The report detailed that Milwaukee "ranked 42nd, down from a No. 19 ranking 2009, but the average years between accidents shortened to 10.6 years from 11.2 years." According to Allstate, Milwaukee drivers are about 6 percent less likely than the average U.S. motorist to get into a car accident.
]]> "Nationally, car accidents in general have declined over the last few years, but crash fatalities still average around an alarming 35,000 every year despite technological advances, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration."The survey found that the nation's safest drivers are in Fort Collins, Colo., where drivers' accident likelihood is one every 14.5 years, which is nearly a third less than the national average. The nation's worst drivers, according to the survey, were from Washington, D.C., where drivers are nearly twice as prone to accidents as the average U.S. driver - every 5.1 years.
Allstate provided some recommendations on how driver's can become safer motorists:
Minimize distractions - Engaging in any other activity while driving - talking on your cell phone, text messaging, changing a radio station, putting on makeup - is a distraction.
Be aware of road conditions - Ice, snow, fog, rain - all of these weather conditions require extra caution and slower speeds.
Leave a safe distance between your car and others around you - Maintain at least one car length space between your car and the vehicle in front of you for every 10 miles per hour of speed.
Steer clear of road rage - Reduce stress on the road by allowing plenty of time for travel, planning your route in advance, and altering your schedule or route to avoid congested roads. Remember not to challenge aggressive drivers and stay as far away from them as possible.
Maintenance matters - Ultimately, safety also depends on the maintenance of one's car. Ensure that car brakes, exhaust system, tires, lights, battery, and hoses are in good working order.
Source: Milwaukee Business Journal "Allstate: Milwaukee drivers rank among safest in U.S." 09/02/2010]]>The Milwaukee County Sheriff and Fire Departments responded to the accident scene. Once pulled from the wreckage, both drivers were taken to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries sustained in the wreck.
]]> According to news reports, authorities suspect alcohol may be the cause of the car accident. A deputy on the scene of the crash reported that they smelled alcohol on the breath of the woman and her speech was slurred. The woman was arrested shortly after the car accident and is being charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and felony injury by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle.As a result of the crash, the northbound lanes of Interstate 794 were closed for about two hours so that responders could clear the wreckage from the road. The status of the two drivers has not been released to the public. Authorities will continue to investigate this crash and additional charges may be filed in the future. Additionally, there may be additional suits filed against the woman by the victim.
Source: Examiner.com "Head-on crash on 794 Thursday" 08/26/2010]]>The motorcycle struck the front passenger side of the car as he traveled through the intersection. The driver of the motorcycle was a 43-year-old man, of Belvidere, Ill., who upon impact left 378 feet of skid marks on the road before laying the bike down on the road and skidding an additional 20 feet before coming to a stop. The motorcyclist attempted to stop his bike by slamming on the brakes but was not able to stop in time to avoid the crash.
]]> The Rock County Coroner pronounced the motorcyclist dead on the scene at 5:50 p.m. According to reports, the Illinois man was not wearing a safety helmet during the crash. The driver of the Ford Taurus was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and sustained no injuries.North and southbound traffic on Wisconsin 140 and east and westbound traffic on Wisconsin 67 was diverted until 6:44 p.m.
Following a full investigation into the motorcycle accident by local authorities, investigators believe that speed was a contributing factor in the crash.
Source: Channel 3000 "Fatal Motorcycle Crash Kills Illinois Man In Clinton Township" 08/21/2010
]]>The rollover crash occurred around 10:20 p.m. when Restivo failed to negotiate a curve at Plymouth Church Road while driving westbound and entered the north ditch line on the road. Once in the ditch, the 1998 Chevy Cavalier rolled several times which caused Restivo to be ejected from the vehicle. The car came to a stop several hundred feet west of where the vehicle left the road.
]]> According to the Rock County Sheriff's Office, Restivo was not wearing his safety belt at the time of the crash. Following the crash, Orfordville Fire/EMS and Beliot EMS responded to the scene. Restivo was flown by a medical helicopter to Rockford Memorial Hospital where he was admitted in critical condition with non-life threatening injuries, according to authorities.The Rock County Sheriff's Office believes that excessive speed and alcohol were factors in the car accident and Restivo was cited for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Authorities believe further citations may be issued against Restivo at the conclusion of their investigation of the crash.
As a result of the car accident, the stretch of highway on Wisconsin 213 was closed after the time of the crash until shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday.
Source: WISC Madison "Man Injured In Single-Vehicle Rollover Crash" 08/22/2010]]>Humphrey was accused of shooting Sam Aegerter, 30, of Janesville, after a confrontation on July 4th, 2010. According to police reports, Humphrey chased after Aegerter's Jeep after a slight accident at an intersection. When the Jeep finally stopped, words were exchanged between the drivers. After some time, the Jeep decided to leave the scene and the motorcycle chased after the Jeep once more and Humphrey shot at the vehicle. While the gun fire ensued, Aegerter was shot and killed in the chase.
]]> The family of Aegerter has files a wrongful death lawsuit against Humphrey, claiming that he is responsible and liable for Aegerter's death. Currently, Humphrey remains in the Rock County Jail on $1 million bond. If convicted on Oct. 12th, he faces a maximum of 60 years in prison for the death of Aegerter.Attorneys for Humphrey's have 60 days to file motions in the case. A trial date has been set to begin on Oct. 12. In the meantime, attorneys from both sides will be reviewing evidence in the case.
Feel free to read our previous post entitled "Wisconsin Family Files Wrongful Death Suit Against Janesville Man" for more background on this case from last month.
Source: Janesville Gazette "Motorcyclist mute to homicide charge" 08/11/2010]]>In the case of Tesar v. Anderson and American Family Mutual Insurance Company, Tesar is suing Brett Anderson, the driver of the vehicle which struck his girlfriend, for the death of his unborn child. The suit stems from a car accident which occurred on Feb. 13, 2003.
]]> The Wisconsin appeals court concluded that "the [initial] trial court erred by granting summary judgment to American Family. We therefore reverse and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion." The District 4 Court of Appeals overturned the initial decision, which ruled in favor of the insurer, and now allows Tesar to continue his lawsuit against the insurer. The initial ruling, handed down by a Wood County judge, concluded that "a woman has no legal duty to a fetus" and the lawsuit was dismissed.After the appeals court re-allowed the case to continue, American Family expressed that by allowing this case to continue it will "let fathers sue mothers for other acts that harm fetuses during pregnancy, like eating poorly." The court disagreed with the insurer's claim.
Source: Chicago Tribune "Wisconsin appeals courts says man can bring wrongful death lawsuit over death of fetus" 08/08/2010]]>A number of alarming statistics have shown that texting behind the wheel has become a large problem in the US. According to USA Today, 9 in 10 teenage drivers have engaged in distracted-driving behaviors such as texting on a cell phone. Eighty percent of all accidents are the result of distracted drivers and texting raises the likelihood of a car accident by 23 times. Further, combine texting and inexperienced driving skills, you have a situation that almost provokes a car accident to occur.
]]> To combat this dangerous trend, driver safety instructors are stepping up efforts to educate future drivers before they get onto the road. Many school districts have begun incorporating lessons about the dangers of texting in their driver's programs. One exercise asks students to attempt to text while walking a straight line, many failed. The lesson: if you can't text while walking, how can someone text while driving.Instructors are not the only ones taking action. Wisconsin is the 25th state to make texting while driving illegal, beginning Dec. 1, 2010. Penalties for sending text messages while driving will range from $20 to $400. It will be a similar fine as inattentive driving.
Source: BrookfieldNOW "Driver ed battles texting obsession" 08/10/2010
]]>Despite this increased improvement in safety belt usage, state officials and authorities are not yet ready to celebrate these findings. While this year's numbers are the highest ever in the state, Wisconsin still lags behind its neighboring states and the national average. The current national average of seat belt use is 84 percent.
]]> Authorities credit the improvement in seat belt use to a law passed last year that now allows police officer to ticket unbuckled drivers and passengers even without another violation being committed.Additionally, the state's survey revealed that younger aged drivers still need to be educated on the importance of buckling up. Only 69 percent of Wisconsin Drivers age 16 to 25 use safety belts while driving. Furthermore, female drivers (80 percent) in the same age group are more likely than males (72 percent) to buckle up.
The study also showed that 71 percent of Milwaukee residents used safety belts, compared to all the other areas of the state which ranged from 76 percent to 86 percent.
Source: Capital Times "Seat belt use hits high mark in state" 07/30/2010]]>Just prior to the crash, the officer and his partner on bicycle patrol decided to approach a vehicle that had been continuously sounding its horn. As officers approached the vehicle, the boy seemed extremely nervous. As officers attempted to speak with the boy, he drove away, striking one of the officers and dragging him several feet with his vehicle. As the car drove away, the other officer fired a shot at the vehicle attempting to disable the vehicle. The driver was not hit by the shots.
]]> Following the car accident, the unoccupied stolen vehicle was found about six blocks away from the scene which occurred near 38th Street and Hadley Street. The Milwaukee officer struck by the vehicle, a 32-year-old man, was treated at a hospital for non-life threatening injuries and was shortly released thereafter, according to Lt. Thomas Welch of the Milwaukee Police Department Criminal Investigation Bureau.The 17-year old boy was later arrested at a local hospital while there being treated for a knee injury. According to news reports, the boy had a warrant for escaping from a juvenile facility. The boy has admitted to his role in this incident.
Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel "Teen arrested after officer is hit by car" 07/30/2010]]>The first accident occurred around 5 p.m. when a 50-year-old Milwaukee motorcyclist was seriously injured on I-94 near College Ave on Sunday. According to Milwaukee County sheriff's deputies, the motorcycle accident occurred when the motorcycle driver was entering the northbound I-94 at College Ave. on-ramp and suddenly lost control of his bike, causing his motorcycle to slide across several lanes of traffic.
Shortly after the crash, the Milwaukee Fire Department transported the motorist to Froedtert Hospital to be treated for serious injuries. According to police, the motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. As a result of the accident, several lanes of traffic along the intersection were tied up for an extended period of time.
]]> In another unrelated motorcycle accident Sunday night, one man was killed when his motorcycle collided with a car on Oklahoma Avenue and Pine Avenue. According to Milwaukee police, the motorcycle was seen driving recklessly in the area prior to the crash.News reports describe that the motorcycle was heading eastbound on Oklahoma Avenue when it struck a car turning onto Pine Avenue. The 36-year-old motorcyclist was pronounced dead on the scene. The driver of the car was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
In both accidents over the weekend, neither motorcycle operator was wearing a safety helmet to protect themselves in the event that an accident was to occur.
Source: WISN "One Person Killed in Motorcycle Crash" 08/02/2010]]>The car accident occurred on the morning of July 2, 2009 when Jane Carter, 66, of Milwaukee, struck the motorcycle of Wauwatosa motorcyclist, 52-year-old Jim Barbarini. According to police and news reports, Carter was driving her Toyota Matrix when she turned the corner and struck the motorcycle of Bararini. As a result, Barbarini broadsided the vehicle and was violently thrown from his bike. Bararini was wearing a novelty helmet with spikes at the time of the crash but it offered little to no protection during the impact. The crash occurred near N. Mayfair Road and W. Center Street.
According to police, Carter was on her way home from a tennis game with her friends just before the fatal car accident occurred. Officers on the scene saw no sign that Carter was impaired and did not administer a field sobriety test. After the crash, Carter told police that she had taken a prescription painkiller 12 hours prior to the crash and police initiated a blood test. The blood test revealed that Carter had taken Ambien, a prescription sleep aid, not 12 hours prior but 60 to 90 minutes prior to the crash.
]]> Makers of the drug suggest that people who have taken the drug to stay in bed for seven to eight hours after taking the pill. One reported side effect is so-called sleep-driving in some people. For this reason, the Milwaukee County district attorney's office spent the last 11 months investigating this case to determine if there was any additional evidence to support that she was impaired while driving. They determined she was not.Despite not being charged with any criminal charges, Carter still faces a fine of $1,311 for failing to yield to a stop sign causing death.
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The car accident occurred on Sept. 13, 2009, when 48-year-old Michael Dorsey, of Milwaukee, was driving his sports utility vehicle northbound on Green Bay Avenue while intoxicated and swerved onto West Congress Street, causing his vehicle to collide with 24-year-old motorcyclist Brandon Boston. Dorsey fled the scene of the accident shortly after it happened and failed to even check to see if Boston was ok following the fatal accident.
Reports did confirm that Boston was wearing a safety helmet but that it flew off his head during the crash. However, Boston was pronounced dead shortly after at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa from fatal injuries sustained during the crash.
]]> Dorsey was apprehended by authorities after his SUV was found at his home. According to news reports at the time of the crash, Dorsey's blood-alcohol content (BAC) was more than twice the legal limit when he crashed into Boston's motorcycle. Dorsey told officers that he left the scene because he was scared.In addition to Dorsey's jail time, he will also have his license revoked for three years after being released from jail.
Initial reports back in September reported that if found guilty Dorsey could have faced 50 years in prison for his crimes. In September, Dorsey was charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and hit-and-run. He pleaded not-guilty to the charges and waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
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]]>According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Milwaukee Police, the crash occurred when the driver of the car, a 36-year-old Milwaukee male was driving south on the Miller Parkway and turned left onto W. National Ave. colliding with a motorcycle traveling northbound. Police are not releasing the name of the 43-year-old Milwaukee motorcyclist or his 41-year-old female passenger, of West Allis, who was taken to Froedert Hospital with serious head injuries.
The motorcyclists' license was revoked in April for DUI and had no license to operate a motorcycle at the time of the crash. Interestingly, the driver of the car was also driving on a suspended license after failing to pay tickets.
]]> The driver of the car sustained minor injuries in the crash. According to reports, neither the driver nor passenger was wearing a safety helmet at the time of the crash. Police believe that had both passengers on the motorcycle been wearing helmets, the outcome may have been drastically different.Milwaukee police suspect that alcohol was a factor for both drivers and they are currently investigating whether excessive speed was a factor in the accident. The accident took place a short time after the 2:00 a.m. bar close in Milwaukee.
No funeral information is currently available for the driver of the motorcycle.
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The first accident occurred Saturday morning on Milwaukee's north side near the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and Ring Street. According to Milwaukee Police, the crash occurred when a vehicle traveling southbound on Martin Luther King Drive crossed the center line and struck a car traveling in the southbound lanes. The driver of the southbound car and two individuals in the northbound car were transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Police believe alcohol was a factor in this car accident.
]]> Another unrelated car accident on Saturday in Milwaukee left one Wisconsin woman fighting for her life. A three-car accident left a 21-year-old Oak Creek woman in serious condition after being airlifted to Milwaukee County hospital by Flight for Life. According to the Racine County Sheriff's Department, the woman was traveling eastbound on 7 Mile Road around 4:30 p.m. when she allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign. As a result, her vehicle struck a small SUV traveling southbound, which then hit another vehicle.The 21-year-old was treated for a lacerated liver and a pelvic injury. The two other drivers were also taken to Froedtert and were treated from non-life threatening injuries. The names, ages and hometowns of the individuals involved in the crash were not released to the public.
Additional information on the victims of these car accidents will be available in the coming week.
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]]>Hall testified against Humphrey in court and expressed that he lied to police to help cover up the crime. Hall confessed up to helping Humphrey bury the murder weapon and dumped ammunition in the Sugar River near Albany. Hall also told investigators that he knew nothing about the shooting and later made the mistake of telling the truth to a childhood friend, who is a Janesville police officer after getting a lawyer.
]]> As a result of Hall's testimony against Humphrey during preliminary hearings, Humphreys was convicted of first-degree reckless homicide on June 4th in Rock County Court for the death of 30-year-old Sam Aegerter.After Hall came forward and confessed to his contribution to the homicide and his dishonesty to police, Aegerter's family filed a wrongful death suit against him. Their suit claims that he was ultimately responsible and liable for their son's death.
Humphrey remains in Rock County Jail on $1 million bond. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison. His next hearing is scheduled for August 11.
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