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Recent Blog Posts
Government’s Probe into Pedestrian and Bicyclist Injuries Offers Disappointing Results
Government officials are noticing a disturbing trend: although most of the nation is seeing a decrease in the number of automobile accidents and injuries (Wisconsin’s increased in 2015), there has been a drastic increase in the number of severe and fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists over the last decade. The recent government probe into why this increase is happening is providing little information as to how the problem may be fixed.
U.S. Representatives Launch Government Accountability Office Study
In an effort to determine what is causing the increase in pedestrian and bicycle accidents, U.S. Representatives Rick Larsen, Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Peter DeFazi launched the Government Accountability Office. More importantly, they wanted to determine if there were any barriers to improving the overall safety of bicyclists and pedestrians. To do this, officials:
- Examined National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data and National Automotive Sampling System data from 2004 to 2013;
Wisconsin Bicycle Fatalities: Safety Tips for Sharing the Open Road
As new modes of ecological and economical transportation evolve, cycling appears to be gaining ground but sharing the open road with motor vehicles has not always been a smooth ride. The number of Wisconsin bicycle fatalities and instances of personal injury are on the rise. At the end of 2015, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation reported a total of nine deaths involving cyclists. It is reported that motor vehicle operators were primarily responsible for 58 percent of cyclist fatalities while 24 percent of cyclist fatalities were the fault of the cyclist.
Statistical data presented by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is even less optimistic. Cyclists are twice as likely as vehicle operators to experience personal injuries or fatalities while on the road.
To ensure the evolution of cycling, not only as a mode of transportation but as a enjoyable physical activity, The Wisconsin Bike Federation, (formerly Over the Bars Wisconsin), the country’s largest, statewide bicycle organization, offers the following safety tips for all cycling enthusiasts.
Avoiding the Hook
This tip concentrates on both the left and right hook. While riding through an intersection to avoid the “left hook” watch for motorists turning left across your path.
With regard to the “right hook” position yourself closer to the center of the right lane when passing through an intersection.
Ride Responsibly
- Never jump the curb and continue to ride on a sidewalk;
Are You Eligible to Bring a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
When someone we loves dies because of the negligent actions of another, or as a result of the wrongful actions of another, it is difficult to see past our grief and investigate to make sure we have a complete understanding of why the death occurred. It is very important, however, to fight the urge to avoid the stress of the situation, and instead to learn all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the death, to ensure that if there is a culpable party, they are held responsible and will therefore be deterred from acting the same way in the future. You may also be entitled to damages for the responsible party’s actions if you can prove those actions caused or contributed to the death of your loved one. Such a lawsuit is called a wrongful death lawsuit, and it is governed by Wisconsin’s wrongful death statute.
Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death Claim in Wisconsin?
On the Job Hazards: Are Coffee Workers Being Exposed to Hidden Dangers?
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the “CDC”) has finally issued a warning to workers in the coffee processing field, after years of ignoring numerous complaints and reports of unions and workers in that industry. If you work in a facility where you roast, grind, or add flavor to coffee, and work with the chemicals diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione,(also known as acetyl propionyl), this is very important news.
What Is the Danger?
These two chemicals, diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione, are formed naturally when unflavored coffee is roasted, and the chemicals are released when the coffee is roasted and ground. These chemicals, often added to microwave popcorn to provide the buttery flavor, have been known to cause serious lung disease to workers in microwave popcorn plants, and the most serious bronchial disease caused by exposure has been nicknamed “popcorn lung”. The CDC has been studying exposure to these chemicals for years, and has determined that it is safe to eat the chemicals in trace amounts. It is inhalation of the chemicals that causes damage to the lungs, which is why the inclusion of diacetyl in e-liquids used in electronic cigarettes is at the center of most diacetyl-related controversy these days. Coffee workers, however, inhale diacetyl in much greater amounts than the general population during the roasting and processing of the coffee, and a recent spate of illnesses and deaths of workers in the coffee industry is the reason for the new CDC warning.What Are the Health Hazards?
House Fires Responsible for Thousands of Fatalities Every Year
Home fires are responsible for more than 90 percent of fire fatalities in this country. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there were more than 1.3 million house fires in this country in 2011. More than 3,000 people were killed in those fires, and another 17,000 were injured. In addition to the loss of life, these fires caused a total of 1.7 billion dollars in damages.
The most common causes of house fires include:
- Cooking equipment;
- Heating equipment;
- Arson;
- Electrical wiring or equipment;
- Smoking materials;
- Clothes washer or dryer; and
- Candles.
More than 40 percent of home fires start in the kitchen. Sixteen percent of fire fatalities are a result of kitchen fires. Less than 10 percent of home fires begin in the bedroom, yet these fires result in 25 percent of fire fatalities. Living room fires are responsible for another 25 percent of fire deaths, however, only four percent of home fires begin here.
Leaky Basement And Real Estate Misrepresentation Cases Are Wisconsin Homeowners' Nightmare
Whether you are a buyer or a seller of real estate it can be a nightmare to have a home with basement leak issues. It has the potential to not only put a large dent in your budget to fix the problems, it can lead to costly civil litigation if you fail to disclose it properly and misrepresent the condition of the property. If a homeowner has basement leak issues and fails to reveal it on a real estate disclosure form, it could subject the homeowner to costly civil litigation.
What are the penalties or potential costs for failing to properly disclose property defects in Wisconsin? There are certain Wisconsin statutes that deal with consumer misrepresentation and fraudulent conduct that are relevant to these real estate misrepresentation claims.
Section 100.18, Stats., deals with the damages associated with the publishing of untrue, deceptive or misleading advertisements with the intent induce the public in any manner to enter into a contract. If a seller were to violate this statute by misrepresenting the condition of real estate in order to induce a buyer to purchase the property, the seller could be subject to paying the buyer his pecuniary losses, including costs of collection and attorney fees. §100.18 (11)(b)(2), Stats.
Premise Liability Accidents
Premise liability accidents are common lawsuits alleging personal injury in Wisconsin. Premises liability involves responsibility for injuries that arise from accidents on someone’s property. Such accidents, which may include slip and fall or trip and fall accidents (often devastating or fatal for older adults), occur in restaurants, hotels, water parks, parking lots, amusement parks, your neighbor’s house, and in a myriad of other locations.
If you are injured on another party’s premises and there is any chance you have been injured in any way, take certain steps to ensure that you preserve your claim and can recover the maximum amount available for the injuries you sustained, and contact a veteran personal injury attorney today.
What Should You Do Right after a Premises Liability Injury Occurs?
Quick Tips on the Reality of Slip and Fall Accidents
Although many Americans have voiced their opinions that there are too many reality shows on the air, the genre remains a solid staple on the airwaves. There is one particular, high-rated reality show which continually tests our societal consciousness as actors portray various scenarios that either evoke public compassion and action or blurred lines of indifference.
One of the most popular segments of this show is when an actor portrays a staged slip and fall accident in either a grocery or big box store. Although the actor is portraying a carefully crafted personal injury and ready to sue the host merchant, the show's host and his crew are privy to the fall and delight in exposing the various reactions. As the charade is exposed, we as the audience are enlightened as a large percentage of unsuspecting bystanders are quick to out the clumsy imposter but in all reality, these types of accidents can be quite serious.
Premises Liability: What Happens When Passersby Are Injured by Construction Work?
In February, a nearly 600-foot tall crane crashed onto the buildings, cars, and pedestrians in downtown Manhattan. One man, a Harvard-trained mathematician, was killed. Three others were injured. What rights do these individuals have under the law? Can they seek compensation? And just how difficult will the process be?
How Frequent Are Construction Site Injuries?
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, approximately 1.6 percent of all roadway crashes occur within construction work zones. Of those, approximately 0.6 percent were fatal (576 fatalities), 30 percent resulted in injury, and 69 percent caused only property damage. Most occur during active work hours (70 percent).
Passersby Have Right to Reasonable Expectations
How to Navigate the Murky Waters of Divorce - Part One
Eight Tips to Consider if You are Facing a Divorce
Going through a divorce can bring out overwhelming feelings of uncertainty and sadness. If this it is a first divorce, quite often it is the only experience the divorcee has had with the complexities of the legal system. Because divorce can involve very serious financial and emotional issues, it is important to be prepared and take it one step at a time.
The following article is the first of a four part series on "How to Navigate the Murky Waters of Divorce." This installment provides eight tips to consider if you are facing a divorce.
- Don't overreact to divorce papers - Often the language in divorce papers can seem harsh or unfeeling. It is important to remember that much of the language contained in these documents is required by law and must be included. It is imperative to keep a cool head and not argue with your spouse over "legalese.
