No matter who you are, brushing up on traffic laws is always a good idea.

Though many St. Louis residents think they understand intersections perfectly, many of them would fail if you gave them a test on the subject. The reason is that there are a few confusing intricacies that many don’t fully understand. Here is what you need to know about driving through red lights and stop signs.

When to Stop

Four traffic features require you to stop: Stop signs, red lights, flashing red lights, and traffic lights that are off. When doing so, make sure you come to a complete stop before starting again. Just slowing down to a low speed and then starting up again is not sufficient. While stop signs and red lights are straightforward, many drivers do not know how to act when a stop light flashes red or turns off. In these situations, you treat the intersection as if it were a four-way stop sign.

Right on Red

Though this law varies from state to state, Missouri allows drivers to turn right on red lights. When you do this, make sure that no other cars are coming down the road. If they are, wait for them to pass because they have the right of way. The one exception to the right on red rule is when there is a sign indicating that you cannot turn. If there is, follow that sign over the general guideline.

Left on Red

Some states allow this kind of turn, but Missouri is not one of them. If you are turning left at an intersection, you must wait until your light is green before entering.

Yellow Lights

When you are heading towards an intersection and see a yellow light, that serves as a warning of the red light coming soon. The law indicates that in these situations, you are allowed to enter the intersection as long as the light is still yellow. One thing to note, though, is that last second entries are often both unsafe and misinterpreted by police officers. For these reasons, you should always lean towards stopping over driving through a yellow light.

Bicyclists and Motorcyclists

Under some circumstances, cyclists are allowed to run a red light. What they must do to make it legal is come to a complete stop, wait for an ample amount of time, determine that the light is not sensing them, and safely enter the intersection when there is no cross traffic.

No matter who you are, brushing up on traffic laws is always a smart decision. When you do, you increase your odds of staying safe. Unfortunately, a crash may still occur due to the negligence of another driver. If you are involved in a car accident, get in touch with a St. Louis car accident attorney 24/7 at (314) 361-4242 for a FREE Case Evaluation.

Car accidents can cause a wide variety of injuries ranging from cuts and scrapes to live threatening head injuries.

In many car accidents, drivers come out entirely unharmed. In others, they experience severe injuries or death. Many factors contribute to the severity of injuries, but the most common are angle of the collision, seatbelt usage, speed of the cars, and the quality of the airbag system. If the conditions surrounding your accident are not favorable, there is a good chance that you will sustain damages. If you do, your injury will likely fall into one of the categories below. One thing to note is that no matter what the nature of your damage is, it is always a goo idea to consult with a St. Louis car accident lawyer for more information. Here are some of the most common of those injuries and what to expect from them.

Soft Tissue

This type of injury is one that affects the connective tissue of the body. Generally, that means tendons, muscles, and ligaments. A few typical examples of soft tissue injuries are sprains, strains, and tears. Though these damages are less severe than other types of injury, they can still be very frustrating to manage. If you experience one of them, you should see a doctor and decide on a treatment plan.

Cuts and Scrapes

When one car hits another, it delivers a massive amount of momentum. That energy can send objects flying throughout your vehicle, each of which has the chance of harming you. A typical result of this effect is being cut or scraped. These injuries can come from parts of your car or objects within it, like a GPS or pair of glasses. Depending on the severity of your cut or scrape, you may or may not need to see a doctor. If you have any indecision, take the prudent option and check with a medical professional.

Head Injury

When you collide with another car, two things can injure your head. First, the impact may cause your head and neck to suddenly move in an uncomfortable direction. Second, your head could hit something like your steering wheel or an airbag. Either way, you may experience a severe head injury in your crash. The most common of these are concussions, but there are many more that your doctor will talk to you about when you see them for an assessment.

Bruising

Just like with your head, any part of your body can experience an overwhelming impact in a crash. What will often happen as a result is intense bruising. While this injury is generally not permanent, it is very frustrating to deal with for the time it affects you.

Breaks

If the impact you feel is extreme enough, you may experience bone breaks. The most common areas are arms, legs, hands, feet, and ribs. If you sustain a break, you will need immediate medical assistance.

Nobody ever expects to get into a car accident, but the truth is that they are incredibly common. Because of this, it is best to be prepared for them. One way to do that is by understanding what to expect from the most common car accident injuries. If you’re looking for even more information on these injuries, such as the compensation you can obtain for them, it is best to consult a St. Louis car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

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(314) 361-4242

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.