Posted on October 26, 2020 in Gun Violations

In Wisconsin, most adults are legally permitted to own a firearm without requiring a special license. However, one situation in which a person can be prohibited from possessing a firearm is after a conviction for a felony offense. The consequences of illegal possession of a gun after a felony conviction can be severe, and it is important that you know how to avoid them. However, if you or someone you know is facing such charges, an experienced criminal defense attorney can build a strong case on your behalf to reduce your charges or avoid another conviction altogether.

Consequences of Illegal Possession of a Firearm in Wisconsin

You may be prohibited from possessing a gun not only if you have been convicted of a felony in Wisconsin, but also if you have been convicted of an offense in another state that would be considered a felony in Wisconsin, if you have been found not guilty of a felony due to mental illness, or if you have been issued a judgment of juvenile delinquency for an offense that is considered a felony for an adult.

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 Posted on September 22, 2020 in Victimology

Domestic violence is a serious issue in Wisconsin, with nearly 30,000 incidents reported to law enforcement each year. Many of these incidents result in criminal convictions for charges ranging from misdemeanor battery to Class A felony murder, but these convictions may offer little comfort to abuse survivors who are left to cope with injuries and their lasting effects. If you have been the victim of domestic abuse, you may need an attorney who can help you pursue compensation through a victimology claim in civil court.

How to Pursue a Civil Lawsuit Against an Abuser in Wisconsin

A victimology lawsuit is similar in some ways to a personal injury lawsuit you might file after a car accident. You will need to prepare evidence to demonstrate to the court that your injuries were caused by the actions of another person and that you have incurred significant damages and expenses as a result. In order to present a strong case for full compensation, you should also keep a record of all damages related to your injuries, including medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, in addition to pain and suffering.

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 Posted on September 15, 2020 in DUI/OWI

Drunk driving is taken seriously in the United States, with harsh penalties for a conviction. A conviction for operating while intoxicated (OWI) can result in serious consequences with long-term implications, especially if you already have a prior conviction. In Wisconsin, second-time offenders can face up to six months in jail, over $1,000 in fines, and a revoked driver’s license for up to 18 months, and the penalties only grow for additional offenses. However, even if you are convicted for a repeat offense, you may be able to reduce your sentence through Wisconsin’s Safe Streets option.

What Is Wisconsin’s Safe Streets Option?

The Safe Streets option is available in several Wisconsin counties, including Waukesha, Milwaukee, Jefferson, Walworth, Dodge, and Racine. Its purpose is to help non-violent offenders with alcohol and drug issues achieve sobriety by offering reduced jail sentences for those who successfully complete an alcohol or drug treatment program as part of their probation. The Safe Streets option can only be used once in a person’s lifetime, but it can make a significant difference if you are facing conviction for one of the following offenses:

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 Posted on September 10, 2020 in Gun Violations

The Second Amendment to The Constitution grants United States citizens the right to keep and bear arms. After recent events in Kenosha, questions about Wisconsin’s gun laws are in the national spotlight. Now, as always, it is important for Wisconsin gun owners to have a strong understanding of the state’s weapons laws, especially those regarding open carry, so you can exercise your rights legally and safely.

Understanding Wisconsin’s Open Carry Laws

Wisconsin allows most adults to purchase firearms without the need for a special license, and to openly carry loaded or unloaded guns that have been legally purchased in most public areas. This protects responsible gun owners from facing criminal charges in a wide range of scenarios and promotes their ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights. However, there are some situations in which openly carrying a gun may result in criminal charges, including:

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 Posted on August 25, 2020 in Personal Injury

You may not always think of distracted driving as being dangerous in the same way as drunk driving, but it can often be just as deadly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that over 400,000 people are injured and almost 3,000 are killed each year in accidents involving distracted drivers. If you are a Wisconsin motorist who has been involved in a distracted driving accident, you need to know your options for pursuing compensation from the liable party through a personal injury claim.

Causes of Distracted Driving in Wisconsin

Cell phone use, especially texting, is perhaps the most prominent example of a distraction that leads to unsafe driving, but many other behaviors can also cause drivers to remove their eyes and attention from the road for several seconds or more, during which time an accident may occur. Some examples of these negligent actions include:

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 Posted on August 19, 2020 in DUI/OWI

Drunk driving is a threat to everyone on Wisconsin’s roads, resulting in over 5,000 car accidents each year and over 30 percent of the state’s annual car accident fatalities. For this reason, Wisconsin treats operating while intoxicated (OWI) as a serious criminal offense, with possible penalties including 10 years or more in prison and thousands of dollars in fines. However, first-time offenders in Wisconsin usually do not face criminal charges, and are therefore unlikely to see the full extent of these penalties. With the help of a skilled criminal defense attorney, you can work to ensure a fair outcome for your case, allowing you to reform your behavior without an excessive negative impact on your life.

How Does Wisconsin Define Operating While Intoxicated?

A person over the age of 21 can be arrested for OWI if he or she is found to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least 0.08 percent, as determined by a blood or breath test at the time of the traffic stop. However, even if your BAC is below 0.08, an officer may arrest you if he or she has reason to believe that alcohol or any other drug is impairing your ability to drive safely.

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 Posted on August 12, 2020 in Gun Violations

The topic of gun control in the United States is often debated between those people who want stricter legislation and those citizens who want to protect their constitutional rights. In Wisconsin, legal gun owners are allowed to openly carry a loaded firearm in most public places without a special license. However, anyone exercising their Second Amendment right to bear arms should be aware that there are certain public areas in which Wisconsin does not permit the open carry of guns. It is important to be aware of the laws in order to avoid weapons violations that may lead to criminal charges.

Exceptions to Wisconsin’s Open Carry Law

In the interest of public safety, Wisconsin law specifies some public locations in which the open carry of a firearm is not permitted. These places include:

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 Posted on July 23, 2020 in DUI/OWI

Wisconsin has long been criticized for being the last state in the country to not criminalize a person’s first offense for operating a vehicle while they are intoxicated (OWI). While efforts are continuously being made to strengthen penalties for first-time OWI convictions, existing punishments for multiple OWI convictions can be strict, especially if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is relatively high when you are pulled over. Being convicted of an OWI not only means that you could face immense fines and other penalties but depending on your circumstances, this could also mean you now have a criminal record that could affect you for the rest of your life. If you have been charged with an OWI, you should speak with a Wisconsin OWI criminal defense attorney right away to protect your rights and driving privileges. 

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 Posted on July 09, 2020 in Gun Violations

Guns can be dangerous and downright deadly weapons in the hands of some people. Even if you do not mean any harm, firearms are capable of serious injuries. Just recently, two separate firearm-related incidents resulted in non-life-threatening injuries to two Wisconsin residents. One woman accidentally shot herself in the leg after illegally carrying her firearm inside of a waterpark and attempting to store it in the trunk of her car. Police state she may be facing charges for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. The other incident occurred when a man tried to shoot a woodchuck that was on his property, but missed and ended up hitting a nearby 80-year-old golfer. That is why it is imperative that Wisconsin gun owners understand the laws pertaining to the possession and carry of firearms in order to avoid serious criminal charges. 

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 Posted on June 25, 2020 in Personal Injury

There are very few crimes in the United States that could be accurately described as victimless. Most of the time, crimes that are committed will affect someone in some way, shape, or form. When it comes to a crime such as driving while under the influence of alcohol, also known in Wisconsin as OWI, there often are personal injury victims. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 10,500 alcohol-related traffic deaths across the country in 2018 and many more alcohol-related injury- or damage-only crashes. Accidents involving drunk drivers are often traumatic for the victim, which is why the victim has the right to pursue compensation from the offender.

Pursuing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

When you get into a car accident with another person, you have a right to pursue compensation for damages that you may have sustained. This is true in Wisconsin, especially if you were in a collision with an intoxicated driver. Wisconsin operates on a system of comparative negligence when it comes to motor vehicle crashes. This means all parties involved have the potential to be partially at fault for the accident. As long as you were not found to be more than 50 percent responsible for the accident, you can pursue damages.

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