Yellow Turn Arrows to Start Popping Up Throughout St. Louis

Posted on August 18, 2009 by Aaron Farmer

Confused about when you can make a left turn at a stop light? The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that flashing yellow arrows will replace that standard green light at many left turn lanes in the St. Louis area. To some this comes as no surprise. The Missouri Department of Transportation has been experimenting with these lights along Olive Boulevard since 2006. According to the Federal Highway Administration the signals increase safety. Motorists are more likely to yield when turning at a blinking yellow arrow than at a steady green light.

When the yellow arrows started appearing on Olive Boulevard, several low-speed car crashes occurred at the intersections. Several motorists reported being confused about what the yellow arrow meant. MoDOT will be launching a public education campaign on the blinking yellow arrow in the future. Expect to see the blinking arrows at the busiest intersections throughout the metro area first. MoDOT has not yet announced where the blinking arrows will appear.

Auto accidents at busy intersections can be particularly dangerous. These intersections can produce high and low impact collisions where motorists are at risk for all types of injuries including whiplash, neck pain, hyperextension, hyper flexion, back pain, and many others. If you have been injured in a Missouri car accident seek immediate medical attention, and contact an experienced Missouri accident lawyer as soon as possible.

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What Is Whiplash?

Posted on August 10, 2009 by Aaron Farmer

Many people suffer whiplash injuries as a result of a rear-end car accident. During this type of wreck, the head of anyone in the vehicle that was rear-ended is forcefully jolted back, and then forward, causing damage to the structure of both the front and the back of the neck. This kind of violent movement can lead to extreme stretching, compression and shifting of structures in the spine, ligaments, muscles, and nerve tissues, especially if twisting also occurs. Driving speed during a rear end auto accident does not determine the severity of a whiplash injury. Rather, the force at which the back and neck are jolted determines the severity of a whiplash injury. Many whiplash victims do not seek immediate medical treatment because they only feel shaken up and do not believe medical attention is necessary.

The movement of the spine is guided by neck vertebrae that are made of posterior joints called facets that link each vertebrae. The discs linking the bodies of vertebrae together are composed of a dense cartilage that covers a soft material in the center. These discs act as shock absorbers and spacers between the vertebrae. In a canal positioned between the body and facets of the vertebrae is the spinal cord. Spinal nerves leave the spine between the vertebrae and supply energy to the muscles and organs of the body. The nerves that exit from the neck are responsible for the entire upper extremity including the shoulder, elbow and hand, as well as structures of the head and neck.

Even at low speeds, the amount of force placed on the spinal cord in a rear-end car accident can be very strong and can cause damage to the ligaments, muscles, facet joints, discs, and spinal nerves. In additional to neck pain and immobility, symptoms of whiplash include headaches, nausea, vertigo, arm and shoulder pain, and tingling in the hands and fingers. Rear-end auto accident victims should get an x-ray as soon as possible to rule out the possibility of a fracture. However, in most cases whiplash injuries are mainly to soft tissues and joints.

If you have been injured in a rear-end auto accident seek medical attention immediately and consult an experienced Missouri Car Wreck Lawyer to ensure you receive all the compensation you are entitled to.

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