According to WisDOT statistics, in March, there were 25 fatal Wisconsin car accidents, causing 27 deaths. In March 2010, the safest March since World War II, there were 23 fatalities. The March with the most deaths was in 1977, when 99 people died in Wisconsin motor vehicle crashes. The five-year average number of Wisconsin car accident fatalities in March is 33.

But, what does this mean in terms of overall traffic fatalities? Are car accident deaths in Wisconsin decreasing? Maybe not.

Our Milwaukee car accident attorneys have learned that between January 1 and March 31, 2012, a total of 107 people died in Wisconsin traffic accidents. This represents 17 more traffic deaths than occurred during the same period in 2011. It is two more than the five-year average.

Traffic deaths typically increase in the spring when motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians begin to use the roadways. Our Milwaukee car accident attorneys have posted many articles about accident prevention in the library section of this website. Please take a few minutes to browse through this information.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a Wisconsin car crash, take a moment to download a free copy of The Ultimate Guide For Automobile Accident Victims. This guide contains valuable advice that can out you on the right track to a fair settlement. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your claim with a Wisconsin accident lawyer, contact Hupy and Abraham at 800-800-5678.

• A woman tripped on a broken tile at the mall and broke her ankle. The pictures she snapped at the scene preserved the evidence, since the tile was fixed soon after. She ended up getting a large settlement because her photos showed a very worn out floor with several cracks and broken tiles that the owners should have known needed repair.
• A car accident victim takes pictures at the scene of the two cars immediately after the crash. Her pictures of the car accident scene, which helped her win a large settlement, showed that the other driver had a stop sign. She was also able to capture the damage to her car and pictures of her own injuries.

Contact our Long Island personal injury lawyers for more information and for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our experienced attorneys will discuss your case and answer all your questions. We have offices conveniently located in East Meadow, Central Islip and mid-town Manhattan.

This is the cell phone picture taken by the girl in Farmingdale of a man pulling at her feet.

A correctly installed car seat is a child’s the best protection from death and serious injury during a Green Bay car accident. Our Wisconsin car accident attorneys offer five tips to help you safely install your child’s car seat.

Always install the car seat in the back seat of the car.

When possible, use the LATCH system, which is standard in cars manufactured after 2002. Check your owner’s manual for the positions of the LATCH anchors.

Rear facing seats: Attach the bottom LATCH connections to the anchors in the seat. Make sure that the seat is flat against the seat's bottom and at the correct angle. Place your hands on the car seat and push down with all your weight. Tighten the latch anchors. Attach the back tether hook to the anchor on the floor or back of the front seat.

Forward facing seats: Attach the bottom LATCH connections to the anchors in the seat. Make sure that the seat is flat against the seat's bottom and back. Place your knee on the car seat and push down with all your weight. Tighten the latch anchors. Attach the back tether hook to the anchor at the top or back of the seat. 

Check to make sure that you have a tight installation. If you can move the car seat forward or sideways more than an inch, reinstall the seat. If you have any doubts, visit a car seat technician at your local police or fire station.

For more information about child safety, browse our legal library. For information about your rights after a Green Bay car crash, contact the Wisconsin car accident attorneys at Hupy and Abraham at 800-800-5678.

According to our Wisconsin motorcycle lawyers, there are three reasons why fatal motorcycle crashes increase in the spring:

• Many Wisconsin bikers leave their motorcycles in storage during the winter months; after the long break, it can take drivers a while to adjust to sharing the road with motorcycles. When a larger vehicle hits a motorcycle, the rider is often thrown from his bike. He has only his gear to protect him from injury. However, at high speeds, even the best helmet may not be enough. It is no surprise that about 75 percent of motorcycle accidents fatalities involve a second vehicle like a car or truck.
• The second reason is winter debris on the roadways. The dirt and gravel that helped drivers maneuver icy and snowy winter roads can be dangerous to motorcyclists in the spring. Even a small amount of gravel can cause a motorcyclist to lose control of his bike and crash. Road debris tends to concentrate at corners and intersections, so motorcyclists should especially careful in these areas.
• Finally, many motorcyclists are unaware that motorcycles require maintenance after winter storage. It is also a good idea to brush up on riding skills before hitting busy roads. Poor vehicle maintenance and rusty skills can both be contributing factors to a fatal Wisconsin motorcycle accident.

The Wisconsin motorcycle lawyers at Hupy and Abraham help victims of Wisconsin motorcycle accidents. If you have been injured in a Wisconsin motorcycle crash, request a free copy of our book, The Ultimate Guide for Motorcycle Accident Victims. To discuss your claim with a Wisconsin motorcycle lawyer, contact Hupy and Abraham at 800-800-5678. The initial consultation is free.

The accident occurred on Sunday, April 8, at about 5:30 p.m. The 32-year-old man was a passenger in a 2002 Thunderbird driven by 17-year-old Alexandra Spiering of Racine, Wisconsin. Spiering was driving at a high rate of speed and went off the road and onto the gravel shoulder. She lost control of her vehicle; it overturned several times. Her passenger was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. He sustained fatal injuries. Spiering had to be extricated from the car and was taken to the hospital to be treated for head and arm injuries.

Only two weeks earlier, on March 25, a 17-year-old with a learner's permit caused a serious accident in Sheboygan. The teen was driving a 1994 Acura Integra. He had two passengers in his car when he ran a stop sign. One of the vehicles traveling through the intersection was able to avoid the Integra; a second was not. That car crashed into the side of the Integra. Two teens and the other driver sustained serious injuries.

Our Wisconsin car accident attorneys would like to remind parents that learner’s permits are not licenses. Wisconsin learner's permit restricts a teen's driving privileges while they gain the experience needed to drive on their own. We suggest that parents ride with their teens until they are confident that their teens have mastered the rules of the road.

Learn what to do after a Wisconsin car crash. Request a free copy of The Ultimate Guide For Automobile Accident Victims. To discuss your Wisconsin car wreck, contact Hupy & Abraham at 800-800-5678 and ask to speak to a Wisconsin car accident attorney.

Distracted driving is the number one killer of teens in Wisconsin. According to a State Farm Insurance Study, more than 90 percent of teen drivers say that they don't drink and drive. However, the same percentage say they’ve seen other teen drivers use cell phones or be distracted by passengers while behind the wheel. More than 80 percent of drivers admit to engaging in distracting behavior while driving. These behaviors include talking on a cell phone, texting, changing clothes, doing hair or make-up, eating or drinking, talking, changing music stations, and even studying.

For safety’s sake, you want your child to carry a cell phone while driving. However, it is hard for a teen to ignore a ringing cell phone or the beep of a text. Insist that your child post a message that says, “I am driving and will respond soon.” Remind her that no phone call is worth her life. Agree on an emergency signal in cases when you absolutely must reach her. Perhaps you could try three rings, then hang up, wait a few minutes and call again. This will give her time to get safely off the road and will help her avoid becoming a Wisconsin accident victim.

Remember, when driving, a few seconds does make a difference. If you’d like to discuss a Wisconsin distracted driving car crash with a Milwaukee accident attorney, contact Hupy and Abraham at 800-800-5678.

Our Wisconsin injury lawyers work with experts to determine the exact cause of a Wisconsin malpractice victim’s death.  We help families obtain accountability for their loss by seeking financial compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering and loss of income.

Medical malpractice death in Wisconsin may result from:

• Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose: Misdiagnosis is one of the most common reasons for Wisconsin medical malpractice cases. Misdiagnosis can cause a person to seek dangerous treatment or to go undiagnosed and untreated. Some conditions that are frequently misdiagnosed are: heart attack, appendicitis, infections, cancers, and infections. A serious condition that goes undiagnosed can also lead to death.
• Prescription drug errors: According to the Washington Post, more than 1.5 million Americans are injured, sickened, or killed each year because of mistakes in prescribing, dispensing, or taking medications.
• Failure to treat: Sometimes a condition is correctly diagnosed, but the patient doesn’t receive the proper treatment.  Medical malpractice may include early hospital discharge, failure to recommend a specialized care, failure to treat, and failure to follow up.
• Surgical errors or mistakes: Surgical mistakes include anesthesiologist error, surgery on the wrong side, nerve damage, vascular damage, objects left in the body, and more.

Did you lose a loved one to a medical mistake? Contact the Wisconsin injury lawyers at Hupy and Abraham at 800-800-5678 to learn about your rights.

Staph bacteria are naturally found on our skin, but when they get into the body, they can make us sick. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, pronounced “MUR-sah”) is a form of staph bacteria that doesn’t respond to the antibiotics that are most often used to treat staph infections. MRSA infections often occur in people who have been in the hospital or another health care setting.  Sometimes MRSA infections are mild, and there is no long-term risk. However, when a person’s immune system is compromised by illness or injury, a MRSA infection can lead to serious illness or even death.

Milwaukee accident lawyer Michael Hupy advises all Wisconsin motorcycle injury victims with road rash to know the signs of a serious MRSA infection. These include:

• Fatigue 
• Flu-like symptoms
• Fever
• Cough
• Chills
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Fever
• Headache
• Sore muscles
• Rash

Untreated MRSA can lead to bloodstream infections, or pneumonia. If you have any of these symptoms after being treated for road rash, contact your doctor immediately.

If you develop MRSA after a Wisconsin motorcycle accident, you may eligible for compensation for your medical bills and pain and suffering. To learn more, request a free copy of our book, The Ultimate Guide for Motorcycle Accident Victims or contact Hupy and Abraham at 800-800-5678 and ask to speak to a Milwaukee accident lawyer. The initial consultation is free.

More than anything, you wish you could go back and undo what has happened. That’s impossible, but you can seek accountability. Wisconsin wrongful death lawsuits allow families of DUI victims to seek monetary damages for their loss.

The Milwaukee personal injury attorneys at Hupy and Abraham know that money can’t replace your loved one, but wrongful death lawsuits are often the only avenue for families to obtain justice after a DUI death. If the negligent drunk driver is not required to atone for his actions, then there is nothing to deter other people from following his example. Thus, a wrongful death lawsuit is, to an extent, a social good that reinforces the idea of justice in the community.

Families may seek damages for loss of support, loss of past and future income, and loss of companionship, advice, love and guidance. They may also seek punitive damages. Punitive damages are monetary awards given to those who suffer from a wrongful act. They are not compensation because they are awarded solely as punishment for the wrongdoing.

To learn more about Wisconsin wrongful death claims, contact Hupy and Abraham at 800-800-5678 and ask to schedule a free legal consultation with a Milwaukee personal injury attorney. Remember, the initial consultation is guaranteed to be free, confidential, and without obligation.

The Wisconsin motorcycle lawyers at Hupy and Abraham urge all motorcycle accident victims to take pictures of the accident scene if they are physically able to do so. This may seem like strange advice, but photographs can help your Milwaukee motorcycle accident attorney reconstruct the accident scene and help prove fault. 

What should you photograph? We suggest: 

• Photograph the damage to your motorcycle. Get pictures from a variety of angles.
• Photograph any other vehicles at the scene. If possible, get the photographs before the vehicles have been moved. Get pictures from each side and try to get a picture of the license plate.
• Take pictures of the scene. Move away from the vehicles and try to get a picture of the entire accident scene, including the position of all vehicles. Then take close-up shots of skid marks.
• Take a picture of your injuries and of any damage to your helmet, clothing, or safety gear.

Our Milwaukee motorcycle accident injury lawyers are dedicated to helping victims of Wisconsin motorcycle crashes get fair compensation for their injuries. There are more tips for Wisconsin motorcycle accident victims in our book, The Ultimate Guide for Motorcycle Accident Victims. You can request your free copy by clicking on the link in the sidebar. If you would like to discuss your own accident with a Wisconsin motorcycle lawyer, contact Hupy and Abraham at 800-800-5678.

Falls are the leading cause fatal and non-fatal injury in American adults age 65 years or older. Nursing homes have an obligation to protect the health and quality of life of their residents. Preventing falls in a Wisconsin nursing home may be as simple as posting warnings on wet or slippery floors. Safety measures may include assistive devices like bed rails and grab bars. There should be adequate staffing so elderly patients are able to ask for assistance when needed. Additionally, the care plan of every elderly nursing home resident should include a plan to prevent falls.

If an elderly resident is injured in a Wisconsin nursing home fall, our Milwaukee accident lawyers will review the resident’s care plan. We will check to make sure that the plan was adequate and that every step in the plan was implemented. We will also investigate to see if similar accidents occurred in the same home that might signify a pattern of neglect.

Many Wisconsin nursing homes will try to blame the resident for the injury. They may say that the resident failed to wait for assistance. However, if the patient was incapable or unable to ask for help, or asked for help but did receive assistance because of understaffing, the nursing home can still be found negligent. However, even if help was available, staff assistance is not a substitute for appropriate safety devices.

If your loved one suffered a hip fracture while a resident at a Wisconsin nursing home, you may want to consider discussing the injury with a Milwaukee accident lawyer. Your loved one may be eligible for monetary compensation. To learn more, contact Hupy and Abraham at 800-800-5678.

Many of the drugs used to treat diabetes belong to a class called thiazolidinediones, which include Rezulin (troglitazone), Avandia (rosiglitazone), and Actos (pioglitazone). Rezulin was linked to drug-induced hepatitis and withdrawn from the U.S. market. Avandia has been found to increase the risk of heart attack and other cardiac complications. It is now only used in patients when other medications don’t work.

When Actos was approved in 1999, it was believed that the drug would have fewer side effects than earlier treatments for type 2 diabetes. However, over the past 13 years, Actos has been linked to serious complications, including congestive heart failure, edema, fractures and Actos bladder cancer. Actos has been banned in both Germany and France because of its dangerous side effects. 

If you are one of the more than two million Americans taking Actos to control diabetes, talk to your doctor. Only your doctor can determine if the benefits of Actos outweigh the risks. If you have suffered bladder cancer or congestive heart failure after taking Actos, talk to a Wisconsin personal injury attorney. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills and pain and suffering. To learn more, contact the Wisconsin Actos injury lawyers at Hupy and Abraham at 800-800-5678. The initial consultation is free.

Statistics show that teens are more likely to crash when they have friends in the car. Two recent studies conducted by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in collaboration with State Farm examined how peer pressures increase a teen driver’s accident risk.

The first study looked at teens who had been involved in serious accidents. Teens driving with passengers were more likely to be involved in distracted-driving accidents than teens driving alone. Approximately 71 percent of distracted male drivers and 47 percent of distracted female drivers said they were directly distracted by the actions of their passengers at the time of their crash.  In addition, males driving with passengers were twice as likely have driven aggressively and six times more likely to have tried illegal stunts to impress their friends before their accident.

The second study looked at the personalities of teen who considered themselves likely to drive with multiple friends in their car. These teens often considered themselves “thrill seekers.” These teens tended not to fully understand the risks associated with driving, and believed that their parents were unlikely to enforce driving rules or monitor their whereabouts.

Our Wisconsin car accident attorneys believe that most teens are responsible drivers. However, these studies show that parents can help prevent Wisconsin teen driving accidents. If you are the parent of a teen driver, set rules for your teen — and set consequences if those rules are broken.

The Wisconsin car accident attorneys at Hupy and Abraham offer free information to Wisconsin accident victims. Request your free copy of The Ultimate Guide For Automobile Accident Victims.

The following is a list of common collisions between bicycles and cars, including tips on how to avoid these crashes.

• A car pulls out in front of you. One of the most common car-bicycle collisions, this happens when a car is pulling out of a side street or driveway and slams into you. You can avoid this by using a headlight, waving, slowing down, and riding further to the left in anticipation of oncoming traffic.
• A car door is opened in your path. This is a simple mistake that can cause a lot of damage. If the driver of the car in front of you — or the owner, if the car is parked — suddenly opens her door, you must have enough time and room to swerve. You can give yourself more leeway by riding far to the left. Riding to the left may feel uncomfortable, but you are less likely to get hit by a car from behind than you are to be hit with a car door.
• A car hits you while you’re in a crosswalk. It’s common that a car may turn into a crosswalk without noticing a bicyclist. This type of collision can be avoided by using a headlight, slowing down, and walking your bike across the crosswalk. However, riding on the sidewalk in the first place is unsafe and makes you vulnerable to cars pulling out of driveways. Sidewalk biking is also unsafe because you mingle with pedestrian traffic.

As a Wisconsin bicyclist, you have the right to use the roads along with other wheeled traffic. Motorists don’t always understand that, and this can lead to tragic car-bicycle collisions.

If you have been involved in a bicycle accident with a motor vehicle, the Wisconsin personal injury attorneys at Hupy and Abraham are eager to help you. Contact Hupy and Abraham at 800-800-5678 or 414-223-4800 to learn about your rights after an accident and to schedule a FREE consultation. We'd also like to give you a copy of our book, The Ultimate Guide For Automobile Accident Victims; it's FREE just for your asking, even if you don't choose us to represent you.

Being a victim of a car accident while pregnant poses unique risks for the woman and her unborn child. However, there are several ways in which pregnant drivers can reduce the risk of injury in the event of a car accident: 

• Do wear a seatbelt, as this is still the best way to prevent injury during a crash. However, do not wear a seatbelt over bulky clothes, or place the shoulder harness underneath your arm. This could seriously hurt yourself or your baby in the event of an accident.
• Do position the driver’s seat as far back from the steering wheel as you can while still reaching the gas and brake pedals. This leaves room in the event of a crash, and your belly is less likely to bump against the steering wheel and injure the fetus. 
• Do not be concerned about the safety of airbags near your belly. Airbags can prevent serious trauma to yourself or the fetus.
• Do not allow yourself to become distracted while driving. Remember that you are responsible for more than just your own life, and that it is more important than ever to be an alert and defensive driver.
• Do ask a friend or loved one to drive you somewhere if you are uncomfortable driving during your pregnancy.

If you have been involved in a car accident while pregnant, call the Milwaukee car accident attorneys at Hupy and Abraham toll free at 800-800-5678 or 414-223-4800 for information on your rights. Remember, your first consultation is absolutely FREE with no commitment. We'd also like to give you a copy of our book, The Ultimate Guide For Automobile Accident Victims; it's FREE just for your asking, even if you don't choose us to represent you.

After being involved in a Wisconsin motorcycle crash, you should NEVER:

• Leave the scene – It is important to stay on the scene to gather evidence and speak with a police officer. Leaving the scene after an accident is incriminating behavior and implies guilt.
• Admit fault at the scene – While your instinct may be to apologize to anyone else involved, never admit fault to the other drivers or to the police. Remain calm and objective, giving only relevant information. 
• Talk to anyone who’s not a police officer – Resist the urge to discuss the event with other witnesses to the scene. Even in speaking with a police officer, you can avoid giving a statement if you’d rather do so with an attorney present.
• Leave the scene without taking pictures and taking notes – You should always keep a camera or camera phone on your person or your bike in order to take pictures of yourself and your bike immediately following an accident.
• Skip the hospital – Even if you feel uninjured, certain injuries such as whiplash or brain injury may manifest over time. It is vital to your case to have a record of any injuries, even if they seem minor to you.
• Admit fault to your insurance company – Follow the same rules in speaking with your insurance company as when speaking to the police officer: do not admit guilt, and do not say anything that could be construed as responsibility on your part. Give them all of the necessary information, and contact your attorney for more information. 

For more information on what to do following an accident, visit the website of Wisconsin motorcycle accident attorneys Hupy and Abraham to learn about classes on accident scene management. Call Hupy and Abraham at 800-800-5678 or 414-223-4800 to order your FREE copy of The Ultimate Guide for Motorcycle Accident Victims. 

• Eyewear. Clear vision is one of the most important factors for a biker, and scratch-free, shatter-proof, and well ventilated goggles and face shields help keep debris and wind from affecting your driving. Be sure to wear tinted shields only in the daytime, as they can make visual distinctions very difficult in the dark.
• Jacket and pants. These should be made of a tough material, such as leather, nylon, Kevlar, or Cordura. The clothing worn by a biker is not a fashion statement, and should be chosen based on one key factor: toughness. This means passing up the more stylish (but far thinner) leather jackets found in most clothing stores. It’s important that both the jacket and pants have long sleeves, and pants should be tight fitting, not baggy or flared, to guard against entanglement with parts of the motorcycle. 
• Gloves. Gloves should be durable and appropriate to weather conditions. The best gloves are non-slip — to enable better use of controls — and padded, to protect against injury. Leather is always a good option when it comes to gloves, but there are also tough synthetic materials to consider. In order to reduce air through your sleeves, you may want to choose gauntlet-style riding gloves.
• Footwear. As with most motorcycle apparel, leather is the best option. Your chosen footwear should cover your ankles, be close-toed, and free of dangling laces that could become tangled with your bike.
• Helmets. The ideal helmet fits snugly, fastens securely, provides full coverage for face and eye protection, and meets government standards for protection in the event of a motorcycle crash. Look for helmets that have been certified to meet Wisconsin motorcycle safety standards.

Despite the best preparation in advance, accidents still happen. If you have been injured in a Wisconsin motorcycle crash, the legal team at Hupy and Abraham would like to hear from you. Contact our law offices at 800-800-5678 (toll-free) or 414-223-4800 (local) for a consultation and your FREE copy of The Ultimate Guide for Motorcycle Accident Victims.

• Meets government standards. Federal rules on motorcycle helmets have been developed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a part of the Department of Transportation. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation also has created safety standards for helmets. You should only purchase safety gear that has met these standards.
• Fits snugly and fastens securely. Be sure of an all-around snug fit, and check the safety clasp to ensure the helmet will not blow off at high speeds.
• Provides complete face and eye protection. A strong face shield will protect your face in a crash, as well as keep wind, dust, dirt, and other road debris out of your eyes as you ride. 
• Enables freedom of movement and vision. It should be easy for you to quickly move your head from side to side while wearing your helmet.
• Is in good condition. There should be no visible holes or cracks on the helmet, nor should fraying or tears be present on the straps. 

Unfortunately, wearing an effective helmet can’t always protect you from injury. Accidents still happen. If you have been in a motorcycle accident in the state of Wisconsin, the highly experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at Hupy and Abraham may be able to help. Contact the offices of Hupy and Abraham at 800-800-5678 (toll-free) or 414-223-4800 (Milwaukee local) for a consultation or for your free copy of The Ultimate Guide for Motorcycle Accident Victims, and to obtain your Bikers’ Rights Card.

The Wisconsin Motorcycle Safety Program: This program offers courses for beginning, intermediate, and advanced motorcyclists, with each course averaging about eight hours. Combining classroom and on-bike exercises, these courses allow riders of all skill levels to improve their understanding of safe motorcycle use. 

Learning Curves Motorcycle Safety: A fast-growing Wisconsin motorcycle safety school, Learning Curves instruction fulfills all State of Wisconsin certification requirements. Instructors at Learning Curves are accredited to teach the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic Rider Course, so if you are just starting out, this may be a good option.

Motorcycle Safety Foundation: The Motorcycle Safety Foundation provides a 15-hour curriculum, the completion of which results in an MSF RiderCourse Completion Card. Over six million people nationwide have benefited from these motorcycle courses. Visit their site online to find a course near you. 

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation maintains a full list of motorcycle training sponsors and locations. Contact WisDOT online or by telephone to inquire about options in your area.

Despite the best safety training, accidents still happen. If you have been in a motorcycle accident in the state of Wisconsin, the highly experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at Hupy and Abraham may be able to help. Contact the offices of Hupy and Abraham at 800-800-5678 (toll-free) or 414-223-4800 (Milwaukee local) for a consultation or for your free copy of The Ultimate Guide for Motorcycle Accident Victims, and to obtain your Bikers’ Rights Card.

• Compensatory damages: These are the expenses and losses you sustained that can be expressed in monetary terms. Such as repair or replacement costs of your vehicle and other personal items, the loss of professional income for the duration of your absence from work and, of course, all the emergency intervention, medical and hospitalization costs associated with the accident. If some of these costs are expected to last for a long period or a lifetime, such as those associated with impairment or disability, you will need to rely on expert advice to calculate their value.

• General damages: These damages are much more difficult to put a price on. Physical and emotional pain, loss of companionship, loss of consortium (benefits of a family relationship) and grief, are all very real and often overwhelming components of accident victims. There is no reason that victims should not be compensated for these damages.