St. Louis Auto Accident Injuries: When a Driver Fails to Buckle Up

Shoulder belts in combination with lap belts are known to reduce crash fatality rates by around 45%.

Many of us have at some point felt like unbuckling our seat belt because it seems like the belt is cutting off our circulation or feels uncomfortable. However, doing this can be dangerous for obvious reasons. A study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine has revealed that overweight drivers tend to neglect wearing their seat belts. For this reason, they are more likely to get seriously injured or killed in a car accident.

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ellen P.
4 months ago
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.
Charles B.
1 year ago
Best lawyer for car accidents and injury claims. Love this lawyer!
Zach B.
1 year ago
Much better than Morgan & Morgan. It is not the firm. It is the lawyer.
Ashley S.
1 year ago
"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!
james W.
1 year ago
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!
Dean R.
1 year ago
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!
Domaneshia A S.
1 year ago
Hire them!!!
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.
Benjamin K.
1 year ago
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.
dylan F.
2 years ago
Definitely recommend Mr. Hoffmann if you get into a car accident, this lawyer is top shelf.
lori W.
2 years ago
They are the best law firm I have encountered in my lifetime. Great for any accident!
Rachel M.
2 years ago
Great experience with this law firm. Excellent help with the car accident process. Definitely use them again.
Kyle D.
2 years ago
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.
Leigha M.
2 years ago
If you have ever watched any lawyers, you will agree this is one of the best automobile accident litigators in Saint Louis County.
Ashley S.
2 years ago
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.
George K.
2 years ago
Very good car accident lawyer. Gets the job done.
Jessica J.
2 years ago
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.
Jacob P.
2 years ago
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.
Ashley S.
2 years ago
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.
RIcky P.
2 years ago
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.
Kasandra H.
2 years ago
You are a great lawyer! Thank you.
Response from the owner:That is a great compliment. Thanks.
Brandon W.
2 years ago
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.
Morgan B.
2 years ago
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.
Ashley A.
2 years ago
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.
Taylor T.
2 years ago
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.
Malashia M.
2 years ago
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!

Obesity and Car Accident Injuries

The study examined around 200,000 drivers involved in fatal traffic accidents over a period of six years. The results were quite amazing. It was seen that obesity was directly linked to reduced seat belt use and an increased number of overweight people sustaining fatal injuries in a crash.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost a third of all Americans are overweight (medically), and another one third are considered obese. For the purpose of this study, obesity was measured using the body mass index (BMI) or a calculating of weight in relation to height. A Body Mass Index between 18.5 and 25 is normal weight, 25 and 30 is overweight, between 30 and 40 is obese, and above 40 is morbidly obese.

Why is it Dangerous to Unbuckle Your Seat Belt?

Studies have found that Americans with a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) were 66% more likely to be buckled up properly compared to overweight drivers. Those with BMI in the morbidly obese category were 56% more likely to get killed in traffic accidents compared to individuals with normal BMI. The study also revealed that the higher a person’s BMI was, the less likely he/she was to have been buckled up at the time of the accident.

Shoulder belts in combination with lap belts are known to reduce crash fatality rates by around 45%. It is important to remember that these safety features are effective only if drivers wear them.

Federal law requires seat belts to accommodate men up to 215 pounds, this was enforced back in 1960. This weight limit may not really accommodate the larger frame of many modern American men, who may find these belts uncomfortable. While there are larger seat belts and seat belt extenders easily available in the market, not many people bother to get one installed in their vehicle.

It is important for anyone to wear a seatbelt at all times. If you have been injured in a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation even if you were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

St. Louis Auto Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a St. Louis auto accident, you need to know your legal rights and options. At The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C., you can be confident that everything will be done to protect your rights and recover the compensation you need. Call us today at (314) 361-4242.