Christopher

Common Injuries Resulting From Whiplash

October 25, 2017 by Christopher

Whiplash injuries can manifest in a variety of ways such as neck pain, upper back and shoulder pain, headaches, fatigue, low back pain, and cognitive changes.

When many people think about whiplash, they may just think of neck or back pain. However, whiplash injuries can manifest in a variety of ways such as neck pain, upper back and shoulder pain, headaches, fatigue, low back pain, and cognitive changes.

Each patient may experience a different set of symptoms based on various factors such as direction and force of impact, speed of the vehicles at the time of the crash, and age, sex, and physical condition of the person. Also, symptoms of whiplash may not be immediately apparent and may show up days or even weeks after the crash. In this post, our car accident lawyer will discuss some of the common injuries resulting from whiplash trauma.

Neck Pain

Neck pain is reported by almost 90 percent of those who suffer whiplash. The pain radiates across the shoulders, between the shoulder blades, and up into the head. Whiplash trauma can affect the tissues of the neck including discs between the vertebrae and the facet joints.

The most common cause of neck pain from a car accident is facet joint pain. It is felt at the back of the neck and the area is tender to touch. Disc injury is also a common cause of chronic neck pain.

Damage to the ligaments and muscles in the neck and upper back are the leading cause of late-appearing pain.

Headaches

Headaches are the second most common symptom of a whiplash injury, and they affect nearly 80 percent of patients. Some headaches may result from a brain injury, others are related to injury of the facet joints, ligaments, and muscles.

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)

It is a serious, but less common disorder resulting from whiplash. TMJ begins as pain and popping noises in the jaw with every movement.

Brain Injury

Whiplash trauma can lead to mild or moderate brain injury. Our brain is a very delicate structure and is suspended in fluid call the cerebrospinal fluid. The violent motion of the skull can cause the brain to bounce off inside the skull. This can lead to bleeding or bruising in the brain. The patient may experience symptoms of a concussion and may lose consciousness. In most cases, the patient just experiences disorientation and confusion after the injury. Any type of brain injury can have serious long term effects.

Dizziness

Injury to the facet joints of the cervical spine can cause dizziness. In some cases, dizziness can result from an injury to the brain or brain stem.

Lower Back Pain

Surprisingly, whiplash trauma can cause lower back pain as well. Lower back pain was reported in more than half of the rear-end collisions and in three-quarters of all side-impact collisions.

Seeking Legal Help

Even mild whiplash injuries may take months to heal. However, more than 20 percent of the patients continue to experience pain, restricted movement, and weakness for up to two years.

If you have suffered whiplash in a car accident caused by another driver’s fault, you should seek legal help from a competent St. Louis whiplash lawyer. Give us a call at (314) 361-4242 for a FREE consultation with an experienced attorney.

Tibia Fractures From Car Accidents

October 13, 2017 by Christopher

Car accidents can cause various types of leg injuries, including broken bones.

Tibia fractures are among the less common leg injuries that occur in car accidents. While a broken tibia is easy to fix, it does not heal too easily. In this post, our St. Louis car accident attorneys will discuss tibia fractures.

About Tibia Fractures

There are three bones in each of our limbs. There are two bones – tibia and fibula – below our knee. These are smaller bones and can easily break compared to the femur in the leg or a humerus in the arm, because of their smaller diameter. However, these fractures can take a long time to heal, and there can be many complications.

Ways in Which Tibia Fractures Can Occur in a Car Accident

According to medical experts, it is very difficult to break a bone in the leg unless the impact is direct. In a four or seven-seat vehicle, if all the occupants are properly buckled up, it is highly unlikely that a fracture will occur in a rear or frontal impact. However, if there is a side impact collision with a large vehicle such as a truck, the impact will be much more and the chances of a fracture occurring are high.

A tibia fracture can rarely occur on its own. It can occur only if the interior of the vehicle impacts the leg, which can happen if the vehicle is crushed in the crash. This means, there will likely be other injuries accompanying a tibia fracture. Usually, the arms and neck are severely impacted in this kind of a crash. A tibia fracture can also break the skin and impact nerves and blood vessels.

Treatment for Tibia Fractures

While a tibia fracture is not a medical emergency, if there are any complications, the victim should receive immediate medical attention. The victim may need a splint to set the bone. In many cases, a car accident also causes severe swelling or contusions. This can lead to long term problems if nerves and blood vessels are impacted.

Regardless of the severity of injuries, car accident victims will need at least six to eight weeks to recover from a fracture. This can lead to missed time at school for younger victims and lost wages for others. The victim may also need long periods of rehabilitation to regain complete mobility after the fracture.

If the victim does not seek medical attention and there is too much swelling, which is left untreated, it can affect the nerves and lead to compartment syndrome.

Have You Suffered a Tibia Fracture in a Car Accident?

If you have suffered a tibia fracture in a car accident, it is likely that you will not be able to return to work for a long time, especially if your job is physically demanding. In order to recover adequate compensation for your injuries, it is in your best interests to speak with a St. Louis car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Call (314) 361-4242 for a FREE case evaluation.

Driving Under Influence: Alcohol & Prescription Drugs

September 29, 2017 by Christopher

Driving under influence is a major cause of deaths for the people in the age group of 15 to 29.

Driving under influence refers to operating a vehicle when the driver is impaired due to the influence of alcohol or drugs. A driver who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol cannot navigate traffic competently and safely. This can lead to severe road accidents and fatalities. A number of laws are in place to restrict drinking and driving.

Facts And Figures

Drivers who operate their vehicles under influence cause the maximum number of serious traffic accidents. Driving under influence or DUI is a major cause of deaths for the people in the age group of 15 to 29. Official records state that alcohol-related accidents cause damages worth $37 billion every year.

Driving Under Influence Tests

If an officer notices some external signs of driving under influence, like swerving, failure to signal, and erratic changes in speed they can stop the vehicle. They can question the driver and find out the cause for his impaired driving.

Officers can set up sobriety checkpoints where they can stop each vehicle and interview the driver to check if they are driving under influence.

They can also use the following tests.

The Blood Alcohol Content Test

This is the most common way of determining whether a person is driving under the influence of alcohol or not. The Blood Alcohol Test shows the amount of alcohol content in the driver’s blood. It shows how much alcohol the person has consumed but it does not indicate the extent to which the driver is impaired. A driver with a BAC greater than .08 is presumed to be driving under influence.

Field Sobriety Tests

There is no BAC test to check the influence of drugs. So field sobriety tests are used for this purpose. They are a set of tests to assess the driver’s level of impairment.

The Horizontal Gaze Test – The driver is asked to follow an object, for example, a pen which is held near his face with his eyes. This is useful to assess the person’s reaction to an object and his eye movement.

The One-Leg Stand Test – In this test the driver is asked to stand on one leg. This helps to assess a person’s balance and synchronization.

The Walk and Turn Test – This test is used to gauge the person’s capacity to follow directions, perform physical and mental tasks simultaneously and to remember a set of steps. The goal of the test is to evaluate the driver’s level of coordination and mental alertness.

Other Tests

The Alphabet Test – The motorist has to recite all the alphabets or a part of them.

The Finger Count Test – In this the driver has to count his fingers.

The Finger to Nose Test – The driver is asked to tilt his head backward, close his eyes and touch his nose with the index finger of his right and left hand one after the other.

Injured in a DUI crash?

Contact a competent St. Louis car accident attorney as soon as possible. Call (314) 361-4242 for a FREE case evaluation.

Signs of PTSD After a Car Wreck

August 28, 2017 by Christopher

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in a person who experiences a traumatic event.

The person may experience various symptoms that may be triggered by many forms of stimuli. In the past, PTSD was often only associated with war veterans. However, today, it has been recognized to affect victims of severe car accidents and other similar traumatic events. In this post, we will discuss the common symptoms that a car accident victim with PTSD may experience.

Types of PTSD

PTSD can be acute or chronic, and a person can develop either type. PTSD is treatable, and some patients can be treated within six months. Those who suffer it for a longer period are known to have chronic PTSD. Some people may develop PTSD immediately after suffering the trauma, while some may develop it months or even years after it.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, a person is known to have PTSD if they have experienced the following symptoms within a one month period

At least one avoidance symptom
At least one re-experiencing symptom
At least two cognition or mood symptoms
At least two arousal or reactivity symptoms

AVOIDANCE SYMPTOMS

When an individual avoids events, objects, places, thoughts or even feelings that may remind them of their trauma, it is referred to as avoidance symptoms.

RE-EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS

Any symptoms that take the victim back to the feelings that they experienced at the time of trauma are often called re-experiencing symptoms. These include frightening thoughts, flashbacks, and bad dreams.

COGNITION AND MOOD SYMPTOMS

The accident victim may be difficulty remembering key details about the incident if they are suffering from PTSD. They may often be in a bad mood and may have feelings of guilt and negative thoughts about themselves. The victim may also lose interest in activities they once found fun.

AROUSAL AND REACTIVITY SYMPTOMS

These symptoms are constant and not necessarily triggered by the traumatic incident. These include anger issues, poor concentration, startling easily, and inability to sleep.

Those who suffer from PTSD may experience all of these symptoms. In some cases, they resolve within a few weeks, in which cases it is known as Acute Stress Disorder. When it lasts longer, it is likely a case of PTSD.

A car accident victim is more likely to experience PTSD symptoms if they:

- - Experience intense trauma
  - Have experienced some other trauma earlier in life such as childhood abuse
  - Have mental problems such as depression or anxiety
  - Have problems with substance abuse
  - Have blood relatives with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety
  - Lack of a good support system

Seeking compensation for PTSD following a car accident

If you are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above, you should see a mental health expert, and if you are diagnosed with PTSD you should seek compensation along with other damages. Speak with an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney 24/7 by calling (314) 361-4242.

Drivers Still Using Phones Despite Knowing the Dangers

June 27, 2017 by Christopher

No text message is so important that you should risk your life to read it.

We all know that using a mobile phone while driving is distracting, and we also know that distracted driving is very dangerous. So why do so many drivers insist on using their phones while they drive? In this post, our car accident lawyer will discuss the results of a study that highlights this problem.

A recent survey by State Farm shows that 91% of drivers own a smartphone and over half of these drivers use their phone while they are driving. In 2015, 3,477 people died due to distracted driving and 391,000 were injured.

Not surprisingly, the survey concludes that those drivers who use their phone while driving are more likely to have an accident when compared to those who don’t use a phone in the car.

It seems people just don’t care, even when we know the dangers. While driving, people use their phones in a variety of ways. They take video, take photos, send text messages and browse the Internet, as well as make and receive calls. Of the 26% of drivers that use the Internet while driving, a massive 96% of them stated that they thought it was a distraction and 77% believed it made them more likely to have a crash.

Another interesting fact was revealed by the survey. It seems that the more apps drivers use on their phone, the higher the likelihood that they would also risk crashing by other means such as not using a seat belt, racing, driving while tired or driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

While the drivers admit that it is dangerous, the most common reason given for using a mobile phone while driving is that they need to keep in touch.

Mobile phone usage when driving and the law

While most of us know that mobile phone usage is a distraction when we are driving, many of us are simply not aware of the laws regarding mobile phone usage in their state. State Farm suggests that awareness of these laws is really important as the study showed that when drivers knew it was actually illegal to use their mobile phone when driving, they were far less likely to actually use it. Fear of legal repercussions, such as losing their license or getting a fine is the 2nd most common reason given for never using a mobile phone when driving. The most common reason stated was simply that it is not safe.

Don’t text and drive

There is no text message so important, and nothing you need to Google that is worth risking your life for. Many people die each year simply because they performed one of these trivial tasks. If you are having trouble, turn your phone off while driving and you won’t be tempted to use it. If you really do need to take a call, find a safe place to pull over and call the person back. This action really could save your life and those of your passengers or other drivers on the road.

If you have been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, contact a competent St. Louis car accident lawyer to learn more about your legal rights. Call (314) 361-4242 today for a free case evaluation.

Should I Go to Work After a Car Accident?

May 31, 2017 by Christopher

An automobile accident may leave you severely injured and unable to go back to work.

If you have been invovled in an auto accident, and as a result have taken some time off work, you may be wondering when you should return. In this post, our St. Louis accident attorney answers some of the common questions regarding returning to work after a car accident.

Will going back to work ruin your case?

It is important to keep in mind that returning to work does not end your legal case. As a plaintiff, you have the responsibility to minimize your losses. If you do not return to work within a reasonable amount of time, you could hurt your claim. When you go back to work as soon as you are able to, you fulfill your responsibility to minimize losses. You will still be able to claim the time you took off in the past to recover from the injuries. Additionally, you may be able to claim future income loss if your injuries reduced your capacity to work.

Can you still claim accident benefits if you go back to work?

Generally, you can still claim no-fault benefits.

Does going back to work mean you are fully recovered?

In most cases, individuals return to work out of financial necessity. If you go back to work, it doesn’t mean you are all better or that your symptoms have gone away.

There should be a medical basis

Being involved in an accident does not automatically entitle you to wage loss benefits. In order to claim wage loss, you have to prove that there is a medical basis for your inability to return to work after a car accident. Your treating doctor must recommended that you take some time off work to recover.

Will going back to work make my condition worse?

In many cases, it actually does the opposite. As long as the injuries do not prevent you from performing your job, returning to work may actually reduce discomfort and pain. Additionally, it will ease many of your financial burdens. It is important though, that you do not go back to work against your doctors orders, as this could actually jeopardize not only your legal case but also your health.

If you have been involved in a St. Louis automobile accident, give our experienced car accident lawyers a call today at (314) 361-4242 for a free case evaluation.