By: Attorney Chris Strohbehn

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2020, 6,516 people were killed in pedestrian accidents in the United States. This equates to one pedestrian being killed every 81 minutes. In addition, around 55,000 pedestrians suffered non-fatal injuries in motor vehicle collisions. While pedestrian accidents can occur nearly anywhere and at all times of the day or night, there are certain factors that play a role in these accidents more often than others. If you or a loved one have been involved in a pedestrian accident, it is important to understand the most common causes so that you can identify the person or parties who were responsible and pursue financial compensation for your damages. 

Forms of Driver Negligence That Can Lead to Pedestrian Accidents

Because pedestrians are at risk of being seriously injured when they are struck by vehicles, drivers should take care to protect the safety of people who are crossing the street or walking near the road. Drivers who act unsafely or violate traffic laws can seriously injure pedestrians. Some common violations committed by drivers that may result in pedestrian injuries include:

By: Attorney Megan Drury and Paralegal Ali Jaeger

If you are a parent who receives child support in Wisconsin, these payments may be essential for ensuring that you can provide for your children's ongoing needs. Unfortunately, enforcement of child support orders put in place by a court is often necessary in cases where non-custodial parents fall behind on payments. The good news is that there are several different ways to enforce a child support order in Wisconsin. 

Child Support Enforcement Actions Available in Wisconsin

When child support is past-due, the recipient may bring this matter to the attention of the court, or they may work with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to collect what is owed. Notably, Wisconsin law requires interest to be charged on child support that has not been paid. When the total amount of child support that is past-due exceeds the amount that a parent is required to pay in a single month, a 0.5 percent interest charge will apply to the amount owed. 

by Nicole Masnica, Jason Luczak and Adam Schleis

As the world has become digitized, computer fraud and internet fraud are becoming increasingly common. Many people and companies engage in actions that are deceptive and are intentionally fraudulent, which cause users significant harm, such as by stealing confidential, personal and other important information, convincing people to turn over money or property, or gaining access to financial accounts. As knowledge of these types of activities increases, law enforcement agencies are taking steps to combat computer crimes. If you have been accused of one of these crimes, it is important to understand the severity of the charge and what penalties you may face if convicted.

Common Types of Computer Fraud

Fraud committed using computer systems or over the internet may take many forms, including:

By: Attorney Kristen Nelson and Sarah Reckling

Licensed professionals in Wisconsin are held to professional standards of conduct. Businesses that provide chiropractic services must maintain the necessary licenses, and those who are accused of acting unprofessionally or in violation of their licensure may face potential disciplinary measures.. In these situations, the Wisconsin Chiropractic Examining Board (WCEB) may take one or more types of disciplinary actions, which could include issuing a reprimand, suspension, revocation, or renewal refusal. Chiropractors who may potentially be subject to licensure discipline will need to understand the possible reasons for disciplinary action and take the appropriate steps to defend against the loss or renewal of their license.

Common Reasons for Chiropractor License Discipline

There are numerous reasons why chiropractors or others who are involved in chiropractic care, such as chiropractic technicians and chiropractic radiological technicians, may face discipline. These include:

By: Attorney Megan Drury and Paralegal Ali Jaeger

After going through a divorce, the lives of parents and children are likely to change. As new opportunities arise, new relationships are formed, and adjustments are made based on a person's goals, the time may come for a parent to consider moving to a new home. In some cases, these types of moves may be relatively minor, and they may involve a simple relocation to a different neighborhood or a nearby city. However, when a move is major, and a parent plans to move a significant distance away or outside the state of Wisconsin, the state's parental relocation laws may come into play. In these situations, the parent who is moving and the other parent will both need to understand the procedures that will be followed and the legal requirements they will need to meet when requesting or objecting to a move.

Parental Relocation Out of the State of Wisconsin

The relevant Wisconsin statute on parental relocation is Wis. Stat. 767.481, which provides that in situations where a child spends any periods of physical placement with divorced or separated parents, a parent may not move with their child more than 100 miles from the location where the other parent lives without requesting permission from the court. However, if parents already live more than 100 miles apart from each other, a parent will generally be allowed to move, as long as they provide the other parent with written notice 60 days before the move is expected to take place.

By: Attorney Chris Strohbehn

While injuries can occur in a variety of different ways, some of the most common situations that give rise to personal injury claims or lawsuits involve slip and fall accidents. These accidents can occur in multiple locations, including people's homes, workplaces, or public places. While they may seem minor, slip and fall accidents often result in serious injuries. Because property owners have a responsibility to ensure that their premises are safe and free of hazards, a victim who was injured in an accident that took place because of unsafe conditions may be able to pursue compensation from the person who was responsible. To determine the best ways to handle these situations, victims will want to speak to an experienced attorney.

Common Injuries in Fall Accidents

There are many different types of injuries that can occur in a slip and fall accident. Some of the most common include:

By: Attorney Adam Schleis 

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides Americans with the right to bear arms. While many have interpreted this law in different ways, it has been generally agreed that people in the United States are allowed to own and carry firearms. However, the specific laws regarding gun possession vary from state to state. Wisconsin's gun laws are less restrictive than some states, and most people are allowed to possess firearms, while concealed weapons can be carried by those who have a concealed carry weapons (CCW) license. Violations of these laws may result in criminal charges for illegal weapons possession. Wisconsin residents and visitors to the state will want to be sure to understand the specific laws that apply to gun possession and the penalties for violations.

Criminal Charges Related to Firearm Possession

While ownership and possession of firearms is generally allowed in Wisconsin, there are some situations where a person may face criminal charges for possessing a gun. Firearm possession is prohibited for people who have been convicted of felonies, people who have been found not guilty of felonies due to mental disease or defect, people subject to involuntary commitment orders, and people who are subject to restraining orders in situations involving accusations of domestic violence. Possession of a firearm by a person who is not permitted to do so is a Class G felony.

By: Attorney Adam Schleis

For a parent, few things are worse than the prospect of losing custody of their children. Unfortunately, there are some situations where a parent may be accused of child abuse or where school officials or other parties may be concerned that a child is at risk of harm. In these cases, Wisconsin Child Protective Services (CPS) may initiate a child in need of protective services (CHIPS) action. Children may be temporarily removed from their parents’ home, and parents will be notified that they will be required to appear in court to address the allegations. 

These situations can be incredibly disturbing, and parents may worry that they could permanently lose custody of their children. To ensure that their rights will be protected, parents will need to understand the procedures that will be followed in these cases, and with the help of a children’s court attorney, they can take steps to resolve these matters with minimal disruptions to their lives.

By:  Attorney Max StephensonA prenuptial or postnuptial agreement can be a great way to protect your assets in the event of a divorce. These types of agreements serve as contracts between couples, and they will usually address how financial issues and other concerns related to a couple's property will be handled if their marriage ends. A prenup or postnup can specify that certain assets are community property or separate property, and a couple can make decisions about how their property will be divided. Other issues can also be addressed in these agreements, such as whether one spouse will pay spousal support to the other. 

While marital agreements can be very beneficial, ensuring that a couple can protect their financial interests and minimize conflict if they do choose to get divorced, a prenup or postnup may lead to additional complications during the divorce process if a couple disagrees about the terms of an agreement or if one spouse claims that an agreement is invalid. To avoid these issues, it is important to make sure a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement is valid and enforceable when it is created.

Issues Affecting Enforceability of Marital Agreements

Wisconsin law details several reasons why a prenup or postnup may be found to be unenforceable:

By: Attorney Cameron Weitzner

Drunk driving is known to be very dangerous, and a driver who has been consuming alcohol or using other substances that impair their ability to operate a vehicle will be much more likely to become involved in a car accident and cause harm to others. Because of this, driving while intoxicated is illegal. Drivers who get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol may be stopped by police, arrested, and charged with Operating While Intoxicated (OWI). While any OWI is a serious criminal charge, some cases may result in additional charges due to what are known as "aggravating factors." These issues may lead to a driver being charged with a felony offense, and they may potentially face over one year of imprisonment, as well as other consequences.

When Can OWI Be Charged as a Felony?

In the state of Wisconsin, a driver will usually not face felony charges for OWI unless they have multiple previous convictions. Felony charges for OWIs with three or more previous convictions include: