At LawtonCates, we’ve been helping Wisconsin residents seek justice and fair compensation after car accidents since 1958. We take pride in being tenacious advocates for our clients and a trusted source of legal knowledge, guidance, and support. If you need legal help after a car accident, we’re ready to provide it — starting by answering some of your most pressing questions.
What Steps Should I Take Immediately After a Car Accident?
Car accident victims often feel confused, overwhelmed, and unsure of how to protect their rights in the aftermath of a crash. Follow these tips to protect your health and any personal injury claim you might file later.
- Report the crash – Call the police to report the wreck. An officer will respond to the accident scene and write a report containing key details about the crash. The police report can serve as crucial evidence later.
- Collect information – Collect the contact information, driver’s license and license plate number, and insurance information of all involved drivers. If there are witnesses, get their contact details so they can provide testimony about what they saw.
- Document the scene – Take photos and videos of vehicle damage, accident debris, skid marks, traffic signals and signs, road and weather conditions, hazards, any visible injuries, and the surrounding area.
- Seek medical attention – Even if you feel fine, seeing a doctor can rule out any hidden injuries and document their connection to the car accident in your medical record.
- Contact a Wisconsin car accident lawyer – Seeking financial compensation usually involves negotiating with the insurance company of the at-fault driver or other responsible party. These insurers work hard to minimize payouts to claimants. An experienced car accident lawyer can push back against unfair settlement offers and demand maximum compensation for losses like medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Why Is it Important to Call the Police After a Car Crash?
Wisconsin law requires you to report any motor vehicle accident involving injury, death, or over $1,000 in property damage. That statute alone shows why it’s essential to call the police after a car crash, but there’s more to it than just legal obligation.
The official accident report created by the responding officer will contain critical details regarding the accident, including the date, time, vehicle information, names and statements from involved parties and witnesses, accident diagrams, weather and lighting conditions, and an initial determination of fault. The officer will also note whether any traffic citations were issued for negligent acts, such as drunk driving.
What Information Should I Exchange with the Other Driver?
If your injuries permit, collect the following information from the other driver and any other parties involved in the car accident:
- Full name
- Contact information
- Driver’s license number
- Vehicle registration number
- Insurance company and policy number
Never admit fault or apologize at the accident scene, even if you believe you were partly at fault for the crash. Determining fault is a complex matter, and it’s doubtful you have all the information needed to make an accurate assessment.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wisconsin Car Accident Claim?
Generally, Wisconsin personal injury law gives an accident victim three years to file a car accident claim. That’s three years after the date of the accident. However, for fatal crashes, qualifying family members have just two years to file.
Other exceptions may apply that could shorten or extend the time limit for your car accident case. For example, an individual suing a government entity must file a written notice within 120 days of the auto accident. Speak with a car accident attorney in Wisconsin as soon as possible to learn the appropriate deadline for your case.
What Compensation is Possible After a Car Accident in Wisconsin?
You could be entitled to a broad range of compensation covering both the financial and personal losses you incurred because of the crash. Your car accident injury lawyer can file an insurance claim seeking compensation for losses like:
- Medical expenses incurred because of the accident and future injury-related medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket costs like home health care, medical equipment, and home renovations to accommodate an accident-related disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
After a severe injury, it can be challenging to know whether a victim will make a full recovery. Wisconsin law allows you to pursue money for these anticipated expenses, but how do you place a dollar amount on costs you don’t know about yet? An experienced personal injury attorney can work with medical experts, life care planners, financial specialists, and vocational rehabilitation representatives to come up with an estimate that accounts for your future needs.
How Do I Know If I Have a Personal Injury Claim?
If you’ve experienced physical, emotional, or financial harm in a car accident caused by another person’s negligence, you may have a valid auto accident case. This holds true even if you were partially at fault. Under Wisconsin law, you may still be entitled to compensation in personal injury claims involving shared responsibility.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?
At LawtonCates, our experienced car accident attorneys can be valuable allies in the fight for compensation. We can help by:
- Offering sound legal advice – We can advise on your legal options so you can make informed decisions about what happens next.
- Gathering evidence – Your lawyer can thoroughly investigate the accident and gather strong evidence to establish liability and support your right to full compensation.
- Negotiating with insurance companies – Insurers rarely offer fair settlements immediately. Our car accident attorneys are highly trained negotiators and will aggressively advocate for your rights at the negotiating table.
- Representing you in court – If you can’t come to an agreement with the insurance company, your lawyer can discuss filing a car accident lawsuit and taking your case to trial.
How Soon Should I Contact a Car Accident Attorney?
The sooner you contact a Wisconsin car accident lawyer, the better. Though state law gives you three years to file an injury claim, the insurance company will start calling well before then. Consulting an attorney can help you learn your rights and avoid common missteps that could damage your claim.
Evidence collection is also easier when you take legal action early. Once you hire legal representation, your lawyer can begin investigating right away, helping to preserve crucial evidence and capture witness statements before memories fade.
Contact a Wisconsin Car Accident Attorney
If you sustained serious injuries in a crash someone else caused, you need a serious car accident law firm to handle your case. For nearly seven decades, clients have turned to LawtonCates for dedicated legal support from attorneys who care. Contact us today for your free initial consultation.