Chesterfield Fatal Car Accident Remains Under Investigation

Interstate Highway 40 near the Clarkson Road exit was the scene of a horrible fatal car accident late Wednesday afternoon in St. Louis County. Authorities responded to several 911 calls that were placed between 3:45 and 4:00 in the afternoon. One white car, a black VW Golf, and two other vehicles were involved in the collision. One person was pronounced dead at the scene by responding EMS from Chesterfield. Traffic was diverted for over an hour and only one westbound lane trickled through as first responders dealt with evidence at the scene.

Fatal car accidents in St. Louis are dealt with differently than most traffic accidents, even those involving catastrophic injury. Missouri Highway Patrol and local authorities typically collaborate together in investigating and determining the contributing circumstances to a fatal collision. An "accident reconstruction report" is often released 4-8 weeks following a crash of this magnitude. Depending upon the amount of the forensic evidence and nature of the crash, it may require more or less time. Either way, the accident reconstruction report is often a document that law enforcement and lawyers look to for detailed information on what contributed to cause an auto accident. These reports are incredibly detailed, and will include data such as:

• Vehicle speed and yaw (determined from ECM and airbag sensors)
• Braking force (skid marks)
• Roadway factors (design)
• Human factors (line of sight, reaction time, etc)
• Weather factors
• Light factors
• Potential fault
• Injuries
• Statistical data
• Forensic epidemiological data

Wrongful death lawyers will usually conduct their own independent investigation on behalf of a family involved in the crash, combine their findings with those of authorities, and arrive at an informed conclusion as to whether a particular party to the incident bears some degree of "legal liability." This determination can take weeks or months, especially when dealing with the horrible outcome of a fatal injury.

Car accidents involving multiple vehicles can also trigger involvement of multiple liability insurance companies and forms of insurance coverage. Disputes over which insurance coverage applies can become heated, involving costly litigation for all the parties involved. It is important to have an experienced injury attorney review the facts of the crash, liability, and all insurance coverages that may apply.

Our Chesterfield injury lawyers will continue to follow developments in this story as they are released by local authorities. One of the founding partners of the law firm was actually en route to his home, just off Clarkson road, when this crash took place.