Distracted driving is a major issue throughout the United States, contributing to more than 400,000 injuries and almost 3,000 deaths each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In Wisconsin alone, distracted driving is a factor in over 24,000 annual car accidents, accounting for roughly 20 percent of all crashes. If you are injured by a distracted driver, understanding some of the common causes of distracted driving may help you make the case for the driver’s negligence.

What Behaviors Lead to Distracted Driving?

A variety of different behaviors can occupy a driver’s eyes, hands, or mental processes in a way that prevents them from fully attending to the task of driving and increases the risk of an accident. Some of the most common issues include:

1. Using a cell phone. Phones and other mobile devices are perhaps the most well-known cause of distracted driving. Texting while driving is illegal in Wisconsin, but any form of handheld cell phone use can also be dangerous.
2. Adjusting vehicle controls. Attending to the radio, GPS system, air and temperature controls, or any number of other features included in newer vehicles can remove a driver’s focus from the road for enough time to cause an accident.
3. Interacting with passengers. Talking to a passenger or checking on a child in the back seat may also affect a driver’s ability to attend to the road. This can be a significant issue for younger drivers and their peer passengers or for parents driving with children.
4. Eating or performing other handheld tasks. Eating, drinking, personal grooming, and reaching for objects in the vehicle can occupy a driver’s hands in a way that may prevent them from driving to the best of their ability, and these behaviors can sometimes take a driver’s eyes off of the road as well.
5. Looking at objects outside the vehicle. “Rubbernecking” at the scene of an accident, admiring an animal or roadside attraction, or otherwise paying too much attention to external objects can negatively impact a driver’s attentiveness to traffic, pedestrians, or obstacles in the road.

Personal Injury Claims Involving Distracted Drivers

Drivers who succumb to distractions can be considered negligent if the distraction causes an accident that results in injuries to another person. This means that if you are injured, you have the ability to pursue compensation from the distracted driver. Your attorney can help you collect evidence and witness testimony that may demonstrate the driver’s distraction and strengthen your case for receiving compensation for your injuries.

By Attorney Chris Strohbehn and Litigation Paralegal Ruth Campos

If you are injured in an accident, you may understandably be preoccupied with your pain and the need for medical attention in the immediate aftermath. However, when you see the medical bills for your necessary treatment, your concern may quickly shift to your ability to pay. At this point, it is important to identify who was at fault for the accident to determine whether it is possible to pursue a personal injury claim or lawsuit that can get you the compensation you need to cover your expenses.

When Is a Driver Liable for an Accident in Wisconsin?

Accident liability is determined by a driver’s negligence. In order to obtain compensation through a lawsuit, you will likely need to demonstrate that another driver in the accident acted carelessly or dangerously, violating his or her duty of care to you and causing the accident that led to your injuries.

By Attorney Chris Strohbehn

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 3 million people suffer non-fatal injuries as a result of a motor vehicle accident in the United States each year. Less serious injuries, such as cuts, scraps, and bruises, are not as concerning, and may not require medical attention. However, more serious injuries, such as broken bones, whiplash, and tears can have life-changing effects. If you have been involved in a car accident, be sure to contact a personal injury attorney to understand your options for seeking compensation.

By Attorney Chris Strohbehn

Wisconsin is known for its long, relentless winters. Wisconsinites experience more than 30 snowstorms each year, forcing us to adapt to work, play, and drive in harsh conditions. To those who are no strangers to the snow, driving in inclement weather is normal, but accidents still happen. If you have been in a collision, understanding the factors surrounding liability for a winter weather car accident claims can prepare you for how to proceed.

Determining Liability

Rain or shine, drivers are expected to follow safe driving laws. When winter weather hits, it is important to take extra precautions by taking it slow, allowing extra travel time, and remembering that sudden braking and steering can cause loss of vehicle control. Not all car accidents cause life-altering injuries, but property damage is likely to occur in even the most minor fender benders.

By Attorney Christopher Strohbehn

You may be driving on a road in a place where you travel all the time, when suddenly the road changes in some way due to construction. Construction zones pose significant risks to motorists, because they can unpredictably change a road, and drivers may be unsure about the proper ways to navigate these changes. In addition, construction zones can create dangerous roadway conditions if care is not taken to properly set up detours or closed lanes. Due to these factors, car accidents in construction zones are common. In fact, Wisconsin sees about 2,000 work zone accidents each year.