What Should You Do After A Car Accident?
If you have been injured in a car accident, understanding your next steps and the importance of proper documentation is crucial for protecting your rights and ensuring you can pursue the compensation you deserve. Accidents can be overwhelming, but knowing how to navigate the aftermath effectively can greatly influence the outcome of any claims you may need to file.
At Gregory Wright Law Offices, S.C., we are committed to supporting you through the challenging times that follow a car accident. Our personal injury lawyers are known for their history of success in these cases and the valuable insights they offer our clients. We use our vast understanding of personal injury law to offer our clients guidance from the moments after their accident to the second they resolve their injury claim.
How You Can Prepare For Your Claim
Handling the legal aftermath of a car accident requires meticulous attention to detail and a thorough understanding of the law. Our attorneys are equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to tackle even the most challenging cases, but there are ways you can help us before our first consultation with you. By bringing in key information and documents when you meet with us, you can considerably shorten the time it takes to resolve your claim. Before coming to your initial consultation, make sure to gather and preserve all relevant information, including:
- Police reports
- Medical records and bills
- Photographs of the accident scene and damages
- Witness statements
- Details of the other driver, such as insurance information
This information will be invaluable in establishing the facts of the case and supporting your compensation claim. While some of this information can only be found immediately after the accident, your health should always come first, so make sure you receive the medical attention you need and never explore a crash site for photos or videos if it could be unsafe for you or others.
Three-Step Wisconsin Crash Investigation Process
Documents alone rarely explain how a crash happened. Attorneys Gregory R. Wright, Jenna N. Ashbeck and Erik C. Johnson work from our offices in Madison, Montello and Oshkosh. They follow a structured investigation process in every car crash injury case they handle:
- First, secure the evidence: Our attorneys request the police report, traffic camera footage and vehicle data before anyone erases it, and they contact witnesses while memories are fresh.
- Second, reconstruct the crash: They study the scene and vehicle damage, then compare each driver’s actions to Chapter 346 of the Wisconsin Statutes, the state’s rules of the road, to show who caused the collision.
- Third, measure the full claim: Our attorneys document your medical bills, lost wages and future care needs, and identify every insurance policy that may apply, including your own.
Each step builds a factual record an insurance adjuster has to answer.
Niche Wisconsin Car Accident FAQ
Wisconsin drivers often ask us these questions after a crash.
How long do I have to report a crash in Wisconsin?
Report the crash immediately to local law enforcement, such as the Madison or Oshkosh Police Departments, or to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), while details are fresh. Wisconsin’s three-year statute of limitations for injury lawsuits runs from the crash date, but it does not give you time to delay the report.
What if the driver who hit me on I-90 or Highway 41 was uninsured?
An uninsured driver does not end your options. Wisconsin requires auto policies to include uninsured motorist coverage, so your own insurance may pay for your injuries. Our attorneys review your policy, confirm your limits and check for any other coverage that may apply. We also handle uninsured motorist claims because your own insurer may still dispute your claim’s value.
What if the insurance company claims the Wisconsin crash was partially my fault?
Wisconsin follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If you are less than 51% responsible, you can still recover damages, but your share of fault reduces your recovery. Attorneys Wright, Ashbeck and Johnson investigate crash scenes to fight adjusters who unfairly shift blame onto you.
Get Legal Guidance You Can Count On
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, do not wait to seek legal counsel. Our Wisconsin attorneys have offices throughout the state and are prepared to get to work on your claim at a moment’s notice. Call us at 608-909-6000 or email us here to schedule your initial consultation today.