Winter months bring all sorts of hazards to roads in Wisconsin. Ice can turn hardy road surfaces into glass with the slipperiness of a skating rink. Snow logs in tire treads, bringing vehicles to a stop or sometimes making it hard to stop. But a year-round hazard is brought into stark relief by the fallen leaves and white background: animals.
Deer, bears and other wildlife are implicated in car accidents across the upper Midwest, especially when precipitation makes roads slick or extra hours of darkness reduce visibility. As a result, drivers should reduce speed to avoid chain reaction accidents or other collateral problems.
Several people were injured before 6 a.m. on a recent Friday in an accident on Wisconsin Highway 69 in Green County after a northbound sports utility vehicle slowed down to avoid striking a deer on the road. A tractor-trailer struck the SUV from the rear, injuring all nine people aboard.
The injured driver and passengers were transported to two separate regional hospitals while both halves of the road were closed for cleanup, causing traffic problems across the region. The Green County Sheriff’s Department is still investigating the incident.
Victims of truck accidents and the survivors of people killed in truck accidents have the right to sue for financial damages as required to help people recover as much as possible from these incidents. An attorney can help victims and their families work out their options based on the damage or injury experienced and forward these claims in civil court or a pretrial settlement with the responsible parties.
