Archives for January 2020

How Construction Sites Can Be Dangerous for St. Louis Drivers

January 17, 2020 by Christopher

The dangers that drivers face every time they are on the streets are numerous. Among them, construction sites are perhaps some of the most hazardous. That’s why driving cautiously is so important.

Here is how a construction site can be hazardous for drivers.

What Can Happen If You Don’t Practice Safe Driving Around Construction Sites

It’s obvious that road construction sites reduce the space used by drivers to move around, often redirecting traffic through narrow lanes that overlap when going around the construction site. If the construction site is not signaled correctly or if the driver ignores or misses the signs that warn about a construction zone ahead, disasters can happen.

Workers on road construction sites are exposed to traffic dangers and often fall victim to speeding or reckless drivers. Drivers and passengers often get hurt themselves when crashing with construction vehicles or other objects on a construction site, or when driving off the road trying to avoid them.

Rear bumping is also very probable if drivers do not increase the distance to the car ahead when driving through a construction zone. These are often minor accidents, but the damage caused by a minor crash is not easy on your wallet either.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, the most fatal crashes occur in areas with speed limits higher than 50mph, and during the summer or fall months.

How to Prevent Accidents While Driving Through “Cone Zones”

The good news about accidents related to construction zones is that the vast majority of them are preventable. Here is what you can do to drive safely through cone zones:

Limit your speed below the maximum allowed speed
Follow the instructions on the road signs that signal a construction site, from the very first moment you see them
Avoid going through construction zones if possible. There are several traffic apps that show you real-time events and alternative routes
Follow instructions from construction workers when they are redirecting traffic
Increase the distance between you and other cars
Avoid changing lanes or do so after signaling in a timely manner
Watch out for drivers who may not practice cautious driving

Preventing accidents in construction zones doesn’t take much effort from your part. All you have to do is follow the warning signs and traffic laws closely, and mind the other participants to traffic. Unfortunately, many drivers ignore these common-sense rules and that leads to worrying statistics each year. If drivers would take these statistics into account, we would probably have fewer casualties, injuries and property damage from construction site accidents.

Were You Injured?

If you were injured in a car accident due to the negligence of another driver you may be entitled to compensation. Get in touch with a St. Louis car accident attorney, present them your case, and let them represent your interests. Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4242 for a FREE case evaluation.

Do I Really Need an Attorney After a Car Accident?

January 3, 2020 by Christopher

shaking hands with a st. louis car accident attorney

A car accident often leaves the victim in a personal financial crisis, with high medical bills, lost wages and other expenses they might have during the recovery phase. With all this stress involved, it may seem that hiring a St. Louis auto accident lawyer would only add to the cost of an accident.

Some victims feel confident enough in their own negotiating capabilities to consider representing themselves during the car accident claim trial. However, this decision rarely saves them more money. On the contrary, not having an attorney to represent you can drastically reduce the settlement you will obtain.

Here are the main reasons why you should not represent yourself during a car accident claim:

You Should Invest All Your Time and Effort into Your Recovery

If you got injured, then you will most likely have to visit doctors and specialists, take time from work to rest and recover, and undergo treatment for your injuries. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you are more or less capable of moving around and the discovery period of your trial can be really tiring: gathering evidence, submitting all necessary documents in time, contacting witnesses and experts, and much more.

You May Lack the Experience and Knowledge an Attorney Has

No matter how well you know the law, if you are not a car accident attorney yourself, you may not understand all the legal details that will be relevant to your case. Laws are also updated periodically and they might be interpreted wrongly by an untrained eye. You may also lack the experience related to the court, the judges, the jury, etc. An experienced attorney can navigate smoothly through this process, focused on getting you a fair settlement.

It’s Likely That You Will Settle for Less Than You Should

When you represent yourself, you are more likely to be tempted by the first offer the insurance company will make. Too many times, this offer is lower than you should rightfully get, and the insurer only proposes an amount this low because they also expect negotiations. Taking the first offer might get you money fast and release you from the stress of handling the case, but it’s a loss in the long run.

Time Management

Think about the actual time you will have to spend doing representing yourself in a car accident case. Split between doctor’s appointments and legal documentation, it’s easy to miss a deadline or just make mistakes.

If you have been involved in an accident, it is in your best interest to speak with an experienced car accident attorney. At The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. we have over 20 years of experience handling these claims. We can evaluate your case FREE of charge and we work on a contingency fee. Simply put, we only get paid and if and when you get compensated.

Call (314) 361-4242 for a FREE case evaluation.

Chest Pain After a St. Louis Car Accident

January 2, 2020 by Christopher

Have you been involved in a car accident recently? You might not realize the extent of your injuries until a doctor evaluates you thoroughly.

The fact of the matter is that some injuries do get worse in time in the absence of treatment. This is why it’s very important to monitor your health and take notice of any symptoms that appear following the accident.

If you are experiencing chest pains after your accident, it is especially important to see a doctor. Here are the most common causes of chest pains after a car crash, and which ones can pose serious health issues.

Common Causes of Chest Pains after a Car Accident

Chest pains often indicate an internal injury. Internal injuries like soft tissue bruises and tears can often be overlooked after a car accident since they may not show external signs.

Here’s why that happens. Your body releases adrenaline in your brain during stressful events, such as a car accident. It is a very natural response when you are in a dangerous situation. However, this adrenaline rush can mask the pain and leave you with the wrong impression that you are not as injured as you really are.

This possibility of masked injuries is why any car accident victim should go to the doctor for an evaluation, even if they feel relatively good after the collision.

When it comes to chest pains, here are the most common causes:

Being projected into objects inside the car: the steering wheel, car seats, dashboard or doors
Injuries caused by the safety systems: seatbelts, harnesses or airbags
Heart attack caused by the extreme stress of the situation
Broken ribs, clavicles, sternum
Lung damage like punctured lungs
Soft tissue injuries
Injuries to the internal organs, followed by internal bleeding

When Does It Get Serious?

Some of the injuries mentioned above can lead to others, like a broken rib that punctures a lung or a ruptured spleen that causes internal bleeding. These situations can easily be life-threatening, and a trip to the emergency room is mandatory.

Damage to the internal organs, internal bleeding or extreme stress on the cardiovascular system should be treated immediately.

Taking Care of the Legal Process after a Car Accident

When dealing with such serious injuries, your top priority should be your health. Take all the time you need to recover and follow the doctor’s instructions closely. It would be in your best interest too to hire a St. Louis auto accident lawyer. They can guide you throughout the process and defend your best interests in the claim you will make toward the insurance company. That way, you can rest assured that your medical bills will be paid and you won’t have to struggle if you need to miss some time off work to recover.

Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4242 for a FREE case evaluation.

What Makes Drowsy Truck Drivers So Dangerous

January 1, 2020 by Christopher

We don’t have to tell you that you are facing a lot of potential dangers when you are on the road. Some of them come directly from your behavior, like using your mobile phone when driving or speeding, but others will be directly caused by other motorists. Statistically speaking, there are some categories of drivers that you can meet on the road that are more dangerous than others: teenagers, drunk drivers, and tired drivers.

If you think that driving when tired is just more difficult, but not a reason to pass the wheel to someone else or take a break, you should have a look at the data over the years. Drowsiness behind the wheel is one of the top reasons for deadly accidents in the US. In fact, drowsy driving is considered by many to be similar to driving drunk.

What Makes Drowsy Truck Drivers So Dangerous

Commercial drivers are far more likely to drive while drowsy than other drivers. They drive almost daily, for long hours, and don’t always get the recommended resting time they would need. Sometimes they also have other tasks besides driving, like loading and unloading the merchandise on destination.

Driver fatigue makes you far more susceptible to accidents, as you are not able to react as promptly as normally. Tired drivers sometimes forget to signal when changing lanes or check the blind spots. With trucks, blind spots are already covering quite a big part of the view, so it’s more likely for them to have a collision.

The legally required recovery periods aren’t necessarily always enough to get the truck driver enough rest. Even if the company he works for will make sure he doesn’t drive more than the law mandates, it’s still not possible to predict whether he will have a good night’s sleep or not before driving for 10 hours straight. Regular schedules and resting conditions should always be checked closely.

How to Stay Safe

If you are wondering what preventive measures you should take to ensure you are as safe from harm as possible, here are some tips.

Try not to engage in risky maneuvers that involve passing trucks like staying close to them or driving in their blind spots
Keep a safe distance between you and any truck
Avoid driving long distances at the times of day when it’s more likely to be drowsy: midnight to early morning and late afternoon
Learn to detect drowsy driving in other drivers: they drift off their lane, hitting the rumble strips, etc. Then stay away from them.

If you were involved in an accident caused by a drowsy truck driver don’t hesitate to speak with an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney. They can help ensure that evidence is collected and your legal right to compensation is protected right from the start of your claim. Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4242 for a FREE case evaluation.