There is a rising concern over the number of hit-and-run accidents in Wisconsin and across the U.S. Anecdotal evidence is saying that there have been many such crashes in Milwaukee and in other areas of the state. Since 2013, in Milwaukee alone, there has been a consistent rise in the number of accidents overall and the percentage of those accidents that are hit-and-runs. 24 percent of accidents were hit-and-runs in 2013. By the end of 2017, that had grown to 29 percent.
These numbers are bolstered by a new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety that details the nationwide epidemic of hit-and-run crashes. In 2016, there were 2,049 fatalities in hit-and-run accidents in the U.S. That is an increase of 60 percent from 2009 and is also the most ever recorded. 65 percent of people who died in a hit-and-run were on a bicycle or were pedestrians. The executive director of the foundation expressed concerns over the trend of these kinds of crashes.
There are worries that the lack of vigilance on the part of law enforcement for reckless drivers and the decision to stop pursuing vehicles that show recklessness with flouting stop signs, going through red lights and speeding is contributing to the increase in hit-and-run crashes. In recent months, law enforcement has taken the initiative in pursuing vehicles that are committing reckless and dangerous acts.
When there is a car accident and a driver flees the scene, it does not eliminate that driver’s responsibility for what happened. Drivers are obligated to stop. Unfortunately, a growing number choose not to. People who suffer car accident injuries can be confronted with medical costs, the need for extended care, the inability to work and problems that can run the gamut and have an influence on everyone in their lives. When there is a fatality, it is made much worse as there is no chance of recovery and the family will be left without its loved one and the personal and financial contributions that he or she might have made.
The investigation into an accident is often the key and this is especially true with a hit-and-run. Having an advocate who understands how to pursue compensation is a foundational aspect of a case. Contacting Northeast Wisconsin car accident injury attorneys can help with a case to be compensated.
Source: jsonline.com, “‘Reckless behavior’: Hit-and-run crashes surge in Milwaukee and across the country,” Ashley Luthern, April 26, 2018