SDTS

General Motors has recalled 2.6 million vehicles including Chevrolet Cobalts sold between 2003 and 2007. The GM vehicle recall was prompted by a faulty ignition switch that could cause the vehicle to turn off suddenly when on the road. If the car turns off unexpectedly, the power steering, air bags and power braking also fail to function as well. The GM recall is raising many questions, and a full-scale federal investigation has been launched. The reason: GM may have known about the problems as far back as 2004 but failed to act. Unfortunately, GM’s failure to recall the vehicles may have [...]

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has recently updated  rules on maximum on-duty hours and maximum drive time for truckers. The update is an attempt to reduce drowsy driving crashes. Victims of collisions can use evidence of rule violations to obtain compensation if they are involved in an accident with a tired trucker. A Janesville auto accident attorney can provide assistance to those who have been hurt. While the hours-of-service rules can help victims to prove a trucker was negligent in a drowsy driving crash, it can sometimes be difficult to conclusively demonstrate that a driver violated the requirements. [...]

Often times, especially in automobile or motorcycle accidents, passengers in a car or on a motorcycle suffer injuries due to the negligence of a family member or friend. Such injuries may be quite serious including brain injuries, fractures, neck and back pain, shoulder injuries, etc. Many times people who have been seriously injured in a car or motorcycle accident due to the negligence of a friend or family member are hesitant to bring a claim for compensation for these injuries because of their relationship to the negligent party. As a result, many such individuals who have suffered serious brain injuries, [...]

In the state of Wisconsin, Assembly Bill 480 and Senate Bill 363 would legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. If the legislation passes, Wisconsin would join a growing number of states in the U.S. in liberalizing drug laws. Medical marijuana may have proven health benefits, but the relaxation of marijuana laws has also had another effect throughout the country.  Marijuana use has grown among people of all age groups and among both men and women.  This, in turn, has resulted in a significant increase in the number of crashes involving drugged drivers.  With some states going even [...]

The dangers of brain injuries have become more apparent in recent years, with research revealing that repeated concussions increase the risk of dementia and have a long-term impact on the brain. While most people now know that a blow to the head can be dangerous, some may assume that only a serious brain injury can have a significant impact on your health. The reality, however, is that any blow to the head can have lasting consequences. Concussions account for around 75 percent of the 1.7 million brain injuries that occur annually, and are most likely to occur in incidents such [...]

For those injured in an accident and who receive compensation from an insurer, the insurer will require that you sign a release as a prerequisite for receiving compensation. Releases are fairly standard in terms of their language. Every release will include language indicating that in return for receiving a certain sum of money, the injured party releases the at fault party and their insurer from any and all claims, including any and all future claims. The release will also state the injured party is releasing the at fault party and insurer from any claim for injuries or damages even if those [...]

Wisconsin Law Provides Relief I have been reading with interest recent articles that discuss situations where an individual suffered humiliation and embarrassment due to some private information posted on facebook or twitter. These situations almost always involve photos that were meant to remain private, but have now been published to the world. Oftentimes these photos are published by ex-spouses during a divorce or ex-boyfriends or girlfriends who are upset about a break up. On other occasions, such information is posted for the purpose of bullying. These postings can and do result in great harm to the victim. There is even a [...]

If you’ve been hit as a cyclist or pedestrian, our auto accident lawyers in Janesville and Beloit can help you get financial compensation. Now, a new Bill is looking to double the penalties for motorists who hit “vulnerable” people like this. Sen. Luther Olsen, R-14th District, has introduced a bill to double the penalties for traffic violations that result in bodily harm, great bodily harm or death to vulnerable highway users. Senate Bill 307 defines vulnerable highway users as: Pedestrians Bicyclists, moped operators Operators and passengers of animal drawn vehicle tractors Other farm vehicles, in-line skaters and horse riders [...]

Legal Leaders Magazine has named Steve Caya one of Wisconsin’s Top Personal Injury Lawyers for 2013. “I am very appreciative of this award” states Caya. “I am very pleased to know the client service my staff and I provide is acknowledged by our peers as being exceptional”. Contact me today for a free consultation. We take winning personally. Let’s get you EVERYTHING you’re owed. Let's Make Them Pay

Our injury law firm in Janesville and Beloit have seen some unusual circumstances surrounding injury lawsuits, but we’ve never faced something quite like this. A viral video of a Scout leader toppling a rock formation hit the internet a few weeks ago. There are two problems with it. 1) That’s defacing a national monument, and he’s now facing possible felony charges. 2) The video may hurt his chances of winning an injury lawsuit, in which he claims to be “debilitated.” Utah’s Glenn Taylor was immortalized on YouTube pushing a rock to the ground. In 2009, he filed a personal injury [...]

We’re always adamant that our personal injury clients in Wisconsin contact us as soon as possible. Many people wonder how long they have to file their injury claim and lawsuit. The short answer is 3 years. According to Wisconsin’s Statute of Limitations: “893.54– Injury to the person. The following actions shall be commenced within 3 years or be barred: (1)?An action to recover damages for injuries to the person. (2)?An action brought to recover damages for death caused by the wrongful act, neglect or default of another.” It’s important to know that after that 3-year period, you are not able to [...]

If you’ve recently been injured, your first call is usually to your insurance company and your second call is to find an injury lawyer in Wisconsin. Your hope is always that both of these parties can help and will have your best interest in mind. Sadly. That’s not always the case. Our injury lawyers in Wisconsin have spoken to a number of people who feel they have been misled or even betrayed by their insurance provider. The newest disturbing trend was recently explored by an article at Philly.com. Private insurance companies are building their websites to give the impression that you’re [...]

If a product that is supposed to be safe injures you in any way, you should speak with an injury lawyer. For example, in Canada, a class action was recently filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia by Natalie Bickert against Whirlpool and related companies. Bickert claims that on December 11, 2012, her dishwasher ignited, filling her house with smoke. She suffered carbon monoxide poisoning and she was rushed to the hospital. The lawsuit has been brought on behalf of Canadian consumers who purchased Whirlpool, KitchenAide and Kenmore brand dishwashers. Bickert claims that the dishwashers are dangerously defective. Specifically, [...]

Which generation is more likely to need a car accident lawyer? As car accident lawyers, we’ve worked with drivers of all ages in Wisconsin. We can’t say we can comment on which demographic has better drivers, but AllState just released some interesting numbers that stack Generation X up against Baby-Boomers and other generations. They surveyed a number of Canadian drivers and found that: Generation X (born 1965 -1980) are the most likely to admit to most distracted driving behaviors (95 percent) Not far behind, 91 percent of Boomers (born 1946-1964) admit to some form of distraction behind the wheel. Generation Y (also [...]

Many areas in Wisconsin have taken action to protect their residents against aggressive dog breeds. Below is a list of local communities that have banned, restricted or declared certain types of dog breeds to be “vicious” or “dangerous.” The full list can be seen at www.dogsbite.org. If You've Been Attacked by a Dog in Wisconsin, Call a Lawyer Many towns and cities in Wisconsin have outright banned pitbulls and other dog breeds As a personal injury law firm representing victims injured by dog bites, we’ve seen a number of dog bite incidents that caused serious injuries. A serious bite injury is one that breaks the [...]

Always call an injury lawyer if you slip and fall. Here’s why you should always call a personal injury lawyer if you slip and fall on someone’s property. Earlier this month, a woman from Oregon was awarded $725,000 in a lawsuit involving a slip and fall. Tammy Schoening, 52, slipped on loose gravel and fell with her feet straight up in the air. A doctor testified that her injuries were the same as if she had fallen out of a second-story window. As a result of her fall, she: Broke her wrist Fractured and herniated disks in her back Developed a condition called [...]

Get into a car accident outside of Janesville or Beloit? Our car accident lawyers know that your collisions aren’t just limited to Janesville and Beloit. People get in car accidents out of their home city and their home state. While it may seem more stressful, the process is actually pretty close to what you would go through on your home turf. STEPS TO FOLLOW FOR OUT OF STATE ACCIDENTS: Make sure everyone is OK. Your first priority in any accident in any state is always making sure that everyone is alright. Make sure anyone injured is attended to, or call an [...]

You might have read about a little-known traffic law in Wisconsin allowing motorcyclists to run red lights. But is it true? What are the motorcycle traffic laws in Wisconsin, and how do they affect traffic light protocol? Motorcycle personal injury lawyer Steve Caya is an experienced biker and survivor of a motorcycle crash. He understands the importance of fighting for fair compensation for motorcycle injuries and helps Wisconsin riders get the compensation they deserve. Wisconsin Motorcycle Law: Red Lights Saying motorcycles are allowed to run red traffic lights is oversimplifying the law. However, a 2006 state statute says motorcyclists and bicyclists [...]

Don’t text and drive in Wisconsin or you’ll need a traffic lawyer Most states now have some sort of traffic laws in place to keep people from texting while they drive—and Wisconsin is no different. The law states, “No person may drive, as defined in s. 343.305 (1) (b), any motor vehicle while composing or sending an electronic text message or an electronic mail message.” At the same time, Wisconsin’s law is even more stringent when it comes to new drivers. The law states, “no person who holds a probationary license issued under s. 343.085, or an instruction permit issued under [...]

A Canadian man has become the first person to successfully launch and win a personal injury lawsuit against cookware mega-company Corning Incorporated and World Kitchen Inc. 10 years after his initial injury, London, Ontario’s Lanny Stilwell was recently awarded $1.15 million for the injuries he sustained as a result of Corning’s products not having sufficient warning labels on them. A London jury awarded Stilwell, $1.15 million in damages, after finding that the makers of Visions glass cookware, World Kitchen Inc., and Corning Incorporated, were negligent by not including warning labels with these glass cookware products. On Sept. 11, 2000, Stilwell was [...]