Recent Blog Posts
6 Vehicle Maintenance Tips to Help Teen Drivers Avoid Car Accidents
Teens are more likely to cause car accidents than older, more experienced drivers. While gaining more experience and learning how to drive defensively is important for them, it is just as essential for teens to properly maintain their vehicles.
A well-maintained vehicle can keep teens away from dangerous situations and reduce the risk of accidents. Here is a brief list of car maintenance tips teen drivers are highly encouraged to follow:
1. Keep Up With Car Maintenance Intervals
Each vehicle has its own unique maintenance schedule. To find this schedule, teens should look at their car’s owner’s manual. Whenever it is time for their vehicle to get an oil change, tire rotation, or any other type of maintenance, they should visit their car dealership or an experienced mechanic.
What Should I Do After a Dog Bite Injury in Waukesha County?
Even though dogs are domesticated, they can still act aggressively in certain situations or around certain individuals, leading them to bite. In most cases, dogs bite because they are feeling threatened, scared, or stressed, or because they are simply trying to defend their territory or play without realizing how rough they are being.
When someone is injured by a dog bite, dog owners in Wisconsin are liable, regardless of whether they knew their dog was dangerous or not. If a dog previously injured someone, and the owner was aware, the owner may be required to pay double the amount of damages
Steps to Take After a Dog Bite
If you were hurt by a dog, you are not required to prove the negligence of the dog owner to recover compensation for your damages. After a dog bites you, there are certain steps you should take to protect your health, safety, and rights. These steps include:
Whiplash Symptoms and Treatments Following a Car Accident
One of the most common types of injuries car accident victims face is whiplash, which occurs when the sudden movement of a person’s head places their neck and spine under a great deal of stress. Regardless of how whiplash occurs, those who suffer from it typically require some type of medical treatment in order to recover. Those who have been involved in a car accident should be sure to understand what this neck injury is and what your rights are if you sustain it.
Whiplash Symptoms
The symptoms of whiplash usually appear within 24 hours of an accident, and they may include:
- Neck pain and stiffness, which worsens with movement
- Headaches and migraines
- A limited range of motion in the neck
- Dizziness and fatigue
- Memory or concentration issues
5 Common Misconceptions About DUI Charges
A DUI charge can be frightening. If you have been arrested for DUI/OWI, you may be unsure of your rights and how to proceed. By educating yourself on some of the most common misconceptions about DUI charges, you can gain a better understanding of how drunk driving charges work and what your legal options may be. Here is a brief list of five of the most common misconceptions about DUI charges:
1. If I Am Charged With a DUI, I Am Automatically Guilty.
Fortunately, a DUI charge and a DUI conviction are not the same. By seeking experienced legal representation for your DUI charge, you may be able to get your charges reduced or have your case dismissed. A lawyer can search for flaws in the prosecutor’s case which may improve your situation.
2. A DUI Is a Minor Offense.
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Arrested for DUI
After a DUI/OWI arrest, you will likely feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. In order to ensure that your rights are protected and increase the chances of a favorable outcome for your case, it is important to clear your mind and avoid making some common mistakes. Here is a list of five mistakes you should be aware of:
1. Ignoring Your Charge
Believe it or not, some people believe that ignoring a DUI charge is a good idea. You should know that taking no action after you have been arrested for a DUI will not cause your charge to disappear. In fact, failing to appear in court for your DUI can lead to additional charges that may result in fines and jail time.
2. Assuming You Are Guilty
It can be tempting to admit to a police officer that you were too intoxicated to drive. However, you should avoid doing so, as this may not be the case. You are not guilty unless the officer discovers that your blood alcohol content (BAC) is above the legal limit, and there were no flaws in the way the test was administered. Allow an experienced DUI lawyer to help you determine whether you are guilty.
New Wisconsin OWI Law Affects People With Multiple Convictions
In March 2018, a new Wisconsin OWI law was passed by Governor Scott Walker. The purpose of this law is to permanently revoke the driver’s licenses of individuals who have been convicted of four or more offenses related to drunk driving. The state of Wisconsin believes that anyone can make a mistake, but making the same mistake four times is inexcusable, and it is time to get repeat drunk drivers off the roads.
The new law states that if someone is convicted of four or more DUI-related offenses or had a second OWI in combination with two other OWI-related offenses (such as second-degree homicide involving a vehicle or injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle), their driver’s license will be permanently revoked by the Department of Transportation.
It is important to note that the fourth offense must arise within 15 years of the previous conviction. In the event someone has lost their license and is caught driving, they will be forced to pay a fine of $2,500 and may spend up to one year in prison. Second offenses may lead to a $10,000 fine and/or a year in prison.
Alternatives to Driving Drunk
Drunk driving accidents occur because people do not find alternatives to drunk driving. They would rather get behind the wheel and take a risk then find another way to get home. The next time you are out drinking, be sure to consider the alternatives to drunk driving. By doing so, you can prevent a DUI and save your live as well as the lives of others. Here are four alternatives to drunk driving you should consider:
1. Public Transportation
If you need a ride after drinking, public transportation is a cost-effective option. You can take a bus, subway, or rail system and will not have to worry about whether or not you will make it home safe and sound. Be sure to check public transportation schedules in advance and make sure your public transportation method of choice will be running when you plan to go home.
2. Ridesharing Services
There is a reason ridesharing services have increased in popularity in recent years. They are convenient, dependable, and affordable. If you are planning on drinking, make sure you download the app of Uber, Lyft, or another ridesharing service. This way, you can easily request a ride when you are ready to go home.
4 Common Police Mistakes in a DUI Arrest
Police officers are regular people who make mistakes. If you’ve been arrested for a DUI, it’s important to realize that the police officer who pulled you over may have made a mistake. Since a mistake by a police officer may help you avoid a conviction, you should familiarize yourself with the most common police mistakes in DUI arrests.
- Lack of Probable Cause. In order to pull you over, a police officer must have had probable cause that you were driving under the influence of alcohol. If you were not swerving, speeding, or engaging in any other driving behavior that may lead a police officer to believe you were under the influence, your arrest may be invalid.
- Errors with Field Sobriety Tests. Field sobriety tests assess balance, coordination, and the ability of a driver to pay attention to more than one task. There are strict, detailed procedures for administering field sobriety tests. For instance, police officers must take fatigue, certain medical conditions, and the weather into consideration when administering these tests. Since it can be complicated to administer field sobriety tests, police officers may often make errors.
What to Know About Carrying a Gun in Wisconsin
If you own a gun, you should have a thorough understanding of the gun laws in Wisconsin. By failing to follow the laws, you can face criminal charges such as heavy fines, jail time, and a permanent criminal record that can negatively impact your career, relationships, and future. Let’s take a closer look at the details of Wisconsin gun laws.
Wisconsin Gun Law Basics
Since Wisconsin is an open carry state, you may carry a loaded gun in public. You do not need a license or permit to carry a gun in a public setting. When anyone can see a gun that you are carrying, you are considered an open gun carrier.
If you would like to open carry, you must be at least 18 years of age. While permits are not necessary to carry a gun openly, you must obtain a license to carry a concealed weapon. It’s important to note that Wisconsin cities do not have the right to create gun possession laws that go against the state’s open carry laws.
How to Avoid Jail Time for a OWI
If you have been charged with an OWI in Wisconsin, there are a variety of penalties you may face. While hefty fines and a loss of driving privileges are harsh penalties, they are not as intimidating as jail time. Let us take a closer look at the potential jail sentences for an OWI and how you may be able to avoid being locked behind bars.
Jail Sentences for Wisconsin OWIs
If you have been charged with an OWI for the first time, you will not face any jail time. However, if you are charged with a second offense OWI, you can be left with 5 days to 6 months in jail. A third offense OWI may come with 45 days to a year in jail while a fourth offense may lead to 60 days to one year in jail.
Avoiding a Jail Sentence with Legal Representation
To increase your chances of avoiding jail time, you should reach out to an experienced DUI attorney. An attorney can look for flaws in the prosecution’s case to help you avoid a conviction and the jail sentence it may lead to.