Each year in the United States, the weather is a factor in more than 1,300,000 accidents, which make up 23% of all motor vehicle accidents.
Rain, snow, ice, and fog often create unsafe road conditions for drivers in Missouri. When a car is going too fast the driver may not have enough time to stop on a slippery road surface and may cause an automobile accident.
This legal professional has shown exceptional competence and dedication in their field. I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking legal representation that is committed to unwavering advocacy and support throughout the entirety of their case.
I would describe this lawyer as highly educated, sharp, and top of his game. Explains the car accident process and treatment options well. The lawyer said if they don’t pay you, we will have the jury take it from the insurance company. Great lawyer. Dynamic person.
Interviewed all the TV car accident lawyers and decided to call this law firm that had great reviews. So happy I did. What a difference!
Response from the owner: TV car accident lawyers are just mass production. This is not a good fit for litigated cases. Paralegals instead of lawyers. Monthly quotas for settlements. Car accident victims end up in a cattle call with the lawyers on TV.
Love my car accident lawyer. This law firm is a step above.
Response from the owner: Our lawyers train and track the best approaches on cases. Whether litigation in cases or the practicalities of certain treatment, the growth of our lawyers over time is paramount. Always staying ahead of and setting practice trends. Thank you.
Serious family member have a car accident injury? Look no further. This litigator is for real. Always two steps ahead of the other lawyer.
Response from the owner: This is a sad reality for car accident lawyers. The #1 passenger in an auto accident is a relative. Helping a family make it through this and putting the family back together is one of the most rewarding things I do as an automobile accident attorney.
This lawyer handles really big accident cases in St Louis. He is a lawyer, accountant and has his masters in tax so he gets the injury cases for individuals that can never go back to work or individuals own a business and cannot run it due to injury. He specializes in valuations of massive loss. Thank goodness a firm like this exists.
Response from the owner: Thank you. When accident are severe and you lose the ability to work or to continue a business, having an accounting and tax background is key. Valuing large losses are second nature for us.
Asked a trauma surgeon who operates on car accident victims who are the best injury lawyers that have taken his deposition. He said “by far” it was Mr Hoffmann. Interviewed several attorneys and this was a correct assessment. In a league of his own!
Response from the owner: Our attorney have deposed nearly all the trauma surgeons at every Level 1 Trauma Center in Saint Louis. These doctors save lives after a car accident. Whether controlling bleeding or reestablishing blood flow or bone structures, they are life savers.
Few lawyers in St. Louis can handle the biggest injury cases! This is one of them!
Response from the owner: Our law firm has made great efforts in terms of training to handle life changing injury cases. Whether in depth knowledge of the medical, loss of income and earning capacity, or lifetime medical care plans, our clients feel confident and know their case is in good hands. Thank you for the compliment.
Cannot say enough about this lawyer. Call if in an accident. This attorney handles the biggest car accidents in St Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks Ash! Our biggest source of cases is our clients. Our second biggest referral source is defense lawyers telling their relatives to call us. Few lawyers can handle the largest cases. Our law firm welcomes and has trained for this. We don’t do mass production settlement like the lawyers on TV. Our clients can never go back to work. Their cases need massive focus and effort and often long fought litigation.
So glad I called attorney Hoffmann. This time I got it right! So glad I hired the Hoffmann Law Firm - professional, reliable and available.
Response from the owner: Thanks Taylor. Our lawyers answer the phone day, night, weekends and even during lunch. Being professional means training to beat the best defense lawyers. Client rely on us to get results and we do.
Great lawyer. Cares about his clients, knows his stuff and goes the extra mile. I recommend this lawyer for car wreck injury claim. Every other lawyer on TV would not even help with my property claim. This attorney did.
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words. Every case starts with a great client. You are correct the car accident lawyers on TV are mass production settlement mills. When injury clients fire them, we get their files and the cases are not worked up at all. Appreciate your confidence in us!
Major car accident injury in St Louis area for a family member. Four different lawyers we know said the same thing - call Chris Hoffmann. On another level.
Response from the owner: This is such a great compliment. Most of our cases come from prior client or lawyers that also do car accidents cases but the particular case is too large or too difficult. Being a lawyer and an accountant, we specialize in cases with total lost of income, earning capacity and/or often the inability to continue a family business. Evaluations such as these are second nature for our lawyers. Thanks.
Best in St Louis for auto accident cases. Nobody else is even close.
Response from the owner: So kind of you to leave this review. Whether our lawyers are going after big insurance or their lawyers, skill and experience are essential and win the day for our auto accident clients. Thanks!
This attorney is very smart, very experienced, returns phone calls and knows the answers when asked. One call and I knew this was a great law firm for auto accidents.
Response from the owner: Our law firm appreciates this. This is a comment we get from so many people who call…”none of the lawyers we called told me all the things that you did.” Whether we take a car accident case or not, helping people is a good thing.
5 Star Lawyer for sure! Best you will find in Saint Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks for the 5 Star Rating. Reviews like this are great. Injury victims quickly figure out the TV advertisers are not good. We work hard at being the best we can be and it reflects in our representation of car accident victims.
Watch this lawyer in action. Was way better than all the others. Get this lawyer for an automobile accident for sure.
Response from the owner: Thanks for the recommendation. Besides doing cases, our attorneys train for this. Hard work, case knowledge and technique is key to success in car accident litigation.
Very pleased with The Hoffmann Law Firm. Lawyers are attentive, friendly and go the distance to force the settlement you want. The TV lawyers recommend low offers. This law firm gets the maximum.
Response from the owner: We get calls from car accident victims that had to fire the TV lawyers that they hired. They give the same two reasons: 1) they never spoke to a lawyer at the Big TV law firms, only a paralegal, and 2) the paralegal recommended they accept a low offer. At our law firm, you only talk to the lawyer and if an offer is low we tell you to sue. Thanks!
Several lawyers said to call this lawyer because he is the best. You will appreciate this law firm. Helped with the injury and property claims. Attentive and knowledgeable. Great reputation in St Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks Lexi. Our #1 source of cases is other lawyers referring us cases that are too big for them to handle.
Would use this accident law firm. Best in Saint Louis. Highly rated and it shows. After one phone call, you just know this attorney is better. 5 Stars!!
Response from the owner: Thanks for recommending our lawyers in St Louis. There is a major difference in lawyers as you well know.
Car accident lawyers on tv are not good . Get this attorney ! He is a pro !!
Response from the owner: Thanks Nathan. TV lawyers market for car accidents, use paralegals instead of lawyers and give their employees settlement quotas hence forcing cheap settlements. At our law firm, you get a lawyer who keeps pushing forward for more.
Quality lawyer. Best law firm for a car accident. Advice was way better than other lawyers I called in St. Louis. Helped with property and injury.
Response from the owner: Thanks. The TV lawyer advertisers are just car accident settlement mills. As soon as people call a real attorney, they always tell us how much better and more helpful we were. Appreciate this.
This lawyer is big time. Smooth. The other lawyers on the other side were not nearly as good as this attorney. I recommend friends in St Louis to him for accident injuries and they all say the same thing…”that lawyer is great.”
Response from the owner: Very nice of you to say. Our lawyers work hard on auto accident cases.
Family used this car accident attorney after a crash. Located in St Louis. This lawyer answers the phone and will walk you through the process. Knows his stuff!
Response from the owner: Taking calls, going over the car accident injury and property process is important. Clients that call always say we are the only lawyers that explained everything. Much appreciated.
Tried the lawyers on TV. They were not good. Hired this car accident lawyer instead because he had great reviews. The reviews are correct. This attorney is as good as they get. He does big injury cases that need to be litigated.
Response from the owner: Car accident lawyers on TV do not litigate cases. It is mass production. They have quotas. Local attorneys are best on auto accidents.
Used this attorney for an auto accident. Highly recommend this lawyer in St. Louis. Communicates well.
Response from the owner: Communicating with clients is essential. Taking the client though the car accident claims process is important otherwise major mistakes can occur. It is an effort that we make. Thanks!
Fantastic law firm, I would recommend! Received free consultation related to an auto accident when my parked car was damaged by a baseball. Very supportive advice, these guys are good!
I was in a car accident in St.Louis and hired Chris as my lawyer. He was amazing!!! He helped me every step of the way and was able to get me a great settlement!!!Highly, highly, highly recommend him!
Response from the owner: Each step is important in a car accident. Thanks for recommending us for car accidents injury claims.
Each year in the United States, the weather is a factor in more than 1,300,000 accidents. Many of these accidents were caused by drivers that failed to use caution while driving in bad weather conditions. According to the U.S Department of Transportation, 23% of all accidents are weather-related. The weather-related accident breakdown is as follows:
Wet Pavement – 17% of crashes, 16% of injuries, 13% of fatalities
Rain – 11% of crashes, 10% of injuries, 8% of fatalities
Snow/Sleet – 4% of crashes, 3% of injuries, 2% fatalities
Ice – 3% of crashes, 2% of injuries, 2% fatalities
Snow/Slush – 3% of crashes, 2% of injuries, 2% fatalities
Fog – 1% of crashes, 1% of injuries, 2% fatalities
While no amount of money can compensate for living with serious injuries or the death of a loved one, it can help alleviate many of the day-to-day problems that an injured person or their family members face. There are often many financial hardships associated with car accident victims such as medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, physical therapy, and other future medical costs.
Types of Bad Weather That Affect Road Safety
Missouri experiences a variety of weather conditions including thunderstorms, rain, and snow. A simple rain shower can cause a car to hydroplane, leading to a serious car accident. Some of the common types of weather conditions that can affect road safety include:
thunderstorms and lightning
rain showers
flooding
high winds
hurricanes
snow and ice
tornadoes
hail
Bad weather is known to cause serious car accidents; if there is a weather alert in the area, it is prudent to stay off the road. Most weather-related accidents are caused due to wet roads and low visibility.
Causes of Weather-Related Car Accidents
According to statistics, in 2011 more than 2,300 fatal car crashes occurred during rain and around 650 occurred in sleet or snow. Many drivers do not consider rain and snow to be a dangerous condition; however, the reality is that it adversely affects road conditions and you should alter your driving habits accordingly. Bad weather conditions such as floods, fog, severe winds, and rains can affect drivers in different ways and cause a weather-related car accident:
poor lighting conditions
poor visibility
increased risk of accident
lane obstructions
flooded lanes
reduced tire grip on the pavement
reduced speeds
reduced street capacity
delayed travel time
poor vehicle performance
changed traffic patterns
evacuation traffic
restricted roads and detours
road surface treatments
nervousness and distraction
Driving in hazardous conditions requires preparation and smart driving.
At times, for one reason or another, we may have to drive in hazardous conditions. While you may immediately think about driving in a blizzard, even light precipitation mixed with oils on the road may hinder a drivers ability to control his or her vehicle. Especially with winter approaching quickly, it is important to consider how to drive safely in hazardous conditions.
Be Prepared
Whether you are expecting to be driving in hazardous conditions or not, it is a good idea to be prepared. Consider what you will need in case of an emergency. Having a basic first-aid kit in the car is a good idea, regardless of road conditions.
You may consider where and in what conditions you will be driving in.
For example, if you are driving through snow, you would want to consider packing clothes or blankets that would keep you and your passengers warm, in case your vehicle were to break down. If you are driving in extreme heat, you will want to make sure there is enough water for everyone. Additionally, no matter what the conditions, having a charged mobile phone will help you receive assistance more quickly.
Winter Car Emergency Kit: Items to Keep in Your Car
Do you have a winter car emergency kit? If not, you should seriously consider putting one together. A winter car emergency kit can help you stay safe and warm in an emergency while driving in the cold weather. So, whether you’re heading out into the snow for a holiday ski trip or just braving the cold winter weather to get to work, be prepared for any possible emergency with a well-stocked winter car emergency kit!
Here are the items that you should include in your winter car emergency kit:
A First-Aid Kit: This is essential for any emergency, but it’s especially important in the winter when you’re more likely to be dealing with cuts and scrapes from ice and snow.
A Flashlight: A flashlight can be used to signal for help or to see your way around in the dark.
A Shovel: A shovel can be used to dig your car out if it gets stuck in the snow.
A Bag of Sand or Kitty Litter: This can be used to help give your tires traction if you get stuck.
Extra Blankets and Warm Clothes: These can be used to keep you warm if you get stranded in your car.
A Cellphone Charger: This is essential for calling for help if you need it.
Water and Non-Perishable Snacks: These are important for keeping your energy up while you wait for help to arrive.
A Fire Extinguisher: This can be used to put out any fires that may start in your car.
A Whistle: This can be used to signal for help if you’re stuck in a remote location.
Jumper Cables: These can be used to jump-start your car if the battery dies.
A Flare: This can be used to signal for help if you’re stranded on the side of the road.
A Map: This can help you find your way if you get lost.
Tire Chains: These can be used to help your tires get traction in the snow.
A Bag of Salt: This can be used to melt ice on your windshield or to give your tires traction.
A Tow Rope: This can be used to tow your car out of a ditch or other difficult situation.
A Multi-Tool: This can be used for various tasks, such as opening cans of food or fixing a broken fan belt.
A Car Battery Charger: This can be used to charge your car battery if it dies.
A Gas Can: This can be used to fill up your tank if you run out of gas.
Now that you know what to include in your winter car emergency kit and how to put it together, you’ll be prepared for anything the cold weather may throw your way! Luckily, putting together a winter car emergency kit is relatively simple and doesn’t have to be expensive.
Stay Attentive
No matter what road conditions are like, it is essential for a driver to give the road their full, undivided attention. This becomes even more vital when driving in hazardous conditions.
A driver should never allow outside conditions to disrupt their attention. If you are uncomfortable driving in certain conditions, slow down. Do not worry about other drivers who are in a hurry. Your safety and the safety of your passengers is more important.
In cases of low visibility, you will need to slow down significantly. If you cannot see more than a few feet in front of your car, you should pull over immediately and turn on your hazard lights. It is unsafe to drive in such conditions. Additionally, you may want to get away from your vehicle and the roadway, in case it is struck by another driver who is unable to see.
Maintain a Safe Speed & Distance
Hazardous road conditions often hinder your ability to brake quickly. Therefore, it is important to maintain a safe speed and driving distance. You never know when the driver in front of you is going to brake or when an obstacle in the road may present itself unexpectedly.
Again, other drivers may tailgate you if you are driving at a safe speed and they are in a hurry. It is important not to respond by hitting the breaks or allowing this to force you into tailgating the car in front of you. Simply maintain a safe speed and distance and allow the car behind you to pass you when the opportunity arises.
Always remember that the goal when driving in hazardous conditions is to get everyone to their destination safely.
Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free; you don’t pay unless we get you money!
