Last week was a terrible week for everyone in Jefferson City, MO and Columbia, MO. The national news even carried the story of the teen charged with the murder of Elizabeth Olten. The Cole County grand jury on November 19,2009 found Alyssa Bustamante, 15 years of age, acted with “cool reflection” before she allegedly killed Elizabeth Olten, age 9, on October 21, 2009 near St. Martins, Missouri. Alyssa, even though she is 15 will stand trial as an adult. Our hearts go out to all those involved in the shocking and terrible crime.

Despite the horrors that sometimes touch our world – and believe me, as a Missouri injury and accident lawyer, I see plenty of tragedies – there is still a lot to be thankful for. . . . our families, our friends, food on our table, this great country we live in.

For those whose lives have not been touched by injury or death from an accident, remember to give thanks for your health and the health of your family. We forget to be grateful for the simple things, like eyes to see, arms and legs, the ability to walk, to hold a baby, to plant a garden. In my injury law practice, I often see people who no longer have these basic abilities and their lives and the lives of their families can be full of difficult challenges.

If you have your health and mobility, and the members of your family have theirs, please remember to be grateful this Thursday holiday for these things — things we often take for granted.

And please drive carefully this weekend as you return from Thanksgiving.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009.
Springfield, MO November 24, 2009 — Aaron Sachs is pleased to support Meal Fest in Springfield, Missouri. Meal Fest is a local charity outreach to feed the hungry in Springfield, Mo. Aaron and his family have personally been involved in the past by serving meals and helping to meet the needs, both physically and spiritually of our local community. As Thanksgiving approaches, Aaron Sachs and Associates, a personal injury law firm, is pleased to join with Evangel Temple and make a donation to this charity outreach to help feed the hungry in our community. Donations can be sent to Evangel Temple, 2020 E. Battlefield, Springfield, Missouri 65804. The name of the Charity is Inner City Outreach and provides free services including meals and a food pantry for the poor and homeless.
Aaron Sachs reflected on his recent visit, “As we joined in prayer with guest to the mission, the needs were often what we take for granted: clean housing without insect infestation, and warm clothing. In other words, everything we take for granted is on their prayer list. My children left with a greater sense of the need we have locally.” This Thanksgiving let us take a moment and remember the Springfield Inner City Outreach in our prayers and with a special donation.
Aaron Sachs & Associates’ personal injury law offices are located in Springfield, Columbia, Cape Girardeau and Joplin. Their community-service outreach program is detailed on their website: www.autoinjury.com under the “community service” header. ###

Wednesday, November 18, 2009.
Joplin, MO November 18, 2009 — Aaron Sachs is pleased to sponsor a teen driving safety assembly at Carl Junction High School this Friday, November 20th, 2009. The event starts at 9:00 am at Carl Junction High School located at 806 Walnut Street, Carl Junction, and Missouri. Carl Junction is approximately 20 minutes from Joplin, Missouri, and is the proud home of the Bulldogs. Aaron Sachs will be joined by Brian Dorman, the evening anchor and member of the Action 12 News team on KODE. Dorman will also be speaking on behalf of KSNF. A representative from the Missouri Highway Patrol will also be speaking at the event. Aaron Sachs law firm, which limits its practice to auto accidents, workers ’ compensation and disability claims, has a long history of sponsoring injury-prevention assemblies at local high schools in Joplin and Springfield, Missouri. Aaron’s daughter will soon be turning 16 years old, so he understands first hand the importance of safe teen driving. In fact, the national statistics speak for themselves. The leading cause of death for 15 to 20 year olds is car accidents. Due to distractions, the risk of a teenager being in an accident doubles when the teenager driver also has a teenager passenger. Aaron Sachs & Associates’ personal injury law offices are located in Springfield, Columbia, Cape Girardeau and Joplin. Their community-service outreach program is detailed on their website: www.autoinjury.com under the “community service” header. ###

I read an interesting article the other day that reported that in England, if a car accident caused by texting results in death, sentencing guidelines require the driver to go to jail.
The British government considers texting while driving as serious a crime as drunken driving, and punishes wrongdoers accordingly.
Studies show that many in our country want texting treated the same way. A recent poll conducted by CBS and the New York Times shows that “nearly all Americans” think sending a text message while driving should be illegal and that “about half” feel that it should be punished like drunken driving is.
Others feel that is too harsh. But when you consider that the largest percentage of texters are teenagers and young adults – a population that often considers itself invincible — assigning criminal status and prison terms may be the best deterrent we have.
Just as we have made drinking and driving a criminal act rather than just an act of bad judgment we may want to consider the British approach to texting: if someone is killed as a result, then the driver is going to prison.