If you got hurt in a collision, Wisconsin car accident laws will greatly determine the outcome of your situation, including whether you’re eligible to seek compensation for your injuries and other resulting losses. Understanding these rules and getting guidance from an experienced car accident lawyer can put you in the best possible position to recover the money you deserve.
Reporting a Car Accident in Wisconsin
If you’re involved in a car accident in Wisconsin, knowing when and how to report it is crucial. According to Wisconsin law, you must report any collision that results in death, injury, or property damage equal to $1,000 or more to the police. Additionally, if the accident caused $200 or more in damage to government property, you must report it to the appropriate authorities. If you don’t report the accident, you could face fines, and it might make it harder to file a car accident claim later on.
Determining Fault and Liability for a Car Crash
In Wisconsin, determining who is at fault in a car accident is guided by the state’s comparative negligence law. Often, fault for a crash is shared among more than one party. In these cases, you must be assigned a percentage of fault for the collision. Your compensation is then reduced by that percentage.
Example: A jury finds you 10 percent responsible for a T-bone accident at an intersection, and you sustained $200,000 in damages. The other driver is 90 percent to blame. Under the comparative negligence law, your ultimate amount of compensation will be reduced by 10 percent, or $20,000. You would recover $180,000 for the crash.
There’s an important caveat. If you are more than 50 percent responsible for a car crash in Wisconsin, you cannot recover any compensation. Hiring a Wisconsin car accident lawyer to protect you from being unfairly blamed for the collision is crucial to maximize your compensation.
Required Insurance Coverage for Wisconsin Drivers
Wisconsin auto insurance laws require every driver to carry basic liability insurance. You need at least $25,000 in coverage for injuries or death of one person, $50,000 for injuries or death involving multiple people, and at least $10,000 for property damage.
Wisconsin also requires additional uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) to protect you if the at-fault driver lacks the mandatory coverage or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your losses. You can only recover compensation up to the insurance policy limits, so purchasing as much auto insurance as you can afford in case of an accident is wise.
Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Claims
The Wisconsin car accident statute of limitations generally gives you three years from the date of a collision to initiate a lawsuit against an at-fault driver. Some exceptions may shorten or extend the deadline for your case. It’s best to consult a personal injury attorney immediately to avoid losing your right to compensation.
Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Wisconsin
Filing a car accident lawsuit can feel overwhelming, but it becomes much more manageable with the right legal team supporting you. At LawtonCates, we don’t rush to settle cases or accept the first offer from the insurance company. We take a comprehensive approach, preparing each case as though it’s headed for trial. This strategy shows insurers that we’re serious about obtaining the maximum compensation for our clients, which often leads to better outcomes.
Choose LawtonCates for Help With Your Car Accident Case
The experienced car accident lawyers at LawtonCates have been serving South Central Wisconsin clients for over 60 years. We’re here to fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve. Contact our team today for a free consultation.
