Roundabout Accident Lawyers Representing Injured Victims From Dane County
In 2012, Dane County had 23 roundabout accidents. Most of these crashes occurred at Lien Road and North Thompson Drive. Even though this is past data, the consequences of a roundabout crash can be devastating. You can face severe injuries that require intensive care, which can heavily impact your finances.
With over 90 years of combined experience, we at Kasieta Legal Group, LLC, are dedicated personal injury attorneys in Dane County, Wisconsin. Led by attorney Robert Kasieta, we have built a strong reputation by delivering according to our clients’ standards.
What Wisconsin Traffic Laws Say About Roundabouts
When approaching a roundabout, Wisconsin traffic laws require you to:
- Yield to any traffic already in the roundabout before entering.
- Give the right of way to vehicles at least 40 feet long or 10 feet wide when driving alongside them.
- Yield to vehicles on the left when approaching the roundabout with other large vehicles.
- Move into the correct lane after entering the roundabout.
- Stay within the lane at a low speed and safe distance from other vehicles.
- Exit the roundabout carefully using the right-turn signal to let others know about your intentions
If a car accident occurs within a roundabout, the Wisconsin modified comparative negligence statute applies.
Explaining How Modified Comparative Negligence Works
The driver who failed to yield the right-of-way or made an improper lane change is at fault for a roundabout crash in Wisconsin. Under the state’s tort law, you can recover damages if your percentage fault is 50% or less. Otherwise, you lose your right to receive a single cent as compensation for your losses.
While this rule allows you to sue for your injury at a certain level of fault, your settlement is directly proportional to your assigned fault percentage. If your award is $100,000 but you have a 40% fault percentage, the recoverable amount will be $60,000.
Countering The “Low Speed” Defense Tactic
Defense insurers can oppose roundabout injury claims by arguing that slow vehicle speeds will not cause severe injuries. We counter this by highlighting that low-speed lateral impacts can cause whiplash and disc herniation. Not only that, but unexpected yield violations also result in severe neck and joint trauma due to sudden collisions.
We have recovered over $50 million in settlements and verdicts. As experienced injury attorneys in Wisconsin, we have handled a roundabout car accident case with a $350,000 settlement. Our client experienced a sideswipe collision while driving in a roundabout. While the defense expert believed the client recovered fully after six weeks, we fought for our client’s rights and won the case.
Types Of Injuries We Handle In Dane County
Because most roundabout cases involve sideswipe or T-bone collisions, the common injuries include:
- Complex orthopedic trauma: Fractured ribs and clavicle fractures from striking interior door panels
- Whiplash and cervical strain: Neck muscle and tendon tears due to the rapid back-and-forth movement of the head and neck
- Spinal strains and disc injuries: Herniated discs and root impingement resulting from sideswipe collisions
- Joint and shoulder damage: Rotator cuff, meniscus and joint tears after getting thrown against the door
A case can become complex when these injuries are involved. Despite this, we strive to provide a personalized and compassionate service you deserve.
We Care About You. Call Today To Book A Consultation.
Roundabout accident claims can be overwhelming to navigate, especially when you face aggressive insurance defense teams. Here at Kasieta Legal Group, LLC, we assure you that we can provide the legal help and empathetic support you need.
Call 608-291-9650 or send a contact form now. We can act quickly to preserve time-sensitive data like dashcam and surveillance footage before it disappears.