A Brief Guide to Wisconsin Car Accident Laws

Car accidents are traumatic experiences that can put your life on hold. Between injuries, damages, and having to deal with insurance companies, it’s easy to feel out of your depth when filing a car accident claim. You also have to be aware of your state’s car accident laws and make sure you don’t break any if you’re ever involved in a car wreck.

Injuries and damages tend to be common outcomes of car accidents. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in Wisconsin and the fault wasn’t yours, you may be able to get compensation. A car accident injury lawyer from Urban & Taylor can help you with your claim. We’re always ready to stand up for your rights and will do all we can to get a favorable settlement for you.

What Do You Have to Do After a Car Accident?

Wisconsin has clear laws of what to do after a car accident. After a crash, you are expected to:

• Stay at the Scene. You and the other party or parties involved in the crash have to stay at the scene.
• Get Help. If anyone requires immediate medical attention, assist them and call 911. Even if everyone is okay, you should call the police and report the accident.
• Share Information. Everyone involved in the crash needs to exchange names, contact information, driver’s license numbers, and Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) of the cars.

In Wisconsin, there isn’t no-fault insurance. A car accident needs to have established fault. The person at fault is responsible for the expenses of the crash. But sometimes the person at fault doesn’t take responsibility for the crash. There are a few things you can do at the scene to help your claim and show that you weren’t at fault:

• Take Photographs. Photographs of the accident and your injuries will add visual evidence to your claim. When photographing the accident, take as many pictures as you can and get multiple angles of damages.
• Get Witness Information. If someone saw the accident and is willing to make an official statement on it, get their name and contact information.
• Plan to See a Doctor. Soon after the accident you should see a doctor for a medical evaluation. They’ll be able to tell you if you have other injuries like whiplash or concussion and you can start treatment. Waiting to see a doctor could make your injuries worse and more difficult to treat. You also may not get full compensation if you wait too long to see a doctor or don’t follow their treatment plan.

What Happens If You Don’t Comply With the Law?

It doesn’t matter if you’re aware of your state’s laws or not. You have to stay at the scene of the accident or else that scene becomes a hit and run. Ignoring and not offering assistance to those who clearly need it also applies to not acting according to law. If you don’t follow the law, you can face the following serious penalties:

• Fines
• Jail
• Permanent Record

What if the Crash Involved a Rideshare Vehicle?

If your accident involved a driver of a rideshare vehicle like Uber or Lyft, your claim could become additionally complicated since rideshare drivers are independent contractors and carry two types of insurance. Additionally, if you were a passenger in a rideshare vehicle and the vehicle was involved in a crash, these two types of insurance may affect your claim.

Now that you know more about Wisconsin car accident laws, you’ll be prepared and know what to do if you’re ever in a car accident. Following the law and doing what you can at the scene of the accident will help your car accident claim, so you’ll be able to move on from accident more quickly and get back to your life.