Driving under the influence poses serious threat to society. Every year, drunk driving causes several injuries and fatalities not only in Missouri but the entire United States.
Chris Hoffman is an excellent attorney. He is the best above the rest. What makes him different? He communicates promptly - I don't have to leave message after message for him to reach out to me. When I telephone his office, if he doesn't answer the telephone, his assistant does. Chris Hoffman is very attentive and focused. He means business, and he hit the ground running on the cases. I'm so blessed to have him for my attorney.
"Of all the lawyers I have met, this one is a true professional. This attorney goes against the biggest law firms and wins!"
Response from the owner:The compliment is much appreciated. Like every profession, it all starts with training our lawyers to be the best at every aspect of car accident cases. But the foundation of a great case is a great client. Thanks!
I'd say this lawyer is in the top three of the best you'll ever see. Add this attorney to the interview list if you ever get in an automobile accident. This Law Firm is on another level.
Response from the owner:Much appreciated. Techniques that an attorney or any professional uses are paramount for success. This is part of our lawyers training and preparation. It leads to success. Thank you!
People say this is the best car accident lawyer in St.Louis. Yep! Seeing this attorney in action is incredible.
Response from the owner:Great compliment. We work hard to be the best. Our lawyers also work very hard to help other lawyers in our profession. Not matter what, a cases is only as good as the client is. Thanks!
Response from the owner:Thanks! Referrals and recommendations from prior car accident clients is our #1 source of cases. People who grew to trust us send family and friends.
The Hoffman law firm is truly professional. After hiring them I was truly relieved and knew I was in good hands. Highly recommend!
Response from the owner:Being in good hands is important. Many lawyers take cases with little experience and little resources. Our firm specialized decades ago. We are focused exclusively on accident cases.
The lawyers on tv just dont compare for auto accident injury cases. Mr.Hoffmann is as good as they get.
Response from the owner:Thank you. The TV attorneys are just settlement mills. People are hiring a paralegal, not a lawyer. Our law firm is different. You are represented by an attorney and we do not have settlement quotas.
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!
This brings to mind the case of a St. Louis driver who just got a nine-year prison sentence for causing two accidents within a period of eight months, leading to one death and severe injury to a young girl. He was found to be driving under the influence of marijuana and alcohol.
The main factors responsible for crashes such as the ones involving the St. Louis driver have been identified to be substance abuse and addiction. At The Hoffmann Law Firm, we feel that with April being the National Alcohol Awareness Month, it is relevant to discuss action that can be taken to reduce the amount of fatalities and injuries caused by driving under the influence in St. Louis.
Teenagers Driving Under the Influence
It has been observed that one effective means to curb the dangers of driving under influence is to raise awareness. Efforts to curtail driving under the influence should begin with teenagers. Why? Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) found in a survey that teenagers whose parents were against alcohol consumption by underage people were about 80 percent less likely to consume alcohol, compared to their peers whose parents do not hold similar view.
Teenagers who did not have their first drink before reaching 21 years of age have about an 80 percent less probability of becoming alcohol dependent in comparison to those who have their first drink before reaching the age of 15.
About 7,000 young people below the age of 16 take alcohol for the first time every day, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. This increases the risk of such young people becoming dependent on alcohol and putting their lives in grave danger on the road. Around 10,000 deaths are recorded annually as a result of auto crashes, with underage drinking responsible for about 4,700 deaths, according to MADD.
What If a Passenger Was Drinking?
Most other states have open container laws, but it is currently not illegal to carry an open container of alcohol in a car when you are a passenger in Missouri and you are 21 or older. If you do get pulled over, or are in an accident, the fact that your passenger might have an open glass of alcohol does not automatically mean that you are doing something illegal. Although 31 smaller municipalities, including St. Charles and Independence, have local open container laws.
It is, of course, illegal in Missouri, as in all states, to drink and drive. Like other states, to be considered legally intoxicated a driver must be over the legal limit according to their “blood alcohol concentration” (or BAC). If a driver is tested and their BAC level is 0.08% or higher, then they are legally intoxicated and will be charged with a DUI. So although it is not illegal to have open containers of alcohol in your car, if you were drinking before you got behind the wheel or you were drinking alongside the passenger and have a BAC of 0.08 or higher, you will get a DUI.
Zero Tolerance in Missouri and Open Containers
If you are under the age of 21 and have a passenger who is drinking, that is really not a good idea. If your passenger is under 21 and drinking, that is illegal and can lead to them getting a ticket – or worse, being arrested for underage drinking. Missouri also has Zero Tolerance Laws. If you are under 21 and your BAC is more than 0.02, then you can be accused of driving while intoxicated, which can have severe consequences.
Can a Drunk Driver File Bankruptcy to Avoid Paying?
Bankruptcy is an option for people with a debt to erase their financial burden and start fresh. If someone is held financially responsible for an accident, one solution to discharge this debt is through filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, whether these debts are related to personal injury or property damage.
However, the Missouri
law specifically adds two main exceptions to this rule:
1.
Driving Under the Influence
If an individual is caught driving while under the influence, and as a result has caused injury to another party, then they cannot discharge this debt through bankruptcy. They may still continue the procedure and discharge any other debts you may have at a time, but any fees involving criminal fines, court fees, and such payments still have to be made.
2.
Harming on Purpose
If the investigation reveals that someone has purposely caused the accident that resulted in injury or property damage, then they cannot discharge this debt through a bankruptcy claim. As such, the heat of the moment accidents makes them completely accountable. As an example, if someone runs their car through a neighbors property on purpose, they will have to cover for the damages.
Missouri drivers must also carry auto insurance with certain minimum coverages:
$25,000 per person for bodily injury
$50,000 per accident for bodily injury
$10,000 per accident for property
However, the insurance company may deny to cover the costs if a they driver is found guilty of a crime (like driving under the influence), or if the damages exceed the minimum coverage.
How to guard against drinking under the influence
The dangers of driving under the influence are very apparent. It important for everyone, especially those who are under the age of 21, to be educated about the dangers of drinking alcohol. Never get behind the wheel of a vehicle drunk. If you are of legal drinking age and plan on drinking, make arrangements to have a designated driver or have a taxi take you home. Do not allow a friend who has been drinking drive you home.
If you have been involved in an accident with someone who was driving under the influence in St. Louis, you deserve to be compensated for any resulting injuries and damages. Contact our law firm by calling (314) 361-4242 and scheduling a free consultation.
