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On December 2nd of 2015, two Tennessee buses engaged in a major collision that killed 2 young girls and an aspiring teacher. It was later discovered that James Davenport, one of the bus drivers, had sent and received several texts leading up to the collision. While this story is certainly tragic, it is not a stand-alone incident. A recent study showed that nine Americans are killed every day from distracted driving car accidents, that include behaviors such as using a smartphones, texting while driving, and eating. According to to the National Highway & Transportation Administration (NHTSA), drivers who are texting while driving have [...]

According to a study by carinsurance.com, Wisconsin ranks as the fourth most dangerous state for drunk driving. The study looks at multiple factors causing drunk driving including: level of alcohol consumption, severity of DUI laws, cost per drunk driving fatality and number of DUI arrests. The overall findings of the study show that North Dakota had the worst combination for drunk driving and, despite efforts to curb drunk driving, Wisconsin ranked as the fourth worst state for drunk driving, putting residents at a very high risk of a drunk driving accident. Some of the factors that lead Wisconsin into the [...]

According to statistics provided by the Kids and Cars foundation, the most prominent cause of death for children involved with non-traffic related car accidents is being backed over by a vehicle. A new campaign created in collaboration with the California Kids’ Plates program aims to decrease these deaths and the total number of non-traffic related car accidents by promoting vehicle safety on and off the road. By educating parents about ways to talk to kids about car safety, the initiative helps spread awareness about the possible risks of non-traffic related accidents. To keep your children safe on and off the road, the campaign [...]

The winter season is ending and warmer weather lays ahead which means bikers across Wisconsin are preparing to get their bikes back on the road. As you dust off your seats and tune up your bikes, now is also a good time to sharpen up on some key bike safety tips to protect yourself on the road. Although wearing a helmet remains a necessity, there are several other equally important safety tips to keep in mind as you get back on the road. To keep the roads as safe as possible remember these important bike safety tips. Keep yourself visible. To [...]

In recent years, speed limits across the country have been on the rise. The fastest speed limits in the country can be found in Texas where many major roads now have an 85-mph speed limit. As traffic-related deaths continue to rise, some officials argue increased speed limits only add to the growing danger on the roads. Since major budget cuts have limited the number of patrol cars available to enforce already high speed limits, drivers are less likely to consistently adhere to safe speeds on the road. Traffic safety advisors continue to cite excessive speed on the roads as [...]

Despite increased initiatives and efforts to curb traffic-related deaths, recent statistics released by the National Security Council estimate 40,200 people died in traffic related deaths in 2016. The newly released statistics show a 7 percent increase from 2015 and mark the second consecutive year in which traffic-related deaths have increased. New technologies have enhanced vehicle safety dramatically over the years and stricter traffic laws have been passed nation-wide. However, traffic-related deaths continue to climb. As officials look towards finding a solution, some safety advocates point to long-established dangers on the road including: alcohol, unbuckled seat belts and excessive speeding. Jonathan Adkins, [...]

Trucking accidents, often resulting from fatigued drivers, make up a significant portion of all traffic related accidents each year. On average, there are 4,000 large truck related fatalities each year and the regulations put into place to combat those accidents have been largely debated. In December 2016, Congress rolled back a 2013 requirement that mandated truck drivers take two consecutive rest periods between the hours of 1am and 5am before they can start a new workweek. The 2013 “1-5” requirement was an addition to the Hours of Service rule that states a truck driver must take a 34 hour off-duty [...]

As the year comes to a close, an increase in the total number of all traffic related deaths in 2016 reveals a grim trend in driving safety across the nation. Last week, the Associated Press reported the number of pedestrian deaths in Minnesota for 2016 reached a 25-year high. Experts in Minnesota claim distractions fueled by new technologies such as mobile apps and games provide heightened dangers for both pedestrians and drivers. As the number of distractions increase, both drivers and pedestrians lose awareness of their surroundings and have decreased attention capacities, creating a deadly combination. Although new technologies create more [...]

Distracted driving continues to be a serious public safety risk. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), approximately 26 percent of auto accidents that occur in the United States involve cellphone use as one possible factor leading up to the crash. The rates of cellphone-related accidents are very high because at any given moment, nine percent of drivers on the road are using their mobile devices. It is important to note that these motorists can be held accountable for the collisions they cause and Steve Caya, a skilled Janesville car accident lawyer, should be consulted by collision victims who wish to take [...]

Passengers riding in the back seat of a vehicle are dependent upon drivers to be safe and follow the rules of driving to try to avoid collisions. If a car is involved in a crash, those backseat passengers can be hurt or even killed. In such situations, a knowledgeable car accident attorney can help passengers and their families. Since these passengers did not have control over their own safety, they can pursue a claim against the driver of the car they were riding in if that motorist caused the collision to happen. If another driver caused the crash, backseat passengers could [...]