Back in our July 2023 Newsletter, we explained Missouri’s new hands free cell phone law.  While officers started giving tickets under the law for dangerous driving or individuals that were involved in crashes, January 1, 2025 marks the end of the law’s grace period.  Officers can begin pulling anyone over they see holding a cell phone while driving.  We encourage all of our clients to use headphones, their vehicle’s Bluetooth capabilities or dashboard holders while driving.  It is tempting to grab your phone and hold it while using speakerphone, however, under the law, you can now be ticketed.

We previously wrote about Amazon cutting corners on safety with the public and their employees when  they sidestep liability for vehicular injuries by claiming their drivers were ‘independent contractors’ back in our October 2019 Newsletter.  Similarly, we discussed their practice of sidestepping any product liability for items they sell by claiming they are a ‘marketplace’ only in our August 2021 Newsletter.

Unfortunately, we are not surprised at all by a recent Senate labor committee report that the company ignored high rates of injuries to their warehouse employees.  Two independent reports found injury rates at Amazon warehouses to be nearly twice the industry average.  The company’s own health and safety department raised concerns and made recommendations for changes that would decrease injuries.  These concerns were ignored by Amazon executives.  OSHA has cited multiple facilities for putting workers at increased risk of injury.  Amazon chose to appeal the citations rather than abide by OSHA standards or make any improvements.

We have seen this for years with our workers’ compensation clients, many of whom received injuries from lifting heavy items, having items fall from shelves above or being seriously injured by one of the robots that also move products in these facilities.  Each of our clients described having unreasonable goals for pulling products and getting them out the door every day.  When they file an injury report, they are typically seen by an on site nurse who quickly deems the injury to be ‘minor’ or ‘just a strain’ and discourages employees from going to an urgent care or seeking further treatment.  Typically, it is best to reach out to our firm for guidance since time is typically of the essence in these types of cases.

Senator Bernie Sanders said it best: “Amazon’s executives repeatedly chose to put profits ahead of the health and safety of its workers”.  This company has been skirting various safety laws for years to become the 5th largest company in the world (by market cap).  While it’s hard to avoid the convenience of Amazon, please be mindful there are some serious hidden costs to our community in the name of “convenience”.

Happy New Year

From time to time, clients call and ask which type of cases we handle.  Our practice is built on referrals from satisfied clients.  We know that if we work hard and do a good job for our clients, they will tell their friends about us.  The best compliment from a former client is that client entrusting us with the potential case of their friend or family.  Our office specializes in the following cases:

1. Personal Injury (auto collisions, trucking, motorcycle, slip and fall, dog bites)
2. Work Injuries
3. Traffic tickets and DUI/DWI

If you know someone that meets these criteria, please have them call our office.  If someone does not quite fit the above criteria, please still have the prospective referral give us a call as we can usually help the person find the right attorney via a referral.

Thank you very much to everyone who already left a review, we appreciate it!  If you have not left one and have some kind words, we would appreciate the time.