Obtaining compensation after a car accident in Wisconsin can mean the difference between falling into debt and maintaining financial security while you heal. Many crash victims incur thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses from their injuries alone. The pressure only builds if the injuries prevent them from working. Fortunately, there are ways to help maximize your financial recovery if you suffer injuries in a collision.
Do you need help understanding your rights after a motor vehicle accident? An experienced car accident lawyer from LawtonCates can review your case in a free consultation. Call or contact us today to get started.
What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident
Taking specific steps after a car accident can protect your interests when filing a personal injury claim. Here are some tips:
- Report the crash and request a copy of the police report.
- Seek prompt medical treatment.
- If you can, take photos and videos of the accident scene.
- Get the names and insurance information of every driver involved.
- Gather contact information for any eyewitnesses.
- Notify your auto insurance provider and confirm what your car insurance policy covers.
- Avoid posting about the car accident on social media.
- Obtain copies of your medical records.
- Keep all bills, invoices, and receipts of your accident-related expenses.
- Gather your pay stubs if you miss work or go on modified duty due to your injuries.
- Contact a Wisconsin car accident attorney.
Reporting a Car Crash in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, drivers must report any car crash that causes injury or death, $1,000 or more in damage to any party’s vehicle or private property, or $200 or more in damage to non-vehicular government property.
You can report a car crash by contacting law enforcement and having an officer respond to the accident scene. Alternatively, you can file a DT4002 Wisconsin Driver Report of Crash form. If you do not file a report, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation may request one later.
When law enforcement responds to an accident scene, an officer will complete a crash report. Make sure to get a copy of the report once it’s ready. Insurance companies and attorneys will want to review the accident report because it provides the results of an initial investigation by a trained officer with an unbiased perspective of the evidence.
You also need to report the crash to your insurance company. Most insurers expect notification of a car accident immediately or within a few days of a collision. You don’t have to give any specific details before speaking to a personal injury attorney, but you do need to tell the insurance company the crash happened. This allows the insurer to begin the claims process and recover evidence while it’s fresh.
Understanding Fault and Liability
Determining which party(s) bear fault for a car crash will help decide who is liable for any resulting injuries and other losses. An in-depth investigation of a car accident will provide evidence to identify everyone at fault. Potential evidence may include:
- Police crash reports
- Arrest and citation records
- Eyewitness accounts
- Surveillance camera, traffic camera, or dashcam footage
- Accident scene photos and videos
- Driver cell phone records
- Post-accident vehicle inspections
- Car computer logs
- Vehicle repair and maintenance records
- Accident reconstruction analyses
- Testimony from medical experts and vocational specialists
Sometimes, both drivers will bear responsibility for causing a car accident. An injured driver who shares some of the fault for a collision may still have the right to recover compensation. Wisconsin follows a modified comparative negligence rule in injury claims. Under this law, an injured party may still recover compensation if they are 50 percent or less at fault for the accident. However, any compensation recovered may be reduced in proportion to the injured party’s percentage of fault for the car accident.
Do I Need a Car Accident Lawyer?
It’s advisable to consult a car accident lawyer after a collision, even if you ultimately choose not to hire one. Crash victims with legal representation have the advantage of turning over all communication with the insurance company to their attorneys. Car accident lawyers know the tactics insurance adjusters use to minimize the value of injury claims. That protects victims from saying anything that could jeopardize their cases.
Personal injury attorneys also know how to place a fair value on a car accident case. That valuation includes accounting for anticipated future expenses or losses you may sustain after your case ends. Hiring a lawyer to handle your case will also free you to focus your time and energy on your physical and emotional healing.
The Wisconsin car accident attorneys at LawtonCates can pursue compensation for losses like:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of future income and job benefits
- Expenses associated with long-term disabilities, such as home health aides and assistive medical equipment
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment or quality of life
Preparing for a Legal Case
Preparing for a car accident claim starts with an independent investigation to recover evidence to support your case and organize it into a coherent, compelling narrative. Your attorney will submit your claim to the insurance company requesting appropriate compensation for your losses. The next step is settlement negotiations with the insurance company to try and resolve your claim without litigation. While most personal injury cases settle, your lawyer may recommend filing a car accident lawsuit and going to trial if the insurance company won’t cooperate.
Finalizing a car accident case can last as little as a few months or as long as a few years, depending on various factors and circumstances.
Why Choose LawtonCates?
For over six decades, car accident victims in Wisconsin have turned to the legal team at LawtonCates for help recovering after life-altering crashes because of our:
- Experience – Since 1958, our firm has worked tirelessly to offer top-notch legal representation to hardworking people across South Central Wisconsin. Over the decades, we have represented clients in all types of legal matters in nearly every forum. We’ve worked on numerous precedent-setting cases and have the knowledge and experience to tackle the most complex car accident claims.
- Personalized approach – It’s plain and simple. We care about our clients. When you turn to us for help after a car accident, you can expect us to sit down with you, listen to your story, and understand your unique needs and goals. Then, we’ll develop a legal strategy to push for the results you deserve.
- Commitment to justice – Unlike some law firms that churn through clients by accepting the first settlement offer for a quick payday, our law firm makes an effort to maximize your compensation. We don’t settle for less. We prepare every case like it’s going to trial, which shows insurers that we don’t run from a fight.
Talk to Our Car Accident Attorneys Today
After a car crash, you deserve justice and accountability from those who harmed you. Get help from a Wisconsin car accident lawyer from LawtonCates. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Call our Wisconsin Car Accident Attorney at (608) 282-6200 or contact us online to set up a free initial consultation by phone or at either of our office locations.