As a personal injury attorney, I would welcome comments from bikers.   JEFF SWANEY FREE CONSULTATION 314-481-7778 

Missouri could change motorcycle helmet law

The bill would allow those 21 and older to ride without helmets on all Missouri roads except interstate highways.

The House gave the bill final approval Wednesday on a vote of 93-65. It cleared the Senate earlier.

Proposals to repeal the mandatory helmet law have been controversial in the past. But this year’s measure, to simply modify the law, received little debate in either chamber.

Supporters of Missouri’s existing helmet law say the protective headgear keeps motorcyclists safer during a potentially dangerous activity.

But some motorcycle enthusiasts contend it’s more fun to ride without a helmet. They’ve argued that the state should micromanage their lives.

Anyone who watches television has seen a comedy show where someone fakes a “whiplash” injury and tries to collect money that they don’t deserve. Jack Lemon did a movie called “The Fortune Cookie” where he hires an attorney nicknamed “whiplash Willie” because he knows all sorts of tricks to help fake an injury. “Whiplash injuries” may actually be diagnosed as back or neck “sprains” or “strains.” When an accident victim is thrown forward in a violent manner during a motor vehicle accident, the result is oftentimes “soft-tisue” damage. “Soft- tissue ” damage  generally  consists of “muscle injury” and” ligament injury” which cannot be observed on X-rays or other diagnostic tests. A doctor will often note “muscle spasms” where there is a tightening of muscles in the injured area. It is difficult to quantify or measure “soft tissue injuries” which result from “whiplash.” “Whiplash” injuries are usually treated with physical therapy , or a chiropractor may treat these injuries with “chiropractic manipulations.” People suffering from “whiplash” find them to be far from funny. From a legal standpoint, it is important to get treatment for these injuries as soon as possible since diagnostic testing doesn’t always make your case. Unfortunately for “whiplash victims the media has created an image of “whiplash” victims as schemers ,fakers and opportunists. As a “spine injury attorney “it is my job to overcome the predjudice which has been caused by movies and television shows. As I said – “Whiplash is no laughing matter.” Submitted by Jeff Swaney FREE CONSULTATION 314-481-7778

St. Louis Car Accident Attorney- Police Reports

Car Accident:

Situation :

Cindy is on the highway and she is struck from the rear by another driver.  Both drivers pull over and the other driver apologizes for running into Cindy.  She asks her not to contact the police and provides her with insurance information.  Cindy contacts the other driver’s insurance company in order to have her car fix and to report that she is injured.  The other driver’s insurance adjuster tells Cindy the case is being denied because the other driver gave a statement and said that Cindy swerved in front of her and stopped suddenly.

Advise:
Contact the police at the scene of any significant accident, especially when injuries are involved.  A driver is more likely to be truthful at the scene of the accident.  A driver may start to think about an accident and may try to come up with an explanation to suite their purpose. Submitted Jeff Swaney FREE CONSULTATION 314-481-7778

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