Northeast Wisconsin Personal Injury And Social Security Disability Blog

4 signs you are too drowsy to drive

On behalf of Alpert & Fellows, L.L.P. on Friday, June 14, 2019.

Everyone in Wisconsin knows drinking and driving is a bad idea. You may not realize, though, that driving drowsy may be just as dangerous. In fact, according to some experts, trying to drive after being awake for 20 or more hours is roughly the same as having a blood alcohol concentration above the 0.08% legal limit.

Fatigued driving may be the cause of as many as 10% of automobile accidents. Still, admitting to yourself that you are too drowsy to drive may be tough. Fortunately, you can likely watch for some warning signs to know when not to drive. Here are four of them:

One dead, one seriously injured in head-on collision

On behalf of Alpert & Fellows, L.L.P. posted in car accident injuries on Thursday, June 13, 2019.

A head-on collision in Northeast Wisconsin left one man dead and another man seriously injured.

The accident happened around the time of the morning commute, and police do not suspect that drugs or alcohol were involved.

Falls are a common cause of spinal cord injuries

On behalf of Alpert & Fellows, L.L.P. posted in slip-and-fall accident injuries on Friday, May 31, 2019.

When people think of a slip-and-fall, they may not at first realize how serious these types of accidents can be. After all, in many cases, a slip-and-fall could mean a few bruises or, in the worst case, a broken bone.

However, in some cases, even a fall from a short height or no height all can leave a person disabled. This is because, should one's vertebrae, or back bones, get broken, it could also lead to a spinal cord injury.

The other type of brain injury

On behalf of Alpert & Fellows, L.L.P. posted in catastrophic injuries on Friday, May 17, 2019.

When people in Northeast Wisconsin think of a brain injury, they likely think of a blow to the head, a fall, or even a sudden shake or other force that causes a severe jolt in the head or neck.

These are all examples of traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs for short. They are indeed very serious. In the worst case scenario, they can leave a Wisconsin resident in a permanent coma or otherwise disabled for the rest of her life.

Truck accident kills 4

On behalf of Alpert & Fellows, L.L.P. posted in semitruck accident injuries on Friday, May 3, 2019.

Although it happened in another state, a recent major truck accident that left four people dead on an interstate has attracted national media attention. The tragedy offers valuable lessons for truck drivers and other motorists in Northeast Wisconsin.

The 23-year-old semitruck driver who caused the accident faces four counts of vehicular homicide. However, police indicated that they do not suspect drugs or alcohol played a role in this crash and also do not believe that the driver intended to cause the crash. Police indicated that, for whatever reason, the truck driver could not stop his vehicle for a rush hour traffic jam on the local interstate. Witnesses say that they saw the truck moving at a high rate of speed in an emergency lane immediately prior to the accident. Video footage taken immediately before the accident seems to confirm this account.

4 reasons 18-wheeler accidents occur in rural areas

On behalf of Alpert & Fellows, L.L.P. on Friday, April 19, 2019.

You love living in the country. After all, life away from the grind of the big city is both calm and enjoyable. While you likely do not have to worry about many of the hazards that accompany big-city living, you may face some risks that city dwellers often avoid. An accident with a semi-truck is one such risk.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the five-year average for large truck collisions is roughly 6,700 per year. That number is alarmingly high, especially when you consider the injuries and fatalities a semi-truck collision can cause. By understanding why 18-wheeler accidents tend to occur in rural areas, you can plan for staying safe on the road. Here are four common reasons for semi-truck accidents:

Wisconsin vets may get their Social Security claims expedited

On behalf of Alpert & Fellows, L.L.P. posted in social security disability on Thursday, April 18, 2019.

Many residents of Northeast Wisconsin either have served in one of the branches of the Armed Forces. Even when not in combat, soldiers and sailors put their lives and health at risk simply as part of their jobs.

When Wisconsin residents do get injured or fall ill in connection with their duty, the fallout can last for a lifetime. Because of their injuries or illnesses, they may never again be able to work in their chosen profession, or even in any gainful employment. They will need all the financial help they can get.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

On behalf of Alpert & Fellows, L.L.P. posted in car accident injuries on Friday, April 5, 2019.

Each year, April is commemorated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. This month is thus a very good time for drivers in Northeast Wisconsin to educate themselves about the dangers of distracted driving. It is also a good time for them to promise not to engage in risky behaviors like texting and driving, playing with the radio and the like.

A few statistics may help reinforce the seriousness of the country's ongoing distracted driving epidemic. Experts estimate that 9 people die across the country daily in crashes that happened because of distracted driving. Additionally, 100 people get significantly hurt in car accidents related to distracted driving.

Number of deadly truck accidents is on the decline

On behalf of Alpert & Fellows, L.L.P. posted in semitruck accident injuries on Thursday, March 21, 2019.

At least according to some reports, the number of deadly truck accidents has declined over the past decades. In 1980, for instance, there were just over 5,000 crashes involving both a semitruck and at least one fatality. In 2015, this number was basically 3,600. This represents a decrease of over 30 percent between 1980 and 2015.

According to the report, there has also been a pronounced drop in the rate of deadly crashes per 100 million miles driven by truckers. This rate was 4.65 in 1980 but had fallen to 1.29 by just a few years ago.

If I sue, will that hurt my chances at getting Social Security?

On behalf of Alpert & Fellows, L.L.P. posted in social security disability on Thursday, March 7, 2019.

When a resident of Northeast Wisconsin gets hurt in an accident, he will likely want or even need to pursue every available option for compensation. This is particularly true if his injuries have left him unable to return to the workforce anytime soon.

One avenue for receiving compensation is through Social Security Disability benefits. Available through the federal Social Security Administration, these benefits provide a steady monthly income for people who are legally considered disabled under the relevant federal laws.