A Columbia man was seriously injured in multiple crashes on U.S. 63 at about 4:30 in the morning on Jan. 12. While preliminary reports of the car accident raise as many questions as answers, a few concrete details were provided. The 31-year-old man was driving northbound in the southbound lane when his vehicle collided with a Missouri Department of Transportation snowplow, driven by a 52-year-old man. The plow was in the process of removing about an inch of snow from the roadway.

Authorities are trying to piece together exactly what occurred next. They say the wrong-way driver was not wearing his seat belt, though the extent of man's initial injuries is not clear. He apparently walked about a quarter mile north in the southbound roadway, only to be struck by a vehicle driven by a 51-year-old Moberly resident. That car accident was said to be minor, and he continued walking in the southbound lane. In less than five minutes, he was hit head on by a tractor trailer.

The seriously injured man was involved in three separate accidents on the snow-covered highway, all within 10 minutes. He was rushed to University Hospital, where further word on his condition was not immediately available. Authorities are now left with the task of piecing together the details to assess the incidents and determine whether or not any laws were broken.

Missouri law provides for the right of those seriously injured in a truck or car accident to seek monetary damages that accrue as the result of another party's negligence. In a multi-car crash, each party involved may want to investigate their rights and options. While more information will likely be necessary to conclude that anyone involved in the crash will be able to recover damages, the fact remains that all individuals using Missouri highways should exercise a reasonable degree of care for other vehicles and pedestrians in or near the roadway.

Source: Missourian, "Columbia man hit by two cars after striking snowplow," Kip Hill, Jan. 13, 2012