3rd DUI Charge for James Griesbaum Results in Death for Other Driver in Illinois Car Accident

Post Date: October 12th, 2010

As a St Louis Car Accident Lawyer, I have seen the destruction wrought in many people’s lives due to car accidents, and had the privilege of bringing justice to the innocent so that they have the means to move on.

How do cars collide head-on on perfectly straight pieces of road? It seems inexplicable, but exhaustion or inattention due to distractions or alcohol consumption are often the reasons. When these factors are involved, you should ask yourself whether or not it is a misnomer to call such an incident an accident. Can it be an accident if the driver has done something to make the chances of an accident much more likely, or is it something much more sinister.

I use the word sinister here because I want to bring to your attention to the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charges against James Griesbaum. This man is facing DUI charges after a head-on collision which killed one woman, Barbara Green, and seriously injured another, Ressie Woodcock, when his vehicle crossed into on-coming traffic and crashed head-on into their vehicle. He faces three charges and could spend 14 years in jail if convicted of all three felonies.

But there is more. This is the third DUI charge he has faced.  As an Illinois car accident attorney, I know not everyone is guilty of the charges they face, but  we need to consider what happens down the road if they were guilty and continued to behave recklessly.

If an overzealous officer books you erroneously, you deserve a fair hearing. But when you are accused of DUI twice and you refuse to take a blood test, something sinister appears to be going on.

Third time unlucky, but unlucky for whom? Having beaten the charges twice, it is conceivable that Griesbaum could pull it off again. As a Car Accident Lawyer for the victims of DUI accidents and other felonies, I am concerned about the outcome of the trial in the Griesbaum case and what happens to his victims.

Surviving such an accident may turn out to be a nightmare if your accident insurance does not provide for specialized medical treatment and equipment that may be needed to get the best out of life, and this is where I can help. As a Car Accident Attorney in the Illinois area, I can make sure that you get everything you are due and that you are not duped by a manipulative insurance agent into accepting less than is your right. If you need my help, contact me.

Tags: Car Accident, car wreck, drunk driving, dui, fatal car accident, griesbaum, head on, illinois, madison county
Posted in Drunk Driving, IL Car Accidents | No Comments »

Illinois Car Accident Lawyer Discusses Deadly Roseville, Illinois Wreck

Post Date: October 10th, 2010

As an Illinois car accident attorney, I have worked closely with grieving families who have lost a loved one because of a negligent driver. I understand how devastating the loss can be, which is why I was saddened to read that another life had been taken due to someone else’s negligence on the road. On October 2, 2010 a two-car motor vehicle accident took the life of 50-year-old Penny McKinney-Green in Roseville, Illinois.

McKinney-Green was driving westbound on Route 116 at 6:30 p.m. with her sister 55-year-old Mary Ann McKinney when they were hit in a head-on collision. The driver of the vehicle that struck and killed McKinney was 21-year-old Arsenio Mims who was driving westbound on Illinois 116 when he lost control of his vehicle.

The weather was rainy and Mims lost control of his vehicle when he hydroplaned into an oncoming lane where he hit McKinney-Green’s vehicle head-on. McKinney-Green was rushed to OSF Holy Family Medical Center but she was pronounced dead upon arrival. Mary Ann McKinney, Penny’s passenger, was treated for moderate injuries to Galesburg Cottage Hospital.

Mims and one of his passengers, 28-year-old Dennis Brady of Chicago were treated and released from Galesburg Cottage Hospital. The other three passengers in Mims’ vehicle were not injured in the collision and refused medical treatment. Arsenio Mims was charged with driving too fast for the weather conditions.

The family of Penny McKinney-Green has been devastated by their loss that could have been prevented if Arsenio Sims were driving more carefully in the rain. As an auto accident attorney, I know it is difficult for families to understand their rights when they are faced with such devastation. Car accident settlements depend on families coming forward to fight for their lost loved ones.  This particular case would be governed by Illinois’ wrongful death laws which allow family members to recover based, not only on the economic losses, but also grief caused by loss of their loved ones.

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, he focuses on catastrophic car accident cases throughout all of Missouri and Illinois.  If you would like to speak with him about representing you in your case, feel free to call at 888-956-2487.  It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney’s fees until we recover on your behalf.

Tags: green, illinois, mckinney, roseville, route 116, wrongful death
Posted in Fatal Car Accident, IL Car Accidents | No Comments »