Have you ever heard you were at fault in a car accident just for being there? While this is a myth, many drivers find that they are partially at fault in an accident because they violated one of the rules of the road.
To help you understand the full details you may not know and perhaps help you understand a little bit more about accident prevention, here is the ultimate guide on car accidents.
Rear-end collisions, or getting “rear-ended” and side-impact collisions (also called getting “T-boned”), are two of the most common types of vehicle-and-vehicle collision.
Head-on collisions usually occur when a vehicle moves into the path of an oncoming vehicle. These crashes are dangerous and damaging due to the higher speeds at which they typically occur.
Vehicle-and-object collisions happen when a car collides with a fixed or stationary object, including another car that is parked, light and utility poles, and other fixed objects.
Pedestrian collisions are less common but more dangerous than the other types of car accidents. They represent a small portion of total accidents but a large portion of injuries and fatalities.
Some of the main crash-types in Wisconsin include motorcycle collisions, bicycle collisions, and pedestrian collisions.
According to the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the last five years had an average of the following statistics a year:
Key Steps to take After a Car AccidentIf you've been involved in a car accident, your mind will be thinking about a million things at once. Is everyone okay? Are we safe from danger? What do I do next? To help ease your mind after an accident, just remember these key tips from our team of car accident lawyers, who've seen thousands of car accidents and car accident injuries over the years.
1. Document the Car AccidentHaving photographic evidence of the accident can help improve your personal injury claim. It is helpful for a jury to see the circumstances surrounding the auto accident, including what it looked like and the condition of the vehicles and property damage. It is also helpful for investigators and accident reconstructionists to have a clear picture of your vehicle’s position and damage to the vehicle.
2. Document the InjuriesThe old phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” means a lot when it comes to documenting your injuries. Showing the jury bruising or lacerations after your accident can help to document how badly you were injured. Additionally, showing medical treatments required, like casts, oxygen, monitoring devices, or assisting devices, such as crutches, wheelchairs, or walkers, can help the jury to see the work that went into healing your injuries. Take photographs of your initial injuries but also monitor the progress of healing.
3. Document the Weather and Road ConditionsWeather conditions can sometimes play a big role in your car accident, but you may forget weeks down the road exactly what the road and weather conditions were at the time of the accident. Be sure to take a moment to document the weather conditions. Take photos of standing water, ice, or snow. Take a photo of your clock along with the sun, clouds, or other prominent conditions.
So what should you consider as you hit the roadways in Wisconsin? Here are some statistics that relate directly to driving in Wisconsin. From crash averages to weather and road conditions, here are some interesting facts that you should know and share!
Over the last five-year period, statistics show that there were, on average, a total of 130,896 car accidents. On average, there were 509 fatal collisions, an average of 100,331 collisions that included property damage, and more than 30,000 accidents that resulted in injury. Of the more than 130,896 average car crashes, just over 19,400 were considered speed-related crashes.
Recent auto accident data shows that the most common hit objects are ditches, followed by trees, traffic signposts, and utility poles.
Close behind include vehicles hitting the median barriers, mailboxes, and fences.
The data shows that in Wisconsin, deer are one of the most prominently hit objects on the road. Now that shouldn't necessarily surprise you, considering the high deer population in the state. Have you ever encountered or hit a deer on the road?
It might surprise you to see that car accidents are most prevalent during daylight hours. The vast majority of auto accidents occur when it is light outside, followed by nighttime hours. Dawn and dusk have the lowest amount of car collisions.
So, as you head out on the road during the day, make sure you are aware of your surroundings and pay attention to your safety on the road.
December - February
Conditions: Snow, black-ice, slippery roadways, hail, freezing rain
Accident Percent: 20%
March - May
Conditions: Wet snow, sleeting rain, high winds, thunderstorms, fog, flooding
Accident Percent: 20%
June - August
Conditions: Sunny, humid, thunderstorms, heavy rains, flooding, tornados
Accident Percent: 38%
September - November
Conditions: Rain storms, sleet, early snow, frost, fog, blowing leaves and debris
Accident Percent: 22%
According to a recent study documenting car accident statistics, weather plays an important role in when accidents occur and the fatalities, injuries, and property damage that results.
The majority of car accidents that result in injury and property damage happen in clear conditions, which may surprise you.
Accidents in Wisconsin involving cars, trucks, and motorcycles happen almost every minute of every day. Our team of car accident lawyers believes in the importance of preparation. So we have created an easy-to-follow Car, Truck & Motorcycle Accident Checklist designed specifically for your vehicle glove box.
Print it out and follow along with the checklist if you are involved in or witness a motor vehicle accident.
The helpful, easy-to-follow checklist includes:
The rules of the road create a minimum standard of conduct for drivers. The rules of the road tell drivers how to drive, where to drive, and what the requirements are for driving various types of vehicles.
Violations of the rules of the road constitute negligence as a matter of law. Negligence is the failure to use reasonable care. By breaking the law and violating a rule of the road, a driver is presumed to be negligent because he or she was not using reasonable care to abide by the rules.
After a car accident, sometimes you just want to recover and move on, but if you’ve been injured, you may be entitled to compensation and help to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Finding a team of car accident attorneys in Milwaukee can be difficult because the market is saturated with lawyers of all shapes and sizes, with varying levels of knowledge and experience to truly help you and your claim.
Look for Experience and Direct Attorney ContactLook for a team of lawyers with experience in car accident cases, work injury, and slip and fall cases, to name a few. Find a lawyer who believes in educating clients on their rights and working with clients to reach a settlement or trial decision in their favor.
From the first steps of legal discovery to jury trial to the appellate court and even the Supreme Court, our philosophy is to treat every case as if it is going to trial. Try to avoid lawyers who promise a quick settlement. Insurance companies know which lawyers look for fast results and which lawyers are willing to go the extra mile on behalf of clients.
Look for a Car Accident Attorney with a Track Record of Success and Appellate WorkInstead of listening to radio ads and TV commercials that guarantee results (without ever hearing about your case), consider doing your research and finding a car accident law firm that focuses on quality, not quantity. It is important that you meet with a lawyer, not a clerk or an assistant. An experienced lawyer should handle contact with you and your doctors to get the appropriate reports. A lawyer should be handling your case at each step of the way – not a paralegal or a support staff member.
Complete a Car Accident Case EvaluationIf you've been injured in a car crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, and you should not have to suffer alone without support. Our team of personal injury attorneys in Milwaukee is dedicated to helping you understand your legal rights and answer any questions you may have, and a free case evaluation is the first step in the process.
Here are four extremely important reasons why you should complete a free case evaluation (follow this link to learn more):
Additional Car Accident Resources:
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