Car Accidents
Missouri Motorcycle Legislation Headed to Governor
Posted by: Christopher Hoffmann
April 30, 2009
Motorcyclists who are at least 21 would be able to ride without a helmet on all roads in Missouri except for interstate highways if the governor signs recently passed legislation into law.
The bill, which was approved on April 29 by the House and earlier passed by the Senate, repeals the mandatory helmet law. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, previous efforts to roll back the safety helmet law have been controversial. But this time, the measure sparked little debate.
Supporters of the legislation say it is more fun to ride without a helmet. They also believe the state should not micromanage their lives.
Safety advocates argue that helmets save lives. According to Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, an alliance of consumer, health and safety groups and insurance companies and agents, helmet use drops from 71 percent to 58 percent annually when states repeal helmet use laws.
A 2001 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicated that helmets reduce the risk of death by 29 percent and are 67 percent effective in reducing brain injuries.
The motor vehicle accident lawyers at The Hoffmann Law Firm represent motorcycle accident victims struck by cars or trucks. If you or a loved one has been injured or a loved one has been killed in a motorcycle accident, contact our auto accident attorneys by calling 314.361.4242 or filling out our personal injury intake form.
Hit and Run Accident Kills Pedestrian
Posted by: Christopher Hoffmann
April 23, 2009
An early morning hit-and-run motor vehicle accident in St. Louis left one pedestrian dead, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
The fatality is a reminder that traffic safety continues to be a problem for pedestrians.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration data, 4,654 pedestrians were killed in the United States in 2007 as a result of traffic crashes.
The data sheet also notes:
- On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic crash every 113 minutes and injured in a traffic crash every 8 minutes.
- There were 70,000 pedestrians injured in traffic crashes in 2007.
- Most pedestrian fatalities in 2007 occurred in urban areas (73%), at non-intersection locations (77%), in normal weather conditions (90%), and at night (67%).
To help communities create a safer, more walkable environment, the Federal Highway Administration has put together a 79-page guide that offers residents suggestions. The guide provides safety examples from other communities, includes checklists to assess problems related to safety and recommendations for working with community groups and elected officials to improve walkability.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car or truck accident, contact The Hoffmann Law Firm by filing out our online contact form or by calling 314.361.4242.
Traumatic Amputations and Automobile Accidents
Posted by: Christopher Hoffmann
April 09, 2009
Traumatic amputation or limb loss can be the result of many different types of accidents including motor vehicle accidents.
According to the National Limb Loss Information Center, upper limb amputations make up almost 70 percent of all trauma-related amputations. Men face a significantly higher risk of amputation as a result of an accident. As men and women age, the risk of undergoing a traumatic amputation increases. Those over the age of 85 are at the highest risk for becoming an amputee.
At The Hoffmann Law Firm, we help people who have been injured in car accidents as a result of the carelessness of another. In addition to providing legal assistance, we believe it is also important to provide our clients with information that may be useful when it comes to adapting to life after an auto accident injury.
For amputees, the Amputee Coalition of America hosts a Web site that offers a wealth of information. The information center contains fact sheets that offer tips for new amputees such as how to manage pain, locating a certified prosthetist and information on wound care. For children, there are fact sheets on how to help a child adjust to limb loss or a parent's amputation.
There is also an abundance of information relating to advocacy, financial help, peer support and preparing for surgery.
The ACA also connects individuals to support groups in their state. In Missouri, there are support groups listed for Blue Springs, Farmington, St. Louis and Springfield.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car or truck accident, contact The Hoffmann Law Firm by filing out our online contact form or by calling 314.361.4242.
Head injuries in St. Louis may one day be detected by a blood test
Posted by: Christopher Hoffmann
April 02, 2009
Brain injury patients in St. Louis may one day receive a relatively simple blood test that could predict whether the head injury is a serious one.
According to Science Daily, two recently published studies indicate that blood tests of the S-100B serum protein biomarker conducted within four hours of an injury accurately predicts which patients will suffer head trauma such as a hemorrhage or skull fracture.
The test takes approximately 20 minutes and avoids unnecessary radiation exposure associated with CT Scans. Although CT Scans are the accepted screening tool in the United States, researchers found that 95 percent of the scans look normal for patients with a relatively mild by potentially life-changing injury.
The studies, published in the Journal of Neurotrauma and the Annals of Emergency Medicine, looked at a blood test that is already routinely used in 16 European countries. The U.S. researchers announced they will continue to look into the accuracy of the blood test this by studying 1,500 patients.
Motor vehicle accidents account for about 28 percent of all traumatic brain injuries. Of all brain injuries severe enough to require hospitalization, almost 50 percent were linked to car crashes. If the researchers are able to confirm the findings and Food and Drug Administration approves the blood test, it could help prevent the serious, long term effects associated with auto accident head injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident, call The Hoffmann Law Firm on fill out our online intake form. Our lawyers have a track record of success when it comes to handling car accidents, truck accidents and motorcycle crashes.
