A mass casualty incident can overwhelm families and entire communities in an instant. The aftermath is often filled with confusion, grief, and uncertainty about the future. If you or a loved one has been affected by a significant accident, disaster, or act of violence in Milwaukee or throughout Wisconsin, you are not alone. A Milwaukee mass casualty lawyer from our personal injury law firm is here to help guide you through this difficult time. Our legal team can manage the legal process, so you can focus on healing from physical and emotional trauma.
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Mass Casualty Accident in Milwaukee?
What Is a Mass Casualty?
A mass casualty incident is an event that results in a number of injuries and/or fatalities that overwhelms the available local resources, such as first responders, hospitals, and emergency services. These events are not defined by the number of victims involved but by the impact they have on a community’s ability to respond. They can range from large-scale transportation accidents to natural disasters to intentional acts of harm.
What Causes Mass Casualties in Wisconsin?
Mass casualty incidents can be caused by natural disasters or human actions.
Environmental and Weather-Related Disasters
Wisconsin is no stranger to severe weather. Tornadoes, floods, blizzards, and powerful thunderstorms can strike with little warning, leading to widespread injuries and damage. These events, often considered “acts of God,” can sometimes involve liability if (for example) inadequate warnings were issued or structures were not built to code and fail to withstand foreseeable conditions. Our disaster lawyers can review the circumstances of your situation to determine if negligence played a role.
Human-Caused and Operational Failures
Many mass casualty events are the result of human error or intentional misconduct. These incidents can include:
- Large-scale vehicle crashes involving buses, trains, or multiple cars
- Industrial accidents, such as explosions or chemical spills
- Building collapses due to poor construction or maintenance
- Fires in crowded venues like nightclubs or concert halls
- Acts of violence, such as mass shootings
Common Injuries in Mass Casualty Incidents
The injuries sustained in a mass casualty event can be severe and life-altering. They often require extensive medical treatment, long-term rehabilitation, and ongoing care. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord damage, severe burns, amputations, internal organ damage, and significant emotional and psychological trauma like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The financial cost of treating these injuries can be immense, compounding the emotional toll on victims and their families.
Can Victims of a Mass Casualty Seek Compensation?
Yes, victims and their families often have the right to seek financial compensation for their losses. This compensation in personal injury cases is intended to cover both economic and non-economic damages. It can help pay for medical bills, lost wages from being unable to work, and future medical needs. It can also provide payment for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases where a life is lost, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim.
Who May Be Liable for a Mass Casualty Event?
Identifying all liable parties in a mass casualty case is a complex process. Depending on the incident, responsibility may lie with one or more of the following negligent parties:
- An individual whose negligence or intentional act caused the event, such as in mass shootings
- A company for negligent security, operational failures, or defective products
- A property owner who failed to maintain a safe environment
- A government agency for failing to uphold its duties
- A transportation company for driver error or poor vehicle maintenance
A skilled Milwaukee personal injury lawyer from our law firm can conduct a thorough investigation to determine every party that shares fault for your injuries.
What Wisconsin Laws Address Mass Casualties?
Several key legal principles in Wisconsin law apply to mass casualty claims. Most cases are built on the concept of negligence; such civil lawsuits require proving that a party had a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused injuries as a result. For fatal incidents, Wisconsin’s wrongful death statutes allow certain family members to file a claim for their losses. When a government entity may be at fault, the rules for filing a claim are different due to governmental immunity; there are important exceptions to this immunity that may allow legal action to proceed.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim in Wisconsin?
Filing deadlines are strict and differ by claim type:
By Wisconsin law (Wis. Stat. § 893.54), the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is three years from the date of the incident. However, if your claim is against a governmental entity, you must file a notice of claim within 120 days of the event.
Failing to act within these time frames can prevent you from ever recovering damages.
How Can an Attorney Help with My Personal Injury Claim?
Navigating the legal system after a devastating event is challenging. A mass casualty lawyer can handle every aspect of your claim, from investigating the incident and gathering evidence (medical records, police reports, witness statements, and more) to identifying liable parties and calculating your total damages. We negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf and, as trial lawyers, are prepared to take your case to civil court if an out-of-court settlement fails to deliver justice.
Call Us for a Free Consultation
If you have been harmed in a mass casualty event, you do not have to face the aftermath alone. Contact our firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let us review your case and explain your legal options; we work on a contingency fee basis, saving you the financial burden of up-front legal fees.
(312) 223-1700