The Milwaukee area is the most dangerous area in the state for drivers. With so many accidents happening, making sure that you have legal counsel in the event of an accident is crucial. Laufenberg & Hoefle are offering experienced legal counsel for citizens of Wisconsin that have been injured in auto accidents. Contact our offices for a free legal consultation today.

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Car Accidents

Is it safe to drive in Wisconsin?

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the answer is no.

The Traffic Crash Report for 2005 was recently released, and the news is not good.

According to the report there were 801 car accident fatalities in 2005, as well as 53,462 injuries. That’s an average of 2.2 fatalities and 146 injuries a day.

As the most populated area in Wisconsin, it should come as no surprise that the Milwaukee area led the state in both fatalities (46) and injuries (7,316). Admittedly, many of those injuries were minor, but keep in mind that paralysis, spinal injuries, dismemberment, or traumatic brain injuries are all considered “non-fatal.” With so many accidents occurring in our area, it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that we also pay some of the highest insurance premiums in the state.

With so much daily, weekly and monthly revenue coming in from those premium checks of ours, you would think that your insurance company would be able to quickly and efficiently handle an auto accident claim. If you’re paying the highest insurance premiums in Wisconsin, then money shouldn’t be an issue if you have to file a claim. Besides, getting insurance is an incredibly easy process. It’s impossible to turn on the radio or read the newspaper without coming across a GEICO or State Farm advertisement. All you have to do to get a policy is get online, or make a quick phone call. Within a few days you get a copy of your policy, which most people don’t read because it’s loaded with dense legal jargon. But that shouldn’t matter, because according to the friendly person at the call center, you know exactly how much you are insured for, and what you can expect from your insurance company if you get into an accident. It was so easy to get the policy, and there are so many easy ways to pay your premiums that filing a claim must be just as easy, right?

Unfortunately, it rarely works out that way.

Insurers know that the less informed you are about your policy, and the less you know about your options and your rights under the law, the easier it will be for them to deny your claim, or offer you a settlement that is wholly inadequate to cover your damages.

The truth is that insurance companies are not in the business of writing big checks. They have no problems with the cash flow coming in, but sending it out is a different story. They especially don’t like paying for extended hospital stays, severe injuries, or injuries that require long-term medical care.

Insurers are usually in a rush to get you to accept a low payment as soon as possible. They know that injuries don’t have to be severe for the victim to receive compensation. They also know that with some injuries, it takes days for the symptoms to manifest themselves in the victim. If they can get you to accept a settlement quickly it will absolve them of any future responsibilities for compensation or medical care.

In order to make sure that your needs are being met by your insurers after an auto accident, having an attorney that understands personal injury law and insurance company tactics is essential. It could be the difference between receiving a fair and adequate settlement for your injuries and having your needs utterly discarded.

The attorneys at Laufenberg & Hoefle have spent most of their careers defending the rights of the injured. We have years of experience in dealing with insurance companies, and we know the difference between a fair settlement and a bad one. We have presented successful arguments in courtrooms all over Wisconsin, and have even argued appeals before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Your rights and your future are too important to be left in the hands of a company that cares about nothing but profits. Contact our offices for a free case assessment today.

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