you failed to report...
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4 Common Causes of Workers’ Compensation Claim Denials
People get hurt in the workplace every day, in every industry. Workers’ compensation is meant to act as a safety net, so that you do not have to worry about lost wages and medical expenses after getting...
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The 3 Most Common Types of Workplace Injuries and What to Do When It Happens
Everyone knows someone who has strained their back lifting a heavy box or snagged by a letter opener at work. Workplace injuries happen nearly every day, and although many of them result with no incident, a large...
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Stadium Boulevard Crash Results in 2 Fatalities
Busy and well-traveled roads might seem like a safe option when traveling, but car accidents are just as likely to occur there as a poorly lit, two-lane road. If anything, the increase of drivers and the sometimes-unpredictable...
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Understanding the Workers’ Compensation Claims Process in Columbia
Regardless of what industry you work in or the nature of your accident, an injury in the workplace is always a serious matter. Last year alone, the state of Missouri experienced 91,724 workplace-related injury incidents. When an...
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Meth Seizure in Randolph County Leads to Multiple Arrests
Recently, in Randolph County, MO, the North Missouri Drug Task Force made a major bust when they executed search warrants in the Higbee area. After a multi-year investigation, they arrested three individuals and seized over 6 pounds...
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Car Crash in Morgan County Kills 1, Injures Another
Automobile accidents are unfortunately all too common, and when they occur, the consequences typically involve injuries and sometimes death. One such recent accident occurred in Morgan County, MO on January 29th, which resulted in the death of...
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Camden County Head-On Collision Kills 1 Driver, Highlighting the Importance of Personal Injury Benefits
An accident on the road can occur suddenly and without warning, permanently altering the lives of those involved within a matter of seconds. Such was the case on January 29, when a head-on collision in Camden County,...
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Two Injured in Ambulance Accident in Belle Shows Work Injuries Can Happen to Anyone
Injuries in the line of work are not just limited to those who work in hazardous environments. They can happen to anyone, at any time. A recent accident in Belle, Missouri is evidence of that. On January...
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Recent Cement Truck Fatality Underscores Need for Workers’ Compensation Representation
A recent cement truck accident on January 16 on Route Z, east of Columbia, MO, resulting in the death of the driver, serves as a reminder of the inherent dangers of working in this industry. In this...
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Dollar General Stores Continue to Face Investigations into Safety Violations
In what can only be described as a blatant disregard for workplace safety laws, Dollar General stores have been the subject of numerous Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigations dating back to 2017. This includes numerous...
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Sturgeon Train Crash Kills Man at Passive Rail Crossing
Shortly before midnight on Friday, December 2, a Centralia man turned onto Jennings Road and collided with a Norfolk Southern Amtrak train near the intersection of Jennings Road and Keil Road in Sturgeon, Missouri. Unfortunately, the man...
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Columbia Car Crash Fatality Adds to a Deadly Year on Missouri Roads
In what is still an ongoing investigation, a fatal car crash occurred on December 1st, in Columbia on East Broadway near the Hominy Creek Trail Bridge. At around 2:00 p.m., a 2008 Ford Expedition and a 2004...
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Man Ordered to Forfeit $12,000.00 by Miller County Judge
On August 28, an individual was pulled over for a traffic violation by Missouri State Highway Patrol. State Troopers subsequently found 79 Oxycodone pills and a large sum of cash in the vehicle. The man was arrested...
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How the Passage of Amendment 3 Can Lead to Child Endangerment Charges
With the passage of Amendment 3 in Missouri, recreational marijuana use is now legal in Columbia for adults aged 21 or older. This new statute is meant to benefit adults who choose to partake in marijuana consumption....
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Columbia PD’s Use of FUSUS: How Does it Impact Personal Injury and Criminal Cases?
After several informational meetings in the last month, it appears likely that the Columbia Police Department will soon be able to access and view footage from many of the city's businesses' security cameras. This new technology, called...
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Amazon Workers: What to do if You’re Injured at an Amazon Warehouse
Warehouse employment is one of the more dangerous occupations in the United States. Most warehouse workers are aware of the potential risks associated with working in a fast-paced environment where they are constantly lifting and moving heavy...
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EPA Bans Flea & Tick Collars Due to Link in Brain Damage in Children: How this Impacts Product Liability Claims
In what encompassed over a decade of litigation, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned the use of certain pesticides in flea and tick collars due to a link to brain damage in children. The collars in...
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Mizzou Homecoming: 5 Ways to Stay Safe and Out of Jail
Fall is here and the new school year in Columbia is already in full swing. With Mizzou's homecoming just around the corner, students are gearing up for a weekend of fun. However, along with all the excitement,...
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Study Links Marijuana Use to Decreased Workers’ Compensation Claims
As marijuana laws have become more relaxed across the United States, employers and workers alike have begun to reap the benefits of this newfound leniency – primarily as it relates to workers' compensation claims. A 2021 study...
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Can You Get a New or Different Job While Receiving Workers’ Compensation?
​​Suffering an injury on the job in Columbia and navigating the workers' compensation system can be difficult enough but figuring out whether you can or should return to work can be even more confusing. Columbia workers who...
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How the United States Supreme Court Modified the Meaning of Criminal Intent
In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court vacated the convictions of two physicians for violating the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), essentially holding that the mens rea requirement must be met for an individual to be convicted of...
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Missouri’s Good Samaritan Law
In March 2022, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, handed down a decision in State v. Gill that significantly limited the availability of the Good Samaritan defense in drug possession cases for those who choose to...
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When Do I Know if My Employer Is Retaliating Against Me?
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), there has been a disturbing trend of employers retaliating against workers who assert their protected rights under the law. In fact, the EEOC reports that retaliation is the most...
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What if I Was at Fault in a Car Accident?
Every year, thousands of car accidents occur on Missouri roads, and of those, there is an alarming number of fatalities. In fact, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation, over 1,000 deaths resulted from car accidents in...
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The First Things to Do After a Car Accident
Unfortunately, car accidents are a reality of life on American roads. No matter how careful a driver you are, there’s always the potential that you could be involved in a collision. Even if the accident is minor,...
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Amtrak Derailment in Missouri Kills 4, Injures 150
Mendon is a tiny rural town in Missouri with a population of barely 200 people, but on July 27, 2022, that number swelled as news crews and curious onlookers descended on the town after an Amtrak train...
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I’m Being Pulled Over – What Should I Do?
First of all, remain calm. Commuting can be hectic and seeing those flashing lights behind you in that hectic moment could trigger a slight panic attack. Our clients ask us all the time: What should I do...
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Second Historically Black Church Vandalized in Callaway County
Callaway County, Missouri is a quiet Mid-Missouri county that shares a border with Boone County. The county is home to rural communities like Fulton, Holts Summit, Kingdom City, and Auxvasse.  These small towns offer a sense of...
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A Second Chance for Felons
Two house bills were passed through the Missouri House of Representatives last year that would give felons a second chance at rehabilitation outside of a prison facility. The bills were introduced to the legislature in an effort...
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458 Crashes on Missouri Roadways over New Year’s Weekend
In Missouri, traffic crashes increase every year around the holiday season. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s are some of the most dangerous times to travel in Missouri. Tons of families take to the roads to visit loved...
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Terrorist Threat in Fulton: The Criminal Consequences of the Things We Say
Gene McGrath was arrested in Fulton, Missouri for making terrorist threats at a bar. According to KOMU, McGrath threatened to “get his gun and shoot the place up.” Employees of the bar safely evacuated all patrons after...
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The Plan for Vaccines in Missouri 
As the Pfizer vaccine is being distributed to states across the U.S., states are having to decide how to allocate the vaccine to citizens.  Most states plan to vaccinate frontline workers first, followed by the elderly living...
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Missouri Highway Transportation Commission Faces Wrongful Death Lawsuit
According to ABC 17, a wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the Missouri Highway Transportation Commission. The lawsuit is being brought by the family of Jessica Sage, who was killed in a crash off Highway 63...
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Wrapping Up 2020: What Changed in the Legal World?
Relax, 2020 is coming to an end.  But what does the end of 2020 and the start of 2021 spell for the legal world? Our firm looked at how the legal landscape changed in 2020: The Supreme...
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19 Missourians Indicted in $1.2 Million Insurance Fraud Conspiracy 
In the United States, insurance is used as a safety mechanism for unforeseen, and often expensive, circumstances such as car wrecks, medical conditions, and damages to other assets. People purchase insurance policies on their homes, cars, boats,...
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Thefts from Cars Increase by 25% in Columbia in 2020
The Columbia Police Department (CPD) released a report indicating that thefts from cars increased by 25% in Columbia over the 2020 calendar year. Theft from cars, also known as car hopping, is a criminal offense common among...
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Columbia’s Citizens Police Review Board Considers Chokehold Policy 
Columbia’s Citizen Police Review Board was established in the wake of protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. According to Columbia’s city website, the board “provides an external and independent process for review of actual or...
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Fatal Hit and Run Results in Manslaughter Charge
A Columbia man faces manslaughter charges after a fatal hit and run on Paris Road. The incident happened on October 18, 2020. According to KOMU, James M. Pittard III, 63, of Columbia, has been charged in connection...
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Fatal Car Crash in Cooper County
Nicholas A. Barbieri of Brooksville, Florida, was killed on September 25, 2020 in a car crash in Cooper County, Missouri. According to ABC 17, Barbieri was driving eastbound on I-70 when the car flipped near the 95.6...
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Bicyclist Rushed to the Hospital after Hit and Run
Two University of Missouri students were involved in a traffic incident in which a vehicle struck a bicyclist. The 19-year-old driver of the vehicle that struck the bicyclist ran from the scene, according to KOMU and MUPD...
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Missouri Law No Longer Requires Helmets on Motorcycles
Governor Mike Parson signed legislation into law that gives Missouri motorcyclists the option of riding without a helmet. Riding without a helmet, according to the provision in the law, is contingent upon being over the age of...
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Election Results: Medicaid in Missouri and the Legal Implications that Follow
Missourians went to the voting booths on Tuesday, August 4th to vote in their party’s gubernatorial primary and weigh their voices on Amendment 2, which would expand Medicaid. Missouri voters selected Governor Mike Parson as the GOP...
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Family Sues on Behalf of Worker Killed in 2018 Tower Collapse
The family of Steve Lemay, a 56-year-old tower repairman from Blaine, Washington, is suing Missouri State University for wrongful death. Lemay was killed on April 19, 2018 when a 2,000-foot tall TV tower collapsed while under repair....
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What You Need to Know If You are Arrested for MIP or a Fake ID in College
After practicing law in and around a college town like Columbia, we have seen this situation time and time again. We get it; you are not 21 years old and you did not want to be left...
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Self-Defense Laws in Missouri: What You Need to Know After the Kenosha Protests
Protests erupted in Kenosha, Wisconsin following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Blake was shot on Sunday, August 23 after police responded to calls of a domestic incident. A video showing Blake walking away from the police...
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Prison for Pot? Man Serving 7.5 Years on Marijuana Charges Says Kansas’ Sentencing Laws are Unjust
The United States has a long, tumultuous history with the prohibition of illegal substances. Prohibition, for people living in the United States, is understood to be the period in United States’ history in which sales on alcohol...
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Student Life in Columbia as the Pandemic Continues to Loom
It was no secret to anyone that the 2020 academic year would be a mess—we just did not know what the mess would look like. The students are back, and this year looks different than any other...
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How Will the Pandemic Affect My Case?
The effects of the pandemic have permeated every aspect of our lives. We have had to reorganize how we work, go to school, interact with each other, and everything in-between. The pandemic left a lot of our...
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Toe Amputation on a Front Porch: Medical Malpractice in Rural Missouri
The Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts revoked the physician and surgeon license of John Ure of Deepwater, Missouri. According to KOMU, Ure lost his license after amputating a patient’s gangrenous toe on the...
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Boat Accident Leaves Three People Injured at Lake of the Ozarks
Boating at the Lake of the Ozarks is nothing short of a Missouri pastime. We spend our hot summer days down at the Lake, beer in-hand (not the driver, of course), kids in-tow behind the boat on...
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What to Do If You Are Injured on Vacation: 2 Years Since the Branson, Missouri Duck Boat Tragedy
This summer marks two years since the Branson, Missouri duck boat tragedy that claimed the lives of 17 people. The boat sank on July 19, 2018, during a severe storm. The captain of the duck boat, Kenneth...
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Jefferson City Landscaper Dies at Construction Site: OSHA Levies Fines Against Company 
Jacob Schrimpf, 31, was killed while working on a construction site in Jefferson City in January of 2020. Schrimpf was a landscaper at Schrimpf Landscaping and was working the construction site for the Old St. Mary’s Hospital...
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American Disabilities Act Celebrates 30th Anniversary
The Missouri Governor’s Council on Disability held a celebration on Tuesday, July 28 for the 30th anniversary of the American Disabilities Act. The celebration took place in the Capitol Rotunda and featured Governor Parson as a speaker....
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Reasons to Review Your Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Missouri ranks 18th among states with the most uninsured motorists. In 1999, it was estimated by the Missouri Department of Insurance that 28 percent of drivers within the municipality of St. Louis were uninsured—one of the highest...
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Motorcyclist Killed After Hitting Back of a MODOT Truck on I-70
Construction and maintenance sites on the highway are very dangerous. We’re asked to reduce our speeds, watch out for workers, and stay off our phones when traveling through these areas—and for good reason! Traveling on the highway...
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Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Assaults/Domestic Assaults
What is Assault in the First Degree? Unless the actor inflicts serious physical injury upon the victim, assault in the first degree is a class B felony upon which a person attempts to kill or knowingly cause...
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Governor Parson’s Special Session on Violent Crime: Reform Under SB 600
Governor Mike Parson is set to begin his special session on violent crime on Monday, July 27. The special session is to be held in the wake of the passage of Missouri’s controversial crime reform bill, SB...
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Backover Accidents: Child Dies After Being Hit by SUV in Columbia
A three-year-old boy died in Columbia on Wednesday, July 22 after being struck by an SUV in a backover accident. Backover accidents typically occur when a vehicle is pulling out of a driveway or parking space and...
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Study Finds Racial Discrimination May Harm Black People’s Cognitive Health
Chronic stress can change the way our brain functions. Stress affects everything from our sleeping and eating habits, our ability to think clearly, and the way we interact with people. A study published in the journal Alzheimer’s...
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Firm Update August 1, 2020: The Law Office of Chris Miller is Opening a New Location
As the world seemingly descends into chaos, The Law Office of Chris Miller has some exciting new announcements! Throughout the pandemic, our team has been hard at work piecing together our new office space. The team is...
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Columbia Police Officer Charged for Child’s Death – Distracted Driving and Personal Injuries
What Happened? Andria Heese, a police officer with the Columbia Police Department, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter after the death of four-year-old Gabriella Curry. Curry was struck and killed by a police vehicle at Battle High School...
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How Your Online Information May Be Being Used Against You
Considering your cybersecurity in this day and age is imperative to maintaining safety in both your personal and financial realms of life. Your digital devices contain so much vital information. Family vacation pictures, social media accounts, and...
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Columbia Man Charged with Child Porn in Federal Court
Andrew Capps, 20, was arrested by the Boone County Sheriff’s Department Cybersecurity Task Force for sharing sexually explicit images of children via Facebook Messenger. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children warned the Cybersecurity Task Force...
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Distracted Driving in Missouri
In 2017, distracted driving in Missouri caused more vehicular wrecks than drunk driving and speeding. Distracted driving resulted in 21,058 car wrecks, while speeding-related and drunk driving accidents were numbered at 19,535 and 5,321, respectively. Here are...
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Mask Ordinances in Columbia: What You Need to Know
On Friday, July 10th at 5:00 PM, Columbia began enforcing a city-wide mask ordinance. The ordinance requires that people wear a mask outside their households in situations in which an individual cannot keep at least six feet...
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June 15, 2020 LGBTQ Supreme Court Decision
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into legislation to counteract and provide legal standing against the rampant discrimination found within the United States in the 1960s. Most people in the United States understand the Civil...
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What happened in the Jussie Smollett case?
If you have been living under a rock for the last couple of months, and more importantly the last couple of days, you may have missed a couple of things. First, you may have missed that actor...
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Missouri “REAL ID” – What you need to know
“REAL ID” is a piece of federal legislation that was passed by Congress and signed by President George W. Bush in 2005. The Act sets forth stricter and uniform standards in documentation required to obtain a compliant...
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What’s the difference between a Felony and a Misdemeanor?
Knowing what crime you or a loved one have been charged with is important but can be difficult to understand.  Navigating your way through understanding the difference between a misdemeanor, felony, and the different classes of each...
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Can I Be Released From Probation Early?
In Missouri, if you are on probation you could be released early depending upon the charge you are currently serving a term of probation for and how well you are doing on your probation.  In 2012, Governor...
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Can My Employer Drug Test Me After An Accident?
If you are injured at work, your employer can require you to take a drug test to enforce its drug-free workplace policies.  A positive test result could result in a reduction of your workers' compensation benefits. If...
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Can I Move With My Kids?
Under Missouri law, there are very strict requirements that you must follow in order to move your children after a custody order has been entered.  At least sixty (60) days in advance of the move, you must...
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How Do I Expunge My Criminal Record?
We've previously blogged about Missouri's new expungement law which opened up the opportunity to have more than 1,900 criminal offenses expunged from the records of criminal defendants.  If you are considering expunging of your criminal record, you...
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How Much Time Will I Do For A Misdemeanor Or Felony?
If you are charged with a crime in Missouri, chances are you could be facing serious time in jail and/or fines.  The amount of time behind bars and/or fine you are facing depends on the the type...
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How Do I File A Workers’ Compensation Claim In Missouri?
If you are injured at work, chances are that you will want to file a workers' compensation Claim for Compensation.  We've previously discussed the types of benefits that are available to you in all workplace injuries.  In order...
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Am I Eligible For Probation?
The short answer is, yes, you are always eligible for probation.  The question is whether or not the court will order that you be placed on probation.  In Missouri, there are two types of probation and whichever...
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The Missouri 2018 New Years Resolution – Clean Your Criminal Record
It's a new year.  Time to change bad habits.  Time to learn something new.  Time to clean your criminal record.  For 2018 in Missouri, there's a little secret that could completely reshape your goals for the new year. ...
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The Biggest Mistake Divorcing Parents Make
We've seen various "Top 10 or Top 5" lists educating parents either contemplating or going through divorce about mistakes they can make going through the process.  There is one element that permeates through each item on any...
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What Workers’ Compensation Benefits are Available to Me?
If you are injured at work, there are three basic types of benefits that are available to you.  The fact that you are receiving one type of benefit does not preclude you from receiving the other two...
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Can My Employer Fire Me For Filing A Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Missouri law provides safeguards and protections to prevent employers from firing an employee merely because they have filed a workers' compensation claim.  Under Section 287.780, RSMo, "[n]o employer or agent shall discharge or discriminate against any employee for...
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‘Twas the night before Thanksgiving…
‘Twas the night before Thanksgiving, when all thro’ the town, All the creatures were stirring, even the clowns; The beer specials were all posted by the bar with care, In hopes that old friends would soon be...
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Firm Update 11/17/17
Fall is probably my favorite season, especially in mid-Missouri.  Since our last update we've been traveling across Missouri and enjoying the views that the season change provides from the road.  Our travels also allow us to meet...
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What is Drug Court?
Some Missouri courts have established what have become known as "Drug Courts" (or "Treatment Courts") which provide alternative sentence options for eligible defendants who have clear problems with controlled substances or alcohol addiction.  If you are charged...
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Divorce – What It Will Cost And How Long It Will Take
When it comes to getting a divorce, each client asks different questions which are unique to their situation but the most common question I get is, "what will it cost and how long will it take?"  The...
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Top 5 Reasons You Should Be More Aware of Information in Your Phone
Any criminal and family law attorney knows one true fact:  our client's cell phones contain a ton of information that is either really helpful or really bad evidence.  The iPhone, and other smartphones like it, have created...
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Firm Update 10/20/17
A lot of family and friends often ask me how the firm is going so we thought we would provide periodic updates on what we're up to.  Right now we're looking to be a little more aggressive...
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Am I an Independent Contractor?
It happens like this:  a worker is going about their daily routine on the job.  Something goes wrong and he or she is hurt.  The worker then properly notifies the boss that he or she has been hurt on...
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Minor in Possession – Serious Consequences
It was August, 2005.  I was just arriving to freshman orientation at Truman State University and the RA for my floor told everyone of a recent law change that was taking effect within days.  The Missouri legislature...
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How can I get workers’ compensation benefits?
A workplace injury is an all too common occurrence.  When you are injured at work there are very specific technical and legal requirements that you must follow to ensure that workers' compensation benefits are available to you....
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The Missouri legislature recently weakened employment protections. Here is what you need to know
During the 2017 Regular Session, the Missouri legislature passed SB 43 which will drastically undermine safeguards against discrimination in the workplace.  The bill, which was sponsored by a legislator who owns and operates businesses currently being sued for workplace discrimination,...
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Missouri’s New Form 14 – Do you need a child support modification?
Recently the Missouri Supreme Court issued changes to the way Missouri Courts determine presumed amounts of child support based on Missouri's Form 14.  These changes went into effect on July 1, 2017 and could have a potential impact...
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Will I Get Points On My Driving Record?
Read the following statement carefully:  driving in Missouri is a privilege.  It can be easy to take that privilege for granted and not pay attention to what happens to your driving record when you receive a traffic ticket....
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Fake ID – Abuse and Lose
My summers before an upcoming Fall semester were tons of fun.  I would be able to catch up with old friends, enjoy good weather, and decompress from the life of all-nighters before the big exam.  In all...
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Summer Boating Safety Tips
Missouri is home to several manmade lakes and waterways throughout the state which are popular spots for boating, fishing and other water sport activities. One of the biggest, and busiest, is the Lake of the Ozarks in...
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