Pedestrian Accidents

The Wisconsin State Journal identified the worst intersection in the city today.

The worst intersection for crashes in Madison in 2009 was West Badger Road and South Park Street with 18 incidents, city traffic officials reported Monday.

The second most dangerous intersection was Commercial Avenue and North Thompson Drive, followed by a three-way tie: South Midvale Boulevard and Mineral Point Road, Portage and Thierer roads and South Blair Street and John Nolen Drive.

City Traffic Engineer David Dryer said each crash was mapped and diagrammed using global positioning software.

In 2008, 4,378 pedestrians died in traffic crashes – a 16-percent decrease from the number reported in 1998. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, a pedestrian is defined as any person not in or upon a motor vehicle or other vehicle.

On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic crash for every 120 minutes and injured in a traffic crash every 8 minutes. Most fatalities occurred in urban areas (72%), at non-intersection locations (76%), in normal weather conditions (89%) and at night (70%). More than two-thirds of those killed were male. In fact, the male fatality rate was more than double the rate for females.

• There were 69,000 pedestrians injured in traffic crashes in 2008.
• One-fifth of all children between the ages of 5 and 9 who were killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians.
• Forty-eight percent of all pedestrian fatalities occurred in Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• Thirty-eight percent of all young pedestrian fatalities occurred between 3pm and 7pm.
• Alcohol was involved in 48% of all pedestrian fatalities.

Pitman, Kyle & Sicula is a Wisconsin personal injury law firm handling pedestrian accidents through out the state.  Our Wisconsin injury attorneyshave successfully represented injured people in almost every county. We know Wisconsin.

Pitman, Kyle & Sicula is a Wisconsin personal injury law firm handling car accident cases throughout the state.  Our Wisconsin injury attorneys have successfully represented injured people in almost every county. We know Wisconsin.

This was posted on the Wisconsin State Journal’s website today…

Tell us about Madison’s dangerous intersections

Whether or not you agree with the decision by city officials to place bike boxes where Williamson Street, John Nolen Drive, and Blair Street meet, you probably think that’s one challenging intersection: for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike.

What are Madison’s other dangerous intersections? Nominate your notorious crossings in an e-mail to mpitsch@madison.com. They don’t have to be the busiest intersections or those where the most accidents take place, but they have to be challenging. So let us know why you think the intersection is a tough one. We’ll collect your thoughts to help us shape a future story.

A Milwaukee firefighter was hospitalized Thursday after being struck by a hit and run driver on the city’s north side, authorities said.

The firefighter was on the scene of a traffic crash at N. Holton St. and W. Keefe Ave. when he was struck by the vehicle shortly after 4 p.m.

Police believed the firefighter suffered non life-threatening injuries. He was taken to a local hospital,

Police were searching for the striking vehicle late Thursday afternoon.

Pitman, Kyle & Sicula is a Wisconsin personal injury law firm handling car accident cases throughout the state.  Our Wisconsin injury attorneys have successfully represented injured people in almost every county. We know Wisconsin.

The number of fatalities on Wisconsin highways in October tied the record lowest number for the month since monthly traffic fatality statistics started being recorded approximately 70 years ago.

According to the Department of Transportation, there were 38 crashes last month in which 40 people were killed. The number of fatalities ties the lowest number of October fatalities set in 1944.

Nine fewer people were killed than in October last year and 25 fewer than the five-year average.

Since the beginning of 2009, 447 people have died on Wisconsin highways, including 74 motorcycle drivers, seven motorcycle passengers, 30 pedestrians and six bicyclists.

When comparing October 2009 to October 2008, Wisconsin has seen an 11 percent decrease in the number of fatalities. The five-year average through October is 609 traffic fatalities, so the 2009 10-month total of 447 is 27% below the average.

Pitman, Kyle & Sicula is a Wisconsin personal injury law firm handling car accident cases throughout the state.  Our Wisconsin injury attorneys have successfully represented injured people in almost every county. We know Wisconsin.

A 24-year-old male pedestrian was killed Thursday night when he was struck by a car on Milwaukee’s northwest side.

According to police, witnesses saw the car approach the intersection of 95th Street and Brown Deer Road at a high rate of speed when it struck the victim.

The owner of the vehicle contacted police when she noticed the damage to her car. Police say they know who they’re looking for.

Pitman, Kyle & Sicula is a Wisconsin personal injury law firm handling pedestrian accidents through out the state.  Our Wisconsin injury attorneys have successfully represented injured people in almost every county. We know Wisconsin.

AP Photo Showing Regulated Cell Phone Usage

A ‘menace to socitey.’ Those were the words used by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood when he kicked off a two-day meeting on preventing drivers from using mobile devices.

According to the Obama administration, nearly 6,000 people were killed and a half-million injured last year in vehicle crashes connected to driver distraction.

LaHood hopes to offer up several suggestion at the conclusion of the meeting that could lead to new restrictions on using the devices while driving. LaHood said the administration would work with congress to develop ways of curbing distracted driving.

Transportation officials say driver distraction was involved in 16% of all fatal crashes in 2008. LaHood mentioned that on any given day last year, more than 800,000 vehicles were operated by someone using a hand-held cell phone.

Eighteen states and Washington, D.C. have passed laws making texting illegal. In addition, seven stats and D.C. have banned driving while talking on a cell phone.  Currently, Wisconsin does not have any type of restriction on cell phone usage while driving.

The article went on to mention that Virigina Tech Transportation Institute found that when drivers of heavy trucks texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater. Dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device increased the risk of collision 6 times greater.

So, to those who say they’re perfectly capable of texting while driving…well the problem may not be you, the problem may be the person driving next to you!

Pitman, Kyle & Sicula is a Wisconsin personal injury law firm handling car accident cases throughout the state.  Our Wisconsin injury attorneys have successfully represented injured people in almost every county. We know Wisconsin.

An 11-year-old boy was hospitalized after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle near his school.

The boy was unresponsive but breathing when he was found outside Wilson Elementary School.

According to police, the boy was struck by a westbound car as it crossed the intersection of S. 16th Street and Wilson Avenue. A crossing guard was on duty at the time of the crash.

Pitman, Kyle & Sicula is a Wisconsin personal injury law firm handling car accident cases throughout the state.  Our Wisconsin injury attorneys have successfully represented injured people in almost every county. We know Wisconsin.

Research suggests that drivers were more likely to have a crash in the Moorland Road/Rock Ridge roundabout last year than at any other intersection in New Berlin.

The intersection had the highest crash rate among the top 25 New Berlin intersections. The roundabout at Moorland Road and Interstate 43 had the third highest crash rate.

Any intersection with a crash rate more than 1 per 1 million vehicles should be looked at for safety improvements, according to city officials.

The Moorland Road/Rock Ridge had an accident rate of 2.08 per 1 million vehicles and the Moorland/I-43 intersection had a rate of 1.43 per 1 million vehicles.*

The most dangerous intersection was Moorland Road and Greenfield Avenue which saw 30 crashes last year.

Click here to read our post on Roundabout Intersections.

*Accidents reported to state which involve injuries or more than $1,000 in property damage.