What is a mass tort? A mass tort is a type of action that can be brought when there is one instance of negligence that causes injury to a group of people. Mass tort actions can be brought against defendants in state or federal court. It is not uncommon for these cases to be consolidated into multidistrict litigation.

A judge will determine if a mass tort action can be brought in multidistrict litigation. He or she will look at how many victims are involved, if the victims live near each other, if the injuries complained of are similar, and whether there is a common cause of the injuries, such as a single accident or product.

Typical Types of Mass Tort Actions

Wisconsin law does not limit mass tort actions to certain types of injuries or certain industries to mass tort actions. That said, there are certain claims that often are successful in using a mass tort action:

Milwaukee recently began operating a streetcar line, known as The Hop. The Hop now runs on a 2.5-mile loop through downtown and the Historic Third Ward. While streetcars provide a valuable form of transportation, they also present specific safety risks, and they can cause serious bodily and property injury.

Unfortunately, the risk of accidents can be higher when a streetcar system first begins operation. Necessary safety precautions may not be implemented, and drivers can be inexperienced. In addition, motorists may not be used to sharing the road with the streetcars. Victims of streetcar accidents may include streetcar passengers, drivers and passengers in a vehicle that collides with a streetcar, and pedestrians and bicyclists traveling near the tracks.

Here are five ways a streetcar accident can occur:

The United States is in the midst of a streetcar resurgence. In the last five years, at least 10 major U.S. cities, including Milwaukee, have added streetcar lines. While many people are pleased about the additional public transit options and think streetcars benefit the community, some believe that this form of transportation adds additional dangers to city streets. Streetcar accidents are certain to occur, especially when a streetcar line opens in a new city. 

The Streetcar Renaissance  

Milwaukee’s streetcar line, The Hop, will open in November 2018, and the system is currently undergoing testing in parts of the city. The new route is two miles long, and there are plans to expand in the coming years. Unfortunately, accidents involving the streetcars are already being reported.

Milwaukee joins numerous other cities in building streetcar lines such as Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Dallas, Kansas City, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, Tucson, and Washington, D.C. One reason for this new trend is that the federal government has made it a priority to fund small-scale transit projects that seek to revitalize urban areas.

During the hot summer months, spending time on the water is a great way to enjoy the outdoors while staying cool. However, the increased use of boats during the summer leads to a higher likelihood of boat accidents, which can result in serious injuries.

The U.S. Coast Guard reported 4,291 boating accidents across the United States in 2017, resulting in 658 fatalities and 2,629 injuries. In Wisconsin, there were 106 reported incidents, which resulted in 25 fatalities and 79 injuries. Those who use boats can decrease the risk of boat accident injuries by following the proper safety measures.

Practicing Boat Safety

Most people spend time on the road each day, and driving is such a habitual activity that the dangers are often forgotten. However, it is important to remember that anyone who gets behind the wheel has a duty to protect the safety of those who use the road. Unfortunately, drivers can neglect this duty and act in a manner that puts themselves and others in danger. One of the most common ways that people do so is driving while drowsy, which can lead to serious and often fatal car accidents.

The Dangers of Drowsy Driving

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported that around 800 fatalities occur in the United States every year due to drowsy driving. However, other studies have suggested that the problem is even more widespread, and fatigued driving may be a factor in as many as 1.2 million car accidents every year, leading to up to 8,000 deaths and 500,000 injuries.