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Suv Rollover Crashes - St Louis Car Wreck Attorney

7/31/2017

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Driving an SUV can make you feel safer, because of its larger size. Most people believe that when you are in an SUV and you get into a collision with another smaller vehicle, you are less likely to feel an impact or suffer injuries. However, this may not always be true. Due to the fact that SUVs are taller than other vehicles, they are more prone to rolling over when there is a crash.

When a vehicle as big as an SUV rolls, the injuries caused can be catastrophic. The vehicle’s roof may collapse or may be crushed. This can lead to serious head and brain injuries. Some experts also believe that the seat belts in an SUV may not tighten in a rollover as it would do in any other type of impact. This can cause the occupants to get jerked severely, which can lead to severe injuries. If the doors fail to latch properly in a rollover, occupants can get ejected and suffer severe injuries if they impact the pavement or another hard surface. In this post, our St. Louis car accident attorney discusses the common injuries sustained by occupants in case of an SUV rollover crash.  

Common SUV Rollover Crash Injuries

Some of the injuries that are reported after an SUV rollover are:

  • Head and brain injuries: If the roof of the roof of the SUV collapses in an SUV crash, it can result in serious head and brain injuries, which can leave the person disabled for life. Rollovers can also cause skull fractures and disfiguring facial lacerations due to broken glass and other debris.
  • Chest injuries: While all modern vehicles come with airbags, if the airbags fail to deploy, the victim can suffer a crushing chest injury or broken ribs.
  • Neck injuries: If the neck is jerked in a way that causes the neck to overextend, the occupant can suffer a whiplash. It can also cause a slipped or herniated disc in the neck, and even severe nerve damage.
  • Soft tissue injuries: The victim of an SUV rollover may also stretched or torn ligaments, tendons or muscles. These injuries can affect the person’s ability to move body parts and may hamper with the ability to perform daily functions.
  • Broken bones: Forceful impact of the rollover can cause broken bones. Broken bones in the legs, arms, or any other area can be extremely painful, disabling and take a long time to heal.
  • Cuts and bruises: While these injuries may not be life threatening, they are often extremely painful and disfiguring.

Seeking legal help

If you have been in an SUV rollover crash that was caused due to the negligence of another driver, you should pursue a claim for all your damages with the help of an experienced and competent St. Louis car crash attorney. Call (314) 361-4242 for a FREE case evaluation.

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Understanding the Missouri Right-Of-Way Laws - St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer

7/18/2017

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Signs and signals on roads guide, inform and instruct drivers and pedestrians about the rules to be followed on the particular roadway. For example, the signals placed at an intersection guide vehicles to stop or go, and tells pedestrians when to cross the intersection. Signs like silence zone signs, signs that indicate playing children, speed limit signs, etc., all are essential to keep the busy roads free of accidents.

However, some roads do not have any signs or signals. In such cases, how do pedestrians and vehicles maintain road discipline and avoid accidents?

Right-of-way laws

According to our St. Louis car accident lawyer, right-of-way laws are standard laws that come into play when there are no signs and signals to keep traffic in check. The right-of-way laws indicate who should yield the right of way.

The right-of-way laws in Missouri help maintain on-road safety as these laws are founded in common sense, enabling pedestrians as well as motorists to safely use roads and prevent accidents.

Intersections

Intersections on roads are perhaps the busiest as well as the most likely areas to witness accidents. Therefore adhering to the right-of-way laws becomes essential for all motorists as well as pedestrians. The intersection right-of-way laws are –

  • When pedestrians are crossing the road, especially on a zebra crossing or when the pedestrians signal is on, drivers must yield.
  • Moreover, if motorists are crossing a sidewalk, exiting or entering an alley, parking area or driveway, they must yield to pedestrians.
  • Vehicles that intend to turn left should yield right-of-way to vehicles driving straight.
  • At a four-way intersection, the first driver to reach the intersections goes first.
  • Motorists that are entering a roadway from an alley, parking, roadside or a driveway should yield to those vehicles already on the road.
  • Motorists should give right-of-way to vehicles approaching from the right side on intersections that have no signs or signals.
  • A roundabout is an exception to the above rule and motorists in a roundabout should yield to pedestrians and vehicles already in the circle.

Pedestrians

Sometimes, even pedestrians are required to legally yield to motorists. For example, if a pedestrian crosses an intersection when a vehicle is approaching the intersection on a green light, the pedestrian is in violation of the right-of-way law. However, motorists should note that even if the pedestrian has violated the law, it is the motorist who should yield the right-of-way.

A blind pedestrian always has the right-of-way. A blind pedestrian can be identified by the presence of a guide dog, or carrying a white cane with a red tip.

Emergency vehicles

  • An emergency vehicle with a sounding horn, siren and flashing lights always has the right of way.
  • Motorists on an intersection should proceed, pull over and park on the side to let an emergency vehicle pass through.

Funeral processions

  • In Missouri, it is mandatory for vehicles to yield the right-of-way to a funeral procession. Moreover, a funeral procession has the right-of-way regardless of the sign or signal. However, they have to yield to an emergency vehicle.

If you have been injured in a crash caused by a negligent driver, get in touch with an experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer at The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. - Call us 24/7 at (314) 361-4242 for a free case evaluation.

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    Author

    Christopher Hoffmann is a St. Louis car accident lawyer with over 15 years of experience helping injury victims recover compensation.

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