Deaths and injuries caused by the negligence of another person or entity may entitle victims to compensation. Unfortunately, there is not an unlimited time-frame in which they may file a claim. Instead, victims are bound by their state’s statute of limitations. Learn more about Wisconsin’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims, including what it could mean for your personal injury accident, with help from the following information.

General Statutes on Personal Injury Claims

Most personal injury claims require that victims settle their case within three years from the date of death or injury. However, there are many exceptions and limitations to this general rule. It is important to understand if, and when, they may apply to your specific situation.

When winter settles in, and the roads become slick, even the best of drivers can find themselves in a dangerous situation. However, most circumstances are avoidable. Learn how you can best protect your family with some safe winter driving tips, and learn what rights you have if you or someone you love is killed or injured in an automobile crash this winter season.

Always Have a Plan for Unexpected Inclement Weather

It goes without saying that drivers should try to avoid going out if the roads are dangerous, but you cannot always prevent travel in inclement weather. For example, you might go to work in the morning, certain you can make it home before a winter storm hits, but then it hits earlier than expected and you are hit while trying to drive home. Knowing what to do in such a situation can be difficult, but effective preparation and planning can make the decision much easier.

Over the years, Wisconsin has received a lot of criticism for its lax drunk driving laws – and rightly so considering alcohol-related crashes kill approximately 162 people in Wisconsin each year and injure almost 2,700 others. A recent revision to criminal penalties, which now makes a fourth DUI a felony charge, has garnered some positive attention but this change may not be sufficient enough to reduce the number of drunk driving accidents. Pierce County is taking some serious action, though, with a DUI program that is aimed at keeping felony DUI offenders on the straight and narrow.

How the New Program Will Work

Set to be implemented by January 2017, the DUI diversion program will specifically target felony DUI offenders (those who have four or more convictions). It will be modeled after the existing drug diversion program, which requires rigorous testing and massive accountability from those enrolled. Over the course of 18 months, they will be required to submit to random urinalysis testing to determine if they have been drinking. They will also have to complete an alcohol treatment program.

In the state of Wisconsin, a first offense of operating while intoxicated (OWI) is punishable only by a small fine and six to nine months in jail. No interlock device is required, and offenders are still permitted to drive to and from work or school. Secondary offenses may not be much better. For example, Wisconsin does require an interlock for subsequent offenses, but jail time falls anywhere between five days and six months. Moreover, license suspension time is only increased to 12 to 18 months, and fines are only marginally increased.

The increase of penalties is so poor, in fact, that it took nine OWI convictions before one man was sentenced to serve eight years in prison. And even then, prosecuting attorneys allegedly had to plead with the judge to finally get the man off the road and behind bars. Though he had not harmed anyone, statistics indicate it would have only been a matter of time (impaired driving accounts for one-third of all automobile accident deaths).

First Offense Not Always First Time Driving Drunk

The liability of parents or sponsors of minor drivers may soon be limited because of two bills that were recently passed by the Senate and Assembly. If Governor Walker signs these bills, longstanding Wisconsin law will be changed with the stroke of his pen. Here is what you need to know about the current laws and how they may apply to you and your teen driver.

Wisconsin Teen Driver Sponsorship Requirements

In the state of Wisconsin, all drivers under the age of 18 must have a sponsor. This person must have legal guardianship rights and fall within the state's definition of an “approved adult.” Upon signing, this adult sponsor: