100 Deadliest Days of Summer Auto Accident Safety Guide
Summer brings warm weather and good times to our Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Dakotas, but it also adds traffic to our roadways. We encourage you to drive smart and drive defensively with all the additional drivers and vehicles on the road. After all, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, the time between…
What Should I Do After Being Involved in a Motor Vehicle Collision?
What should I do after being involved in a motor vehicle collision? If you find yourself involved in a car crash, below are the steps I’d recommend you take: Call 911. The police will help clear the crash scene, facilitate an exchange of information, and medical personnel will be dispatched if needed. If you are…
Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben Spring Motorcycle Safety Guide
Motorcycle season is here. Riders from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas are sprucing up their rides and planning summer fun. At Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben, we’re asking motorcyclists to take extra safety precautions this year before hitting the open road. Establishing good safety habits, following expert riding tips, developing a sound riding strategy and…
Minnesota Pedestrian Fatalities Highest in Five Years Because of Speeding Drivers
There has been a surge of speeding in Minnesota, resulting in the highest rate of fatalities in five years. In 2021, there were 57 pedestrians killed in the state. That was a significant difference from the previous average, which was 42 per year during the past 13 years. Traffic accident deaths were also the highest…
What Should I Do if I’m Asked for a Statement by the Other Insurance Company?
After an automobile collision you may get a call or contact from the other person’s insurance company asking you to give a statement. If you already have a lawyer, you should tell that insurance company to contact your lawyer. If you are not represented, you should be very careful about giving a statement to the…
I Have Been in a Car Accident. Who Is Going to Pay My Medical Bills and Wage Loss?
I have been in a car accident. Who is going to pay my medical bills and wage loss? These are common concerns for someone injured in a crash. Minnesota is a no-fault state. Your own car insurance will pay all your medical bills up to $20,000.00. If you incur wage loss, they will compensate you…
Vehicle Crash Deaths Up 38% in South Dakota in 2020
Every car accident fatality is a tragedy, and unfortunately, South Dakota saw a sharp increase in the number of motor vehicle deaths in 2020. The state’s Department of Public Safety recently released a report detailing last year’s traffic accident statistics, and the information is important for all South Dakota residents to know. South Dakota Accident…
2020 was a Deadly Year on Minnesota Roads – Here are Tips for Driving Safe in Winter Weather
Hundreds of Minnesotans die in car accidents every year, but 2020 was a particular bad year for traffic fatalities. Unfortunately, almost 400 people in the state passed away due to car wrecks. Most traffic accidents are preventable, and being aware of safe driving strategies can save lives. Learning to drive safely in winter weather is…
South Dakota Traffic Deaths Rise During COVID-19 Pandemic
Officials in South Dakota stated that deaths due to traffic accidents increased this year by 38%, but the number of miles that people have been driving this year have gone down considerably. Tony Mangan is the spokesman for South Dakota’s Department of Public Safety, and he announced recently that 58 South Dakotans died in car…
Car Crash Death Rates Increase in Minnesota during Coronavirus Shutdown
The most dreaded task for any Minnesota State Patrol officer is letting family members know that their loved one was killed in a car accident. Even though lockdowns have slowed down overall traffic significantly, an astounding number of individuals are still being injured and killed in motor vehicle accidents. Those who are driving these days…
How To Purchase Minnesota Auto Insurance
Insurance is what you purchase to protect yourself and your family from unexpected disasters. When purchasing this protection, you should consider who you want to protect. All Minnesota policies include Liability, Uninsured, Underinsured and Personal Injury Protection. Liability coverage protects your and your family’s assets from a complete stranger. For example, if you or your…
Tips for Driving Safely on Snowy Winter Roads
Although there are more fatal car crashes during the summer months in the Upper Midwest than during the winter, the cold season holds potential for disaster on the roads. Blowing snow and icy roads can make driving particularly hazardous even if you consider yourself to be an incredibly safe driver. Be sure to follow these…
Auto Accident Crashes, Fatalities on Downward Trend in North Dakota
North Dakota experienced fewer automobile crashes in 2018 than 2017, and there were 11 fewer deaths. This trend began in 2013 when there were nearly 20,000 crashes. It is fervently hoped that the crashes and deaths continue to drop as North Dakota continues to invest in driving safety awareness programs. State officials point to several…
Staying Safe During the 100 Deadliest Days on Minnesota Roads
This summer, there have been more than 130 traffic fatalities on Minnesota’s roadways. Officials have recently taken a few actions to help improve safety, including passing a new hands-free cell phone law and cracking down on drunk drivers. Nonetheless, the increased number of vehicles on the highway still creates a dangerous environment. Here are a…
Distracted Driving: Hands-Free Law Goes into Effect Aug. 1, 2019 in Minnesota
New hands-free bill promises to make Minnesota roads safer For decades, the rate of serious accidents on U.S. roadways fell. But over the last eight years, that trend has seen a discouraging reversal. And one of the main factors driving the increased risk of serious crashes is distracted driving. Distracted driving is a serious problem…
Minnesota House Passes Hands-Free Cell Phone Bill Ahead of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
On March 18th, 2019, the Minnesota House passed a bill requiring all drivers in the state to use hands-free devices while making phone calls. This legislation makes it illegal for Minnesota drivers to use handheld devices to make or receive calls, which is a measure that state legislators hope will reduce the distressingly high rate…
Motor Vehicle Fatalities Decreased in North Dakota in 2018
In 2018, 104 people lost their lives as a result of motor vehicle accidents in North Dakota. This number represents a decrease of 10 percent according to the information provided by the North Dakota Department of Transportation and the North Dakota Highway Patrol. While state authorities are encouraged by this decrease, they explain that even…
Minnesota Records 300th Traffic Fatality of 2018
How Can You Stay Safe on Minnesota Roads? Unsafe driving behaviors often lead to tragic outcomes. To promote road safety and prevent death and injury, it’s helpful to face the facts about traffic fatalities and their causes. In Minnesota, over 300 people have already died in traffic accidents this year. Last year, Minnesota reached the…
Father’s Day Weekend Was the Deadliest on Minnesota Roads Since 2016
Father’s Day is meant to be a day of fun on which people show appreciation to their fathers, but this day became deadly for too many people this year. In fact, Father’s Day weekend of 2018 was the deadliest on Minnesota roads since 2016. Between Friday and Saturday, 11 motorists lost their lives in fatal…
Fatal Car Accidents in South Dakota Experience a 60 Percent Increase
The highways in South Dakota have become more deadly this year, according to a report from the South Dakota Office of Highway Safety. During the first five months of 2018, there was a 60 percent increase in the number of fatal accidents in South Dakota over the number that happened during the same time period…