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3 Habits Every Teenage Driver Should Cultivate to Prevent Car Accidents

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Some simple tips can help teenage drivers decrease their chances of being involved in an automobile accident.

Establishing safe driving habits early on can save lives!

Statistics have shown that automobile accidents are the foremost reason for death among adolescents. The risk of being involved in automobile accidents is high within the first six months after adolescents receive their drivers’ license. More often than not, it is due to lack of experience and over-enthusiasm from perceived independence.

father teaching teenage son how to drive safely

Speeding, distraction, and failure to notice and respond to possible dangers are common reasons for teenage drivers’ accidents. The common reason for distraction among adolescents is texting and driving. Recent statistics indicate that around 30% of male drivers aged 15–20 years and 18% of female drivers aged 15–20 years involved in fatal crashes were speeding. The risk of drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 being involved in an automobile accident is four times higher than drivers in an older age group or drivers between the ages of 25 and 69.

Some simple tips can help teenage drivers decrease their chances of being involved in an automobile accident.

Check Your Surroundings

Experienced drivers are in the habit of checking all of their surroundings on the road. In addition to checking what is going on in front of and behind one’s vehicle, it is vital to check blind spots before switching lanes. When teenage drivers are aware of their surroundings, their chances of being involved in an accident decrease.

Monitor Your Speed

The main reason why speed limit notices are posted in some areas, such as exit ramps, is to ensure that inexperienced drivers are aware of the necessary speed that will allow them to safely exit ramps. A driver’s surroundings may change in an instant, making an unexpected stop necessary. For this and other reasons, it is important for all drivers to monitor their speed and ensure that they are well within the speed limit. It is also essential to teach adolescents how weather conditions can affect driving situations, such as rain or snow.

Remove Source of Distractions

Lives can be saved when parents have rules while driving. These rules include not using mobile phones or setting a maximum number of people inside the vehicle. Parents should establish probationary periods to ensure they gain enough experience to drive independently. Some authorities recommend that parents establish a six-month period before allowing their adolescent children to drive independently.

Evidence indicates that adolescent drivers whose parents establish regulations and provide supportive guidance are less likely to become involved in automobile accidents. Therefore if you are a parent, it is vital that you instill safe driving happens in your child. It could save not only their lives but the lives of others.

If, despite driving safely, you have been involved in a St. Louis car accident, contact The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. 24/7 at (314) 361-4242 for a free consultation with an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney!

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Speak with an experienced attorney 24/7

Click to Call: (314) 361-4242

Common Causes of Child-Pedestrian Accidents and How to Prevent Them

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Let’s consider the leading causes of child-pedestrian accidents and tips to help prevent these accidents.

While the frequency of child-pedestrian accidents has decreased over the years, pedestrian injuries are still a leading cause of injury-related death among children in the US. According to the CDC, nearly 20% of 15 years and below children killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2018 were pedestrians. And as it turns out, these deaths could have been prevented.

Let’s consider the leading causes of child-pedestrian accidents and tips to help prevent these accidents.

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two children crossing the road

Common Causes of Child-Pedestrian Accidents

A vast majority of child-pedestrian accidents revolve around a driver’s negligence. We are talking about everything from distracted driving, impatient drivers, impaired drivers, failure to yield the right-of-way, rolling stops, and failure to slow down in school zones. Child-pedestrian accidents can also be caused by reduced visibility, such as bright lights shining in a child’s eyes, objects or cars on the side of the road, or poor weather conditions. 

In other instances, the child can contribute to the risk of pedestrian accidents. Children are often impulsive and playful, which can lead to poor decisions while walking near traffic. In addition, children have limited side (peripheral) vision, which means they may have trouble seeing movement to the side, increasing their risk for accidents. At times, children can become so caught up in the destination that they forget to pay attention to the world around them.

What You Can Do to Prevent Child-Pedestrian Accidents

Parental guidance is the number one safeguard against child-pedestrian injuries and deaths. Here are ways parents and caretakers can help prevent child-pedestrian accidents:

  • Teach your child to look left, right, and left again, and look out for traffic.
  • Young children learn by watching adults. So don’t let your child pick up bad road habits from you. Instead, set a good example by obeying traffic laws and signals and crossing at intersections only.
  • Insist that your children put away phones and other distractions when in traffic.
  • Teach your child to always walk on the sidewalk.

Holding Negligent Parties Accountable

All drivers have a duty to share the road with pedestrians and use reasonable care to avoid hitting any pedestrians. If a driver breaches this duty and hits a child pedestrian, the driver may be held liable for the accident and the resulting injuries.

However, as with any other injury claim, you’ll be required to provide evidence that proves beyond reasonable doubt that the driver was negligent and their action caused your child’s injuries. This is where an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney will benefit your case greatly. Your attorney can help you collect evidence and prove your claim has merit.

St. Louis Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

Car injuries can have long-term consequences for a child, as well as their loved ones. Give us a call 24/7 for a free case evaluation with an experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer.

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Speak with an experienced attorney 24/7

Click to Call: (314) 361-4242

Can You Use Your Individual Health Insurance if You Get Injured in a Car Accident?

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There are several instances where you can generally use your health insurance after a St. Louis car accident.

Generally, after sustaining injuries in a St. Louis car accident, you are responsible for paying your treatment and medical care costs as you incur them.

When looking for sources to pay your medical bill, you may find yourself wondering: Can you use your health insurance to cover your medical bills after a car accident?

medical billing statement

Can You Use Your Individual Health Insurance?

The answer is generally yes. 

When Exactly Should You Use Your Individual Health Insurance?

There are several instances where you can generally use your health insurance after an accident. This includes:

To Cover Medical Expenses Before Your Settlement: In most cases, insurance companies wait until the injured victim has recovered and completed all their medical treatments before initiating a car accident settlement. Unfortunately, this often means that your settlement can take months, or even years, depending on how long your treatment takes. 

You can generally use your health insurance to cover your medical bills to avoid being reported to collections during this period.

If Medical Expenses Exceed the Insurance Payout: Sometimes, the other driver’s liability insurance may not be enough to cover all your medical expenses. You can typically use your health insurance to cover any remaining medical costs in such circumstances. 

Can Your Individual Health Insurer Refuse to Pay Your Medical Bills?

Yes, they can. The good news is that, just like any other insurance claim, you can appeal the denial. 

However, before you contact the insurer asking them to reconsider their decision, make sure you find out the reasons for the denial. For example, maybe you provided inaccurate information when documenting your claim. Or perhaps you took too long to inform the insurance company about your accident and injuries. Whatever the reasons for denial, make sure you hire an experienced attorney before you speak to the insurance company. A skilled car accident attorney will help you determine why your claim was rejected and begin to put together the evidence necessary to prove that the insurance company is legally obligated to cover your medical expenses.

Your attorney can also help you file an injury claim against the at-fault driver and collect all the evidence you need to convince the insurance company or judge the defendant is responsible for your injuries. Your attorney can also negotiate with the insurer on your behalf and fight for reimbursement for your medical expenses and other injury-related damages.

Speak With a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer

If you or your loved one has been injured in a car accident, reach out to our experienced St. Louis car accident attorney for a free case evaluation.

FREE Consultation

Speak with an experienced attorney 24/7

Click to Call: (314) 361-4242

Coup and Contrecoup Brain Injuries After a St. Louis Car Accident

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Let’s take a look at coup and contrecoup TBI-related injuries and how you can seek compensation after a car accident.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs). Sadly, these injuries affect the brain’s normal functioning, cause long-term health conditions, and in severe cases, death. Let’s take a look at coup and contrecoup TBI-related injuries and how you can seek compensation after a car accident.

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brain injury illustration

Coup Injuries

Coup injuries occur when a moving object or outside force comes into contact with the head. They may also arise when the head hits something stationary with force, resulting in both internal and external injuries at the point of contact. A good example is when one is hit with a blunt object, falls, or bumps into a wall resulting in bruises, contusion, bumps, skull trauma, and lacerations.

Contrecoup Injuries

Contrecoup injuries generally occur at the impact point or directly opposite where the force came into contact with the head. A common cause of contrecoup injuries is driving at full speed or getting involved in a head-on collision. The head may hit the steering wheel or the dashboard, leading to a coup injury, while the brain will swing in the opposite direction hitting the other side of the head.

Sometimes, contrecoup brain injuries are overlooked, which is why you should see a doctor immediately after a car accident, even if you feel alright.

What to Do After a Coup or Contrecoup Injury Caused by a Negligent Driver?

Head injuries can have lifelong effects like infections, paralysis, impaired speech, persistent headaches, coma, brain death, and other side effects that you have to manage for the rest of your life. As a result, you may have to miss work and use a significant amount of money for your treatment.

Fortunately, you can generally file a car accident claim against the negligent driver and get compensation for the medical procedures, loss of livelihood, pain and suffering, and any other damage you may have suffered.

However, it’s not advisable to pursue a car accident claim on your own. For starters, you’ll have to deal with insurance adjusters who will probably bombard you with questions, threats, and substandard offers to minimize your compensation. Also, the claim process is long, complex, and involves a lot of paperwork, so pursuing it on your own will only add stress to your recovery. Instead, your best chance of a fair case is to work with an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney.

St. Louis Brain Injury Lawyer

Have you or a loved one suffered a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence and need legal assistance seeking compensation? The experienced car accident attorneys at The Hoffman Law Firm can help. Give us a call 24/7 for a free case evaluation.

FREE Consultation

Speak with an experienced attorney 24/7

Click to Call: (314) 361-4242

Most Dangerous Trucks on Missouri Roads – St. Louis Auto Accident Attorney

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Sharing the road with heavy trucks has many potential dangers. Let’s discuss five of the most dangerous trucks on Missouri roads and how you can stay safe.

In 2019 alone, approximately 538,000 large trucks were involved in police-reported traffic crashes. These accidents claimed over 5,000 lives and left 159,000 people injured.

These statistics demonstrate the dangers of sharing the road with heavy trucks. Let’s discuss the five most dangerous trucks on Missouri roads to help you keep safe.

missouri cement truck on the road
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Extra Duty Trucks

These trucks are known to carry extremely heavy and oversized loads. Unfortunately, their sheer size and weight make them a tad difficult to control, especially in wet conditions. As such, the driver can be forced to make a sudden maneuver or slam on their brake, leading to catastrophic accidents. Even worse, the weighty loads may shift and fall, leading to severe injuries and damages.

Dump Trucks

Another type of dangerous truck is the dump truck. These trucks have a high center of gravity, making them prone to rolling over when traveling at high speed. In addition, these trucks have to back up and make numerous turns when making their trips. This results in significant increases in the risk of accidents and injuries.

Cement Trucks

It’s not uncommon for cement trucks to roll over. Unfortunately, the spinning drum and its higher gravity expose them to rollover accidents when making turns at high speed.

Also, like other large trucks, cement trucks have several blind spots, making it extremely dangerous to drive near them.

Tanker Trucks

Tanker trucks transport valuable liquids and gasses across the country. However, they also pose significant dangers to drivers driving near them. In an accident, these liquids may spill and cause life-threatening skin injuries and damages to other road users.

Garbage Trucks

Yes, you read that right. The garbage trucks that you come across in your neighborhood are dangerous.  Here’s why:

  • Most garbage trucks have large tank-like bodies that present several blind spots. Therefore, if you’re driving near a garbage truck, be aware that the driver may not see you, and you may be involved in a fatal blind spot accident.
  • Garbage truck drivers make a lot of stops and turns during their operation. Therefore, driving near them might turn you into a rear-end or improper turn accident victim.
  • Garbage trucks carry heavy and unsteady loads, which may compromise their stability. Sadly, an overloaded or unstable load may fall onto your car and cause tragic injuries.

Were You Hurt in a Truck Accident? Contact The Hoffmann Law Firm

Have you been hurt in an auto accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence? Speak with an experienced St. Louis auto accident attorney at The Hoffmann Law Firm 24/7. Our attorneys can evaluate your claim free of charge and help you determine what you are legally entitled to after a car accident.

FREE Consultation

Speak with an experienced attorney 24/7

Click to Call: (314) 361-4242

Common Medical Tests That Help Detect Brain Injury after a Car Accident

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Traumatic brain injuries claim over 166 lives daily and are usually characterized by nausea, headache, drowsiness, mood swings, clumsiness, and lack of coordination.

It may be tempting to brush off mild headaches after a car accident, especially if one looks outwardly fine. However, did you know headaches can result from a traumatic brain injury suffered during a car accident?

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) claim over 166 lives every day and are usually characterized by nausea, headache, drowsiness, mood swings, clumsiness, and lack of coordination. Let’s consider some common medical tests used in TBI diagnosis. 

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The Tests 

Glasgow Coma Scale

The GCS rapidly assesses mental operations using pupil measurements, eye movements, touch response, physical reflexes, speech ability, and obedience to verbal commands. 

After the assessment, the doctor will allocate a GCS reading. Generally, a 3-rating usually indicates a comma, and a 15-rating indicates normal function. Anything in between may indicate mild or moderate brain injuries.

CT or CAT

Computerized Tomography uses powerful X-rays to capture clear brain images in many thin sheets and then combines them to form a whole-brain image. They are very effective in diagnosing intracranial hemorrhages, bruised brain tissues, skull fractures, and other forms of brain damage. Sometimes, the technician may inject you with a radioactive dye to enhance the diagnosis.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

You’ve probably seen those tunnel-like machines in movies where the automatic bed moves the patient’s head inside the equipment. That is an MRI. The machine operates similarly to a CT scan, only that it uses powerful magnets in place of X-rays. Doctors generally conduct MRIs for emergency diagnosis when the patient shows no improvement or during follow-up examination.

Electroencephalogram

EEG tests supplement MRI when testing for brain activity and injuries. 

Brain activity produces electric currents, which the equipment detects using small electrical conductors attached to your scalp. Abnormal electrical signals may indicate the presence of a TBI.

Positron Emission Tomography Scan

A PET scan allows doctors to observe tissue and organ operation. The doctor typically injects the patient with a small amount of a radioactive substance called a tracer. And then use special equipment to trace its path inside the body. High chemical activity around specific organs or tissues is usually an indication of damage or disease.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) 

This is an advanced form of MRI because it uses magnetic resonance to create brain images. The only difference between the two is that it can also track the diffusion of water molecules within the white matter fibers that run between different brain sections. Abnormal water diffusion in those pathways could signify TBIs within the brain’s microscopic structure.

St. Louis Car Accident Attorneys

Have you or a loved one recently been involved in a car accident that resulted in severe brain injuries? The experienced St. Louis car accident attorneys at The Hoffman Law Firm can help evaluate your claim for free and help you determine what compensation you may be entitled to for your medical costs, lost wages, and other injury-related expenses. Give us a call 24/7 for a free consultation.

FREE Consultation

Speak with an experienced attorney 24/7

Click to Call: (314) 361-4242

Types of Evidence That Can Prove Fault in an Accident Involving a Drunk Driver

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Below is an overview of the types of evidence your attorney may use to prove the drunk driver was responsible for the accident and your injuries.

If you get injured in an accident caused by a visibly intoxicated truck driver, you may assume their insurer will automatically compensate you for your injuries and damages. However, that’s generally not how accident injury claims work.

The truth is that even if the accident left you with severe injuries, you generally won’t receive compensation until you prove beyond reasonable doubt that the other driver caused your injuries. Below is an overview of the types of evidence your attorney may use to prove the drunk driver was responsible for the accident and your injuries.

alcohol next to car keys
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Police Report

One of the critical and obvious pieces of evidence your attorney can use to build a strong case against the drunk driver is the police report.

When the police arrive after an accident, they generally write down everything they observe at the accident scene.  So if the truck driver showed any signs of intoxication, chances are the police officer included observations of impairment in the police report. Your attorney may use this as evidence to prove the truck driver was driving while drunk, and their negligence caused your injuries.

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Test Results

If the police officer suspects a driver is drunk, the first thing they will do is administer a BAC test. If the BAC results are 0.08% or more, the driver is considered legally intoxicated. Your attorney can use the BAC results to convince the insurance company your claim has merit.

Field Sobriety Tests

This is another test the truck driver may be required to take if they exhibit signs of intoxication. If the driver fails this test, your attorney can use the test results to strengthen your case.

Previous DUI Citations

If the truck driver has previous DUI citations, your attorney can use these citations to prove the other driver has a habit of getting behind the wheel while drunk.

Medical Evidence

If the truck driver sought medical treatment, chances are their treating doctor noted in their medical report they were drunk. Again, your attorney can use this as evidence.

Eyewitnesses

Statement from eyewitnesses can also serve as compelling evidence to pin down the at-fault driver. Eyewitnesses can share crucial information about the trucker’s behavior after the accident. Your attorney can also go out of their way to track down the bar or restaurant that served the driver to support your claim further.

In addition, if the trucker admitted they were drunk after the accident, their incriminating statement can be used as another piece of irrefutable evidence.

St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer

Have you been injured by a drunk driver in St. Louis? Call the experienced St. Louis car accident lawyers at The Hoffmann Law Firm to learn more about your legal rights after a car accident.

FREE Consultation

Speak with an experienced attorney 24/7

Click to Call: (314) 361-4242