The Portage County Sheriff’s Department has closed its investigation into a fatal crash last month, citing one bartender for serving an underage man who was one of three people killed.  Investigators looked at whether they could charge anyone working at taverns the three may have visited with over-serving, but did not have evidence to pursue more charges in the April 29 crash that killed Scott Dean, 29, Nicholas Czech, 25, and Joseph Trzebiatowski, 19, Chief Deputy Dan Kontos said Wednesday. Dean, who investigators say was the driver, had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.343 percent.  Kontos said there is no evidence to contradict the initial finding that Dean was driving the truck when it crashed at about 2:37 a.m. on Highway 66, about four miles southwest of Stevens Point.

Read more at Stevens Point Journal.

In Wisconsin, if a person (or tavern) provides alcohol to an adult, that provider of alcohol is immune from civil liability for any damages caused due to the adult’s intoxication.  Thus, in an accident like the one described above, even if the bartender knew the adult driver was going to drive and he appeared intoxicated, the bartender and tavern are not liable for the damages caused in the drunk driving crash.  The families of the victims still would have valid claims against the driver and his insurer as well as their own automobile insurers, but could not successfully make a claim against the tavern or bartender.  Wrongful death claims from accidents like the one described above present many complicated legal issues that require the assistance of a personal injury attorney.  Call Bremer & Trollop Law Offices for a free consultation at 877-949-3200 if your family member was the victim of a wrongful death accident.

An 18-year-old and a 17-year-old were killed Monday evening in a two-vehicle crash that injured five other people on Highway 64 in Langlade County.  A car with five people inside was northbound on Hill Road when it failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection of Highway 64 in the town of Polar near Antigo. The car struck a van that was eastbound on Highway 64, according to a news release.  Two teens in the car were killed and two other people inside were taken by a helicopter to Aspirus Wausau Hospital for treatment of injuries.  A fifth person from the car and two people inside the van were taken to Langlade Hospital in Antigo.

Read more at Wausau Daily Herald.

Insurance claims from fatal accidents are called “wrongful death” claims and such claims require the assistance of a personal injury attorney.  Additionally, accidents with multiple victims often result in conflicting positions among the victims with regard to the available insurance proceeds.  The potential conflict results in an even greater need for a personal injury attorney to assist the victims and/or their families.  If you believe you need the advice of a personal injury attorney, call Bremer & Trollop Law Offices for a free consultation at 877-949-3200.

A two-vehicle crash at the intersection of highways J and N in the Town of Easton near Wausau left two people injured.  It was reported that a truck was traveling southbound on Highway J and was hit by a car traveling eastbound on N.  The truck might have had mechanical problems that caused it to stall at the intersection.  The crash caused the truck to roll onto its side.  Two people were transported by ambulance to Aspirus Wausau Hospital with injuries.

Read more at Wausau Daily Herald.

Accidents involving mechanical failure of one of the vehicles often create complex insurance claims as it is not as clear which driver, if either, was negligent.  A person injured in such an ac

The lives of a 19 year old man from Linwood, a 29 year old man from Whiting and a 25 year old man from Stevens Point were claimed in an automobile accident in the Town of Linwood, Wisconsin at the intersection of Highway 66 and Birchwood Lane, about 4 miles southwest of Stevens Point.  They were heading west on Highway 66 when the driver lost control and the truck hit a utility pole and embankment.

Read more at Stevens Point Journal.

Wrongful death claims stemming from accidents such as the one described above almost always require the assistance of a personal injury attorney.  An attorney experienced in handling wrongful death claims can assist the victim’s family with insurance and related estate claims.  Often, passengers in a vehicle will have claims not only against the insurance covering the driver/owner of the vehicle, but their own automobile insurance as well.  Again, a personal injury lawyer will know how to find and maximize insurance coverage.  Call Bremer & Trollop Law Offices to schedule a free consultation at 877-949-3200.