Whiplash & Whiplash Injury St. Louis

Auto Accident Injury

Investigating Injuries After a St. Louis Auto Accident

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two doctors looking at MRI

It’s imperative to see a doctor as soon as possible after a car accident. Some injuries are not visible right away, but a doctor will be able to diagnose and treat them accordingly.

Your GP or the emergency unit doctors will make sure to recommend the proper investigations, but sometimes it’s up to you to request certain tests that might not be suggested at first, due to long waiting times or lack of insurance coverage.

Here are the three most common medical investigations you might consider if you’ve been injured in a car crash.

X-Ray

What Is It?

The most common use for X-Rays in medicine is to identify bone fractures. X-Rays are electromagnetic waves that penetrate soft tissue but don’t go through bone. They provide an image of your skeletal structures, showing fissures, fractures or dislocation.

What Is It Recommended for?

X-Rays will be most probably the first investigation that will be done in an emergency unit. It is meant to detect any bone fractures or other injuries to bone tissue, joints or skull.

CT Scan

What Is It?

A CT scan is performed when the suspected injuries might go beyond just the bone. A CT scanner is a medical device where the patient is laying down and is pushed through a circular scanner. This ensures that there are electromagnetic rays coming from all directions, giving the doctors detailed images of the patient’s insides. The images often appear as “slices” of the human body.

What Is It Recommended for?

A CT scan can detect traumatic brain injuries, internal organs ruptures, soft tissue and blood vessels injuries, tumors, etc. A CT scan will pick up injuries that will go undetected in an X-Ray exam.

MRI

What Is It?

The most complex exam of the three is the MRI scan. It’s not often recommended to car accident patients as their injuries are usually detected with the prior two methods. But, in some cases, certain body parts can be affected in such a way that a diagnosis becomes difficult. An MRI scan is crucial in determining the source of the problem and the right treatment they should take.

What Is It Recommended for?

Most often used when there’s a suspicion of TBI (traumatic brain injury) in a car accident victim, the MRI will be able to show more about the nature of the injury and how the brain was affected. Another diagnosis possible through an MRI scan is related to spinal injuries.

How Can a Car Accident Attorney Help?

If you believe you need extra investigations and your doctors seem reluctant to do them because of administrative issues like insurance coverage, your attorney can advocate for you and demand a more comprehensive evaluation of your injuries. Your St. Louis car accident attorney will ensure your legal right to compensation is protected.

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How Do Auto Accident Attorneys Work on a Contingency Fee?

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Have you been involved in a car accident, but think you can’t afford to hire an attorney? Here’s why you don’t need to worry.

If you are unfamiliar with the term “contingency fee“, this term means that a lawyer will only get paid if you win your case, rather than the conventional system of charging hourly.

contingency fee car accident lawyer

How Legal Costs Usually Work

The conventional method that many lawyers use to bill clients is by the hour. This fee structure is what you would pay if you were getting a divorce or obtaining counsel for almost any other legal matter. It is very straightforward, as the attorney gives you an hourly rate and bills you for each hour worked. The only area of confusion might be what constitutes work, as a quick phone call may or may not be worthy of payment. No matter what, this method is easy to understand and widely used by legal professionals

How Personal Injury Cases are Often Different

If you are the injured party in a car accident claim, there is a good chance that you won’t adhere to the hourly guidelines we presented above. Instead, your lawyer will likely take a percentage from your final settlement. For some attorneys this may mean paying a small upfront cost called a “retainer.” Aside from this fee, every other dollar you give your attorney will come from the final settlement that you win in your case

Why Attorneys Use This Structure

The reason why many lawyers use this structure is that it is more friendly to the client. Take the following hypothetical series of events as an example.

  • You get injured in a car accident.
  • You hire a lawyer at an hourly rate.
  • Your attorney wins you your case, but with a much lower settlement than you expected.
  • The end result is you losing money on your claim.

The above situation is not one you want to go through, and lawyers know that. What they offer instead is sharing your final prize with you, so you don’t lose anything in the event of a disappointing result.

What it Means For You

The primary takeaway from this discussion is that you take on minimal risk when you pursue personal injury compensation. The reason is that your consultation will be free, your retainer fee will be manageable, and you don’t get billed for that lawyer’s hourly work. While you still might pay that professional a considerable sum at the end of your case, you will not lose money throughout as you would in many other legal niches.

Involved in a St. Louis Car Accident?

One more benefit of the typical personal injury pricing structure is that you and your St. Louis auto accident attorney have the same goal. Both of you want to get the full amount of compensation you are entitled to, as that means more money for everyone involved. This effect makes it so attorneys can’t take advantage and rack up hours for extra payment. Instead, they win when you win, and that is precisely what should happen in your case.

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

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Knee Injuries From Car Accidents: What You Need to Know

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Knee injuries are one of the most common outcomes of car accidents.

The reason knee injuries are so common after car accidents, is that they are often directly in the line of airbags, which can apply a high level of force. Here is what you need to know about this type of damage.

Symptoms

One of the biggest issues car accident victims go through is not know if they have an injury or not. The first thing we’ll say on this matter is that you should always see a doctor. Even if you barely feel a symptom or aren’t expiring any, it is best to see a medical professional anyways. The second is to watch out for the following signs when it comes to knee injuries.

Discoloration – The three typical colors you’ll see are blue, green, and red. Each signals inflammation and damage, the most common of which is bruising.

Temperature – Another indicator of the healing response is a rise in temperature, which is caused by more blood being in the area.

Pain – The most obvious clue is pain. If you feel it, you should see a doctor.

Weakness – Lastly, you may find that your knee is weaker during weightlifting, sports, or day to day tasks. No matter what, this discomfort is cause for concern.

Injuries

The most common knee injuries that come from car accidents include fractures, dislocations, sprains, cartilage damage, and ligament tears. Each of these damages comes with its own set of symptoms and complications. Though we could list them, it is a better for you to speak with a doctor and getting expert medical information.

The Most Common Cause

Though high-speed collisions can cause a vehicle to make an impact with your knee directly, the more common occurrence is airbag complications. What happens is your airbags deploying, and the force of their quick inflation may twist your knee in an uncomfortable way. This movement can compromise the structure of the knee and cause injury.

Treatment Options

Your specific treatment will depend on the opinion of your doctor. Generally, at-home remedies include ice, heat, and rest. Minor knee injuries will solve themselves using these tactics. For severe ones, you may need to utilize physical therapy or surgery, both of which may be paid for by a personal injury lawsuit.

Your Means of Compensation

The one silver lining of sustaining a knee injury from a car accident is that you may not have to pay for your treatment. The reason is that your case could fall into the personal injury legal framework. In short, if you can prove that another party was at fault for your damages, you can get your medical bills and many other expenses paid for.

If you injure your knee in a car accident, one thing you must understand is that you don’t have to take on that tragedy alone. Instead, you can speak with an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney and get the ball rolling on obtaining benefits from the liable party. Timing is crucial in these cases, so starting the process as soon as possible is in your best interest.

Call 24/7 :: (314) 361-4242

Whiplash Injury and Rear-End Collisions

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Whiplash is a common injury associated with rear-end collisions.

whiplash car accident St. Louis

The National Safety Council reports that 20 percent of victims in rear-end car accidents suffer from whiplash. A whiplash victim can experience pain and soreness that lasts more than a year.

Women are more likely to suffer whiplash in a car accident because of differences in height, strength and the position of the head restraint. Children who are seated in the third row of minivans and SUVs are also at risk for whiplash injuries.

Symptoms of Whiplash

Whiplash is an injury to the neck caused by an abrupt back and forth jerking motion of the head. Whiplash causes injury to the soft tissues in the bone and spinal cord in the neck and back. The intervertebral joints, discs, ligaments, cervical muscles, and nerve roots may become damaged.  Symptoms of whiplash include:

Diagnosis of Whiplash

A victim of a rear-end collision may not seek medical attention because they feel no immediate pain after an accident. However, symptoms of whiplash injuries are often delayed. Standard X-rays are often used to diagnose soft tissue injuries. CT scans and MRIs may be used to diagnose disc, muscle, or ligament damage.

Treatment of Whiplash

Pain management is a big part of treatment for whiplash. A doctor may prescribe pain relief medication along with physical therapy, massage, heat, and ice. More extensive treatments such as traction, injections, and ultrasound may be required, depending on the severity of the injury. In the past, cervical collars were used to immobilize the neck. The current trend is to encourage early and gentle movement.

According to vehicle safety researchers, the proper position of head restraints and seat belts can protect most passengers from rear-end collision injuries. Head restraints in rear-end collisions are as important as seat belts in frontal collisions.

Help from a St. Louis Car Accident Attorney

The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. has been assisting whiplash victims for more than 15 years and we can help you obtain the compensation you need for medical expenses and other losses. We offer free consultations in all personal injury cases and you never pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us at (314) 361-4242.

How to Know if Someone is in Shock

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A car accident victim may experience shock, a life-threatening medical condition that can worsen quickly.

auto accident injury St. Louis

Every year, car accidents claim the lives of thousands of people. While most of these deaths are a direct result of car accident injuries, a large number of deaths are caused by shock. It is important to understand the signs of shock so that you can help a victim until emergency personnel arrives.

Shock After a Car Crash

After a car accident, a victim may experience two types of shock: physiological and psychological. Physiological shock is a medical term used to refer to the state a person enters when tissues and organs do not receive enough blood and oxygen. Psychological shock can mimic physiological shock and one can experience it after a traumatic experience either from physical or emotional trauma. A car accident victim can experience both these types of shocks and it is important to get early medical treatment to prevent complications or death.

Signs and Symptoms of Shock

A person who has gone into shock may not be able to answer basic questions such as name, location, or what time of the day it is. Failure to answer any of these questions could indicate that the victim is experiencing shock. Other symptoms include:

  • nausea and weakness
  • pale, clammy skin
  • profuse sweating
  • shallow, fast breathing
  • fast pulse in the neck
  • unconsciousness
  • blue or white lips and fingernails
  • confusion

Until Help Arrives

It is important to seek immediate medical attention for shock. Here are a few things that you can do to help the patient while you wait for emergency personnel.

  • Keep the victim warm with a blanket or coat to conserve body heat.
  • Loosen clothing.
  • Control bleeding with pressure.
  • Elevate the feet, but try not to move the patient if he or she has suffered a serious injury such as a possible spinal injury.
  • Reassure the patient.
  • Remain calm.

St. Louis Car Wreck Injuries

If you have been injured by a negligent driver, you can make a claim for compensation with the help of a St. Louis car accident attorney. Call The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. at (314) 361-4242.