Oshkosh Personal Injury And Criminal Defense Blog

It is quite common for most people to call a collision between two vehicles an "accident." However, the reality is that most "accidents" are actually caused due to another person's negligent or reckless conduct. Whether it is speeding, drunk driving or some form of distracted driving, negligent and reckless conduct is the cause of thousands of injuries and deaths in America each year.

Fortunately, anyone who has been injured in a car "accident" in Wisconsin may be able to pursue legal options. In a personal injury lawsuit based on a car accident, the victim will first need to show that a "duty" existed between the drivers involved in the wreck. That is fairly simple, as every driver has a duty to all others on the road to operate their vehicles in a safe and appropriate manner. Once it is established that a duty existed, the victim must prove the defendant's "breach" of that duty. That would be the alleged negligent or reckless conduct, such as proving that the defendant was speeding or using a cellphone and was distracted behind the wheel, for example.

If you have suffered serious injuries in a Wisconsin car accident, your life may have changed forever. Your injuries could have lasting impacts, including physically or financially, that affect your day-to-day life. Because you did not cause the incident that resulted in your injuries, you are considering filing a personal injury claim against the driver considered at fault.

Taking civil legal action after a serious car crash is not unusual. Of course, if you have never needed to take such steps before, you may understandably feel anxious about the idea of starting such a serious process. As a result, you may want to know more about what to expect when meeting with an attorney.

By now, most of our readers in Wisconsin know how dangerous distracted driving can be. In fact, this national plague on our roads has seemingly only been getting worse. A recent news article noted that, since 2000, an estimated 624,000 people have died in fatal traffic accidents in America. Many of these deaths were caused by distracted driving.

As we all know, the primary distraction for drivers is the ever-present smartphone. These days, cellphones are essentially mini computers that are capable of doing much more than just placing and receiving calls. Drivers are distracted by the ability to text, send emails and even look at the Internet while driving. Distracted drivers may miss important road signs, speed or swerve in their lanes. Any number of issues can occur when drivers take their eyes off of the road and attention away from the task of driving, even for a few seconds.

Semi-trucks are a common sight in Oshkosh and all over Wisconsin. However, driving near a semi-truck can be a white-knuckle experience for some. This is because, no matter how carefully one drives, a distracted, drowsy, inexperienced or intoxicated trucker could slam into their vehicle. And, given the sheer size disparity between a semi-truck and a standard automobile, an accident between the two could cause substantial damage, injuries or even fatalities.

When a person is in a trucking accident, they may be offered an insurance settlement. But, these settlements often are not enough to fully compensate the truck accident victim for all the harms they suffered. Moreover, these settlements may not be enough for victims to feel like the responsible parties were sufficiently held accountable and justice has been done. Sometimes, to obtain enough compensation and obtain a sense of closure, it makes sense to file a lawsuit following a trucking accident.