Driving in the winter can be more dangerous than at other times of the year. Traction can be reduced significantly on snowy or icy roads, and drivers are more likely to lose control of their vehicles and become involved in car accidents. Throughout the United States, more than 150,000 accidents take place every year on roads with snow or ice, and these result in an average of more than 1,800 fatalities and 130,000 injuries. Wisconsin is one of the most dangerous states for winter driving, averaging 17.7 fatalities for every 100 days when temperatures are below freezing. Those who are involved in winter car accidents will want to understand how they can pursue financial compensation for their injuries to ensure that they will be able to recover following a collision.

Causes of Winter Auto Accidents

Multiple parties may be responsible for car accidents that take place in the winter. Drivers, passengers, or others who are injured in these collisions may be able to take legal action against parties whose negligence led to a collision, including in cases where accidents were caused by:

• Negligent drivers - Anyone who drives in winter weather should take precautions to ensure that they can operate their vehicle safely and respond correctly to cold weather conditions. Drivers should avoid speeding or following too closely behind other vehicles, since reduced traction may make it difficult to slow down or stop in time to avoid a collision. Other unsafe practices, such as distracted driving or drunk driving, can be even more dangerous during the winter, and drivers who failed to drive safely may be held liable for injuries and damages caused to others.

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By: Attorney Jaclyn Kallie

There are multiple types of car accidents that can result in serious injuries to drivers, passengers, or others who may have been involved. Rear-end accidents are sometimes considered to be relatively minor, since they often occur at low speeds, and they may not cause major damage to the vehicles involved. However, these collisions can still inflict injuries on drivers or passengers in a vehicle that is struck from behind. By understanding the types of injuries that can occur, victims can ensure that they receive the proper medical treatment, and they can pursue compensation to address the damages they have suffered.

Injuries That Affect Drivers and Passengers in a Rear-End Collision

The use of cell phones and other types of handheld electronic devices has grown significantly over the last couple of decades, and it is likely to continue to increase in the future. The dangers of using electronic devices while driving has become well-known, and to prevent car accidents, talking on cell phones or texting while driving has been discouraged. Many states, including Wisconsin, have passed laws prohibiting drivers from using handheld devices while behind the wheel. However, drivers are still allowed to use hands-free devices such as Bluetooth headsets or speaker systems that connect with their phones. While these types of devices are often seen as safe ways to make phone calls while driving, they may also contribute to dangerous motor vehicle accidents.

Are Hands-Free Devices Safer Than Handheld Devices?

Distracted driving can involve three components: visual distractions in which a person is not looking at the road, manual distractions in which a person uses their hands for tasks other than driving, and cognitive distractions in which a person pays attention to non-driving conversations or activities. While hands-free devices can reduce manual distractions and visual distractions (although a person may still need to look at and touch a phone to make and receive calls), cognitive distractions will still be present while a driver is carrying on a conversation with someone.

The false sense of security provided by hands-free devices is based on the myth of multitasking. While many people believe that they can complete multiple tasks at once, putting one’s attention toward one task will reduce the amount of mental energy used for other tasks. By taking part of their attention away from driving, drivers become more likely to miss important details, and they may be unable to react in time to the sudden movements of vehicles or pedestrians and take action to avoid a collision. In fact, research shows that a person’s field of vision narrows by as much as 50% while they are talking on the phone, and this greatly increases the likelihood of being involved in an accident.

The simple answer to this question is “yes”.  Alcohol or drug use can have a huge impact on a person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. While the dangers of driving while under the influence are well-known, many people still do so. This can lead to dangerous car accidents. While a drunk driver may be held liable for injuries inflicted in these types of accidents, victims may wonder whether other parties may also be civilly or criminally liable. The answer to this inquiry is “it depends.” 

Social Host Liability Laws in Wisconsin

“Social hosts” are people who serve alcohol to others, either in their home, at a venue or other place, e.g., at a work or office party.   

Unlike Illinois, which is a dram shop law state, Wisconsin law provides that a person or establishment that procures, sells, dispenses, or gives away alcoholic beverages to another is generally immune from civil liability for acts that arise due to the consumption of alcohol. Wis. Stat. § 125.035(2). However, there are several important exceptions to this immunity.

By Paralegal Ruth M. Campos

Rollover accidents can happen for a number of different reasons, and injuries suffered by vehicle occupants are often severe. Though vehicle safety features are continuing to improve in order to better protect drivers and passengers, the force of multiple impacts is still capable of injuring nearly every part of the body, potentially resulting in high medical bills and a long, difficult recovery process. If you have suffered serious injuries in a rollover car crash, it is important to determine whether you can pursue compensation from a negligent party.

Rollover Injuries Vary in Nature and Severity

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other research organizations have studied rollover accidents extensively over time in order to better understand their outcomes and promote measures to mitigate injuries. Through their research, they have determined that certain types of injuries are more common depending on the characteristics of the crash. Some of the most frequently occurring injuries include: