Fall at the Lake: What to Do After a Hunting or ATV Accident Near Osage Beach, MO

About the Author

Ethan Charles (“EC”) Duckworth is the founding attorney of Duckworth Injury Law. EC earned his law degree from the University of Missouri - Columbia, where he graduated in the top 10 of his class and served as an Editor of the Missouri Law Review. EC currently serves as a member of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA) and is a graduate of the Ross T. Roberts Trial Academy. EC has represented hundreds of injury victims throughout his career resulting in tens of millions of dollars in compensation recovered. EC’s firm routinely handles personal injury cases at the Lake of the Ozarks’ communities, including cases in Camden County and Osage Beach, MO. Follow EC Duckworth on LinkedIn.

Serious Injuries Can Occur at Any Time in Osage Beach, MO. Secure Your Financial Recovery With EC Duckworth, Personal Injury Lawyer at Duckworth Injury Law

While the Lake of the Ozarks is most well-known for its summertime recreation, including boating, jet skiing, and sunbathing, the communities of the Lake – like Osage Beach – offer plenty to do once the leaves begin to fall as well. For locals of Osage Beach, the Fall is often the best time to be at the lake. With tourist crowds thinning out, locals of Osage Beach are able to enjoy Friday night high school football, deer hunting season, back roading, and side-by-side and ATV riding. While these activities are part of what makes mid-Missouri and Osage Beach such a great place to live in the Fall, they’re not without risk.

Common Accidents that Happen in the Osage Beach Area During the Fall Season

Hunting Accidents

With Fall comes deer, turkey, and duck hunting season across Missouri. And at the Lake area, it can sometimes feel like the deer population outnumbers the human population, making it a great area to score a big buck! However, deer hunting also leads to many serious injury-causing accidents each year. These hunting accidents often arise from:

• Falls from tree stands
• Firearm mishaps (accidental discharge, improper target identification, crossfire between hunters)
• Improper supervision of youth hunters
• Dangerous conditions on the hunting property

ATV & UTV Accidents

Once the temperature drops, it’s time to trade in the personal watercraft for the ATV, UTV, and side-by-side. And the Lake area has plenty of great spots to ride, including near Osage Beach. Though fun, you should be cautious of common ATV & UTV accidents:

• Trail collisions
• Inexperienced operators
• Rollovers on uneven terrain
• Alcohol related crashes
• Other cars and trucks failing to see you on the roadway

Rural Road Dangers

There are not many better ways to take in an Osage Beach sunset, or the views of the colors of the trees changing across an Ozark backdrop, than going cruising on an old country road. Even so, “backroading” is not without its risks of accidents, which are often caused by the following:

• Increased deer movement across roads like US 54 HWY, especially during the rut
• Poor visibility during early morning and evening hours (especially with heavy fog)
• Driving too fast for the conditions on loose gravel and winding roads
• Operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Legal Responsibility for Osage Beach, MO Accidents in the Fall

While not all of the common Fall accidents listed above can result in financial recovery for the injured victim, others often involve a person or entity who is legally responsible for the harm you have suffered. For example, while you may not be able to pursue a personal injury claim if you hit a deer in the roadway on Missouri Route 134 or if you trip over a tree root while exploring Ha Ha Tonka State Park, you likely do have a viable personal injury claim if you are hurt while riding as a passenger on an ATV or if you are struck by another hunter’s inadvertent bullet while deer hunting. Below is a list of those who are commonly held legally responsible for injury-causing accidents in these Fall-time activities at the Lake:

Who is Liable in an Osage Beach Hunting Accident?

• Property owners, if there is a known dangerous condition on the property
• Manufacturers and distributors of faulty hunting equipment, such as if a deer stand malfunctions, causing injury
• Parents of youth hunters who fail to properly supervise their child who harms another while hunting 
• Negligent hunters who inadvertently discharge their firearm, injuring another 
• 
  

Who is Liable in an Osage Beach ATV or UTV Accident?

• Property owners, if there is a known dangerous condition on the property causing the ATV or UTV collision
• Manufacturers and distributors of the ATV or UTV if the vehicle malfunctions or lacks appropriate safety features
• The driver/operator of the ATV or UTV who caused the crash
• The owner of the ATV or UTV if they are negligent in entrusting the vehicle to an inexperienced driver 
• The operator of another car or truck who collides with the ATV or UTV

Who is Liable in an Osage Beach Car or Truck Accident While Backroading? 

• The driver/operator of the car or truck who causes the collision
• The county or state that maintains the roadway if the roadway is in a dangerous condition at the time of the crash
• The owner of the car or truck if they are negligent in entrusting the vehicle to an inexperienced driver 
• Other parties, depending on the specific facts of the incident

Steps to Take Immediately After an Osage Beach Personal Injury Accident

Despite how careful you may try to be while enjoying these Fall activities at the Lake of the Ozarks and Osage Beach, accidents are still prone to happen. If you or a loved one find yourself in an injury-causing accident near Osage Beach, MO, it’s important to understand what steps to take:

First, seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you suspect you may have sustained an injury, it’s important that you are examined by a qualified medical professional. A doctor or nurse will be able to triage your injury, document the cause of the injury, and provide guidance for further care and treatment. For injury accidents near Osage Beach, the closest emergency care is Lake Regional Health System. Lake Regional Hospital is located at 54 Hospital Drive, Osage Beach, MO 65065.

Second, report the incident to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Typically, you can simply call 911, and the dispatcher should be able to notify the appropriate agency. For motor vehicle crashes, including ATV, UTV, car, and truck collisions, your accident will likely be handled by either the Osage Beach Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop F, or the Camden County Sheriff’s Office. If you are involved in an injury causing incident while hunting on public land near Osage Beach, you should further report the incident to the Missouri Department of Conservation. Timely reporting of your accident ensures that key details and evidence relating to the accident are preserved, allowing your personal injury attorney to more easily prove your claim. 

Third, if you are able to, it’s helpful if you can document the scene of the accident. Take photographs and video of the scene and the vehicles or objects involved. Write down the names and contact information for those involved in the accident and those who may have witnessed the accident. 

Finally, prior to giving a statement to any insurance company, speak with an experienced Osage Beach personal injury lawyer on how to proceed next.

How An Osage Beach Injury Lawyer Can Help 

After a serious accident in Osage Beach, you need an Osage Beach personal injury lawyer on your side looking out for your best interests. The best Osage Beach injury lawyers will immediately begin investigating your accident and obtaining/preserving evidence. Your lawyer will want to determine the specific cause(s) of the accident, whether due to equipment failure, a dangerous condition on a property, or a negligent driver. 

In addition to learning the cause of your accident and who is responsible for your accident, a good Lake area attorney will want to identify all sources of recovery on your claim. This may include liability insurance coverage on a vehicle, homeowner’s insurance, rental insurance, or personal assets of the defendant. 

Finally, the best personal injury lawyers for Osage Beach claims should not be afraid to take your claim to court if necessary. While some claims may be resolved through negotiations out of court, other times, filing a lawsuit and litigating the case is necessary to obtain fair and full compensation. 

Local Resources for Osage Beach Area Personal Injury Accidents in the Fall Season

• Lake Regional Health System 
• Osage Beach Police Department
• Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop F
• Camden County Sheriff’s Office
• Missouri Department of Conservation.

Is Your Family Facing A Serious Personal Injury In Osage Beach, MO? Attorney Ec Duckworth Will Be Your Advocate From Investigation To Settlement & Even At Trial

If you or a loved one were injured in a hunting, ATV, UTV, car or truck accident near Osage Beach, MO, Duckworth Injury Law is here to help. We know the Lake, we know the law, and we fight to protect Mid-Missouri families. Call us today for a free consultation.

EC Duckworth takes pride in acting as a go-to car accident lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, truck accident lawyer, boat accident lawyer, slip and fall lawyer, or dog bite lawyer at the Lake, including Osage Beach.