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Wisconsin Bicycle Safety and Laws
Bicyclists traveling on roadways must abide by specific traffic laws in order to keep them and others safe. Bicyclists are especially at risk: they do not have the safety protections cars provide, and bikes can move at much faster speeds than pedestrians.
Bicycle accidents leave cyclists gravely injured, while those in cars may not be injured at all. If you have been in a bike accident and you believe that you were not at fault (or not fully at fault) in causing the accident, you should be compensated to the full extent Wisconsin law allows.
Key Bicycle Laws in Wisconsin
There are several important laws that govern how bicycles should be ridden. Failure for motor vehicle drivers, pedestrians, or bicyclists to understand such rules could result in an accident. These laws include:
I Was Convicted of Drug Impaired Driving in Wisconsin – What Now?
Drug impaired driving has gained the attention of law enforcement in recent years due to reports that drugged driving kills more drivers than drunk driving. Drug impaired driving charges are typically treated similarly to drunk driving OWI, however, there are differences.
Wisconsin Law on Drug Impaired Driving
Wisconsin law prohibits operating under influence of an intoxicant or other drug to a degree that renders the driver incapable of safely driving. The drug may be a controlled substance or a controlled substance analog. Also, Wisconsin law prohibits driving under the influence of a combination of drugs and/or alcohol.
Importantly, Wisconsin has a per se rule that prohibits a driver from driving if he or she has any amount of restricted controlled substance detectable by a blood test.
Semi-Truck Crashes and the Future of Technology
Due to the size and weight of an 18-wheeler, trucks are a huge risk for other vehicles on the road. In fact, when a truck is at fault in a traffic accident, hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages could be sustained.
With the huge potential for serious injury in truck accidents, the industry is turning to technology to make trucks safer.
Semi-Truck Accident Causes
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reviewed thousands of traffic accidents over the course of several years and determined four categories of driver error. Categories included the following:
- Non-performance by the driver. This category describes accidents caused by a driver falling asleep at the wheel or experiencing a health condition that would render him or her suddenly unable to drive;
Delayed Injuries After a Car Accident
Sometimes, it is apparent immediately after a car accident that you are injured. Many people require the help of an ambulance or go straight to the hospital from the scene of an auto crash.
However, and perhaps more commonly, injuries take days or weeks to reveal themselves. Because of this, most lawyers advise to seek legal counsel and avoid agreeing to a settlement with an insurance company soon after a car accident.
Here are seven injuries that may appear in the days and weeks following your accident:
1. Headaches. Headaches, especially ones with delayed onset, can be a symptom of more serious medical issues such as a blood clot, a brain injury, or a neck problem.
2. Neck or shoulder pain. This injury is often due to whiplash and can also result in stiffness in this area of the body. Whiplash can happen even in accidents that occurred at low speeds.
Slip and Fall Accidents and Senior Citizen Injuries
The number of brain injuries suffered by the elderly during slip and fall accidents is increasing at an alarming rate, according to the Center for Disease Control.
A recent CDC study found that one in every 45 Americans, age 75 and older, experienced brain injuries that led to emergency room trips, hospitalization, or death in 2013. This means that the rate for this type of injury rose a stunning 76 percent from 2007. To compare, the CDC reports that the overall rate for head injuries during this time rose 39 percent.
What Accounts for the Increase in Head Injuries in the Elderly Caused by Falls?
Experts are not sure of the exact reasons for the huge jump in head injuries. However, they suspect that the increase in elderly people who are living at home are falling repeatedly, yet they are not getting the help they need due to the fear that their independence will be taken away.
OWIs and Wisconsin Teen Drivers
Being charged with an OWI at a young age can be detrimental to a teen’s future. For example, insurance premiums will increase and schools and employers will require disclosure of operating while intoxicated convictions.
If you or your child is facing OWI charges, a skilled criminal defense attorney can work with you to achieve a desirable outcome in your case.
How Common is Drunken Driving in Wisconsin?
According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, there were 24,000 OWI convictions in 2015. Of those, more than 200 convictions involved drivers under 18.
Driving under the influence is dangerous. The state reports that 190 people were killed in crashes involving alcohol in 2015. In the same year, almost 2,900 people were injured in alcohol-related accidents.
Criminal Trespass and Burglary to a Dwelling in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, it is a crime to enter someone else’s home without the occupant’s permission. Depending on the circumstances, the accused could face criminal trespass charges or burglary charges.
Being charged with either crime is a serious matter, although burglary carries higher penalties. Retaining qualified criminal defense counsel will mean that an accused’s Constitutional rights are safeguarded and that his or her case will be thoroughly investigated by a professional.
If you have been charged with criminal trespass or burglary, there are a number of defenses that may be available to you based on the facts of your case.
Criminal Trespass to Dwelling Defined
The first requirement for the crime of criminal trespass of a dwelling is that the structure at issue must meet the definition of dwelling. Typically, defendants who break into homes will be punished more severely than ones who break into businesses or other structures.
Traumatic Brain Injuries and Wisconsin Car Accident Cases
Several types of injuries can arise from a car accident and include broken bones, sprains, and lacerations. Additionally, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can also occur.
What is a TBI?
The brain is one of the body’s most complex organs, and it is especially vulnerable to injury. A TBI is sustained when the head is hit or quickly jerked. In the context of car accidents, a TBI can be sustained through whiplash or through an object striking the head.
Traumatic brain injuries can cause loss of consciousness and range in severity. Most people have heard of a mild TBI, which doctors also refer to as a concussion.
TBIs are common in car accidents. According to the Center for Disease Control, data from 2007 and 2013 shows that car accidents were the third leading cause of severe TBIs. This type of traumatic brain injury includes emergency room visits, hospitalization, and death.
Wisconsin Disorderly Conduct: Charges and Fines
Disorderly conduct can refer to a wide-range of situations, and it is a common basis for an arrest or a citation in Wisconsin. If you or someone you know is facing criminal disorderly conduct charges, an attorney can review your case and assert a vigorous defense on your behalf in court.
Wisconsin Law on Disorderly Conduct
Wisconsin law describes what constitutes disorderly conduct. Under the law, disorderly conduct can take place in a public or private place.
Further, the law provides that the accused must engage in conduct that, under the circumstances, is:
- Violent;
- Abusive;
- Indecent;
- Profane;
- Boisterous;
- Unreasonably loud; or
- Otherwise disorderly.
Wisconsin Pedestrian Injuries and Accident Facts
As the weather gets warmer, more people seek to travel on foot. However, it is important to keep in mind that pedestrians, especially children, face risks as they walk.
In fact, in the United States, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic accident every 113 minutes and hurt every eight minutes. Pedestrian accidents can leave victims severely injured, while car occupants may remain unharmed. Following pedestrian safety recommendations will help to reduce your risk; however, accidents still happen.
Common Types of Injuries Pedestrians Sustain
Pedestrians involved in accidents with a car are typically injured in the lower half of the body, which is where a car would first make impact. However, pedestrians can also sustain injuries to their head and upper body as they often fall into the vehicle that strikes them.
