Car accident police reports in Milwaukee are legally required after any car accident causing injury or significant property damage. These reports serve as official documentation of the incident and are often necessary for insurance claims or legal proceedings.
Drivers involved in such accidents must report the incident to the police immediately, either at the scene or as soon as possible after the crash. Failure to file a report can result in fines or other legal consequences.
After a car crash, a Milwaukee car accident lawyer can investigate and help you pursue an insurance settlement for the losses you have suffered.
Requirements for Reporting Car Accidents in Wisconsin
After a car accident in Wisconsin, you are required to stop and, if requested by the other driver, give them your name and address, driver’s license, and the registration number of your vehicle.
You also have a legal obligation to provide “reasonable assistance to any person injured in the accident.” In most cases, however, phoning 911 and requesting an ambulance is sufficient.
A Milwaukee personal injury lawyer can obtain a copy of the report through the Milwaukee Police Department or online, ensuring proper records are provided for all parties involved.
When You Must Report a Car Accident
Wisconsin Statute § 346.70(1) requires you to report a car crash if it causes:
- Injury to a person.
- $1,000 or more of damage to any person’s vehicle or property.
- Damage of $200 or more to state or other government-owned property other than a vehicle.
Injury means harm of a physical nature that requires first aid or attention by a physician or surgeon. The value of the damage is what it would cost to return the damaged property to the condition it was in before the accident, if possible.
For a detailed list of what to do after an accident, take a look at the Wisconsin car accident checklist.
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How to Report a Car Accident in Milwaukee
The law requires reporting such an accident to police by the quickest means of communication to the Milwaukee police department, the sheriff’s department, or the traffic department of the county or municipality where the accident occurred, or to the Wisconsin State Patrol.
If the police respond to the scene of a car crash, they will conduct a routine investigation and file a motor vehicle accident report. The responding law enforcement officer is to file a report with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation within 10 days.
What if a Police Officer Does Not Respond to the Accident Scene?
If a law enforcement officer does not respond to a crash, either the driver of the vehicle, the vehicle’s owner, or an occupant (if the driver is unable) needs to report the crash to WisDOT.
You may receive a letter from the Department of Transportation stating you were involved in a reportable crash and asking you to complete a report, which you are required to do.
Failing to comply with Wisconsin laws related to stopping after an accident, assisting accident victims, and reporting an accident may result in fines of hundreds of dollars.
How to Report a Car Accident to the Wisconsin DOT
If no law enforcement officer files an accident report, you will need to complete and submit the Wisconsin Driver Report of Crash DT4002, which is now an online crash form application you can find at wisconsindot.gov/crashreporting, where it says “Start Now.”
From there, you will have to complete a series of questions about the accident.
Identification Questions
This accident report form will require you to provide certain information, which you may want to gather beforehand:
- Driver’s license number
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Social Security Number
- Auto insurance information for the vehicle involved
Questions on the Type of Auto Collision
You’ll be required to describe the type of crash by selecting a category that best fits the situation.
This could include incidents involving motor vehicles (such as cars, trucks, or motorcycles), parked and unoccupied vehicles, collisions with wild or domesticated animals, accidents involving bicyclists or pedestrians, or crashes involving fixed or movable objects.
Questions on Injuries
Additionally, you’ll need to classify any injuries sustained during the accident. These are generally divided into three categories:
- Serious Injuries: This includes severe harm such as deep lacerations exposing tissue, significant blood loss, broken limbs, crush injuries, major burns, suspected internal injuries, paralysis, or unconsciousness at the scene.
- Minor Injuries: These may involve bruises, small cuts, or bumps that don’t expose deeper tissues or cause significant bleeding.
- Possible Injuries: These are less visible and could include symptoms like pain, nausea, limping, or a brief loss of consciousness.
On average, a crash report should take no longer than 40 minutes to complete, WisDOT says. The form will time out, and you’ll lose what you’ve done after 30 minutes of inactivity.
You should have the required records at hand, and it may be helpful to type out a narrative of the crash in a word processing program ahead of time.
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Reporting Requirements for Fatal Car Accidents in Wisconsin
Fatal car accidents are tragic events that require immediate action to comply with Wisconsin law. Under Wisconsin Statute § 346.70(1), any driver involved in a crash resulting in a fatality must report the accident to law enforcement as soon as possible.
This legal obligation ensures that proper investigations can be conducted and that accurate records are maintained. Failing to report a fatal car accident can result in severe legal consequences, including potential criminal charges.
What to Do at a Fatal Crash Scene
When a fatal car accident occurs, the first step is to call 911. This allows emergency responders, such as police and medical personnel, to arrive at the scene promptly.
Drivers involved in a fatal accident are legally required to remain at the scene until law enforcement arrives, unless they need to leave to seek medical attention.
Leaving the scene of a fatal accident without reporting it is considered a serious offense and can lead to charges such as hit-and-run involving death, which carries significant penalties in Wisconsin.
What Happens After You Report a Fatal Car Crash?
After the initial report, law enforcement will conduct a detailed investigation to determine the cause of the deadly crash.
This process often involves collecting witness statements, examining vehicle damage, and reviewing any evidence at the scene, such as skid marks or traffic camera footage.
Reporting a fatal crash is not only a legal requirement but also a way to ensure justice for the victims and their families. It helps establish accountability and provides vital information for insurance claims and potential legal proceedings.
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How to Report Someone Hitting Your Parked Car in Milwaukee
Unlike reporting traffic crashes, reporting personal property damage to a parked car can present some challenges. To report an accident involving someone hitting your unoccupied car, you must have the name of the driver or owner of that car. If you know the driver, you must be able to report their:
- Full name
- Complete address
- Wisconsin driver’s license number or date of birth
If reporting the owner, you must provide their:
- Full name
- Complete address
- License plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Make and model year of vehicle
If this information is not available, WisDOT does not consider the accident reportable. However, a driver who hits an unoccupied vehicle is required by Wisconsin law to either find the owner or operator or leave a note providing their name and address and an explanation of what happened.
If damage to your car was potentially $1,000 or more, the other driver has a legal obligation to report the accident. Even if there was no note on your vehicle, there could be a report on file.
Obtaining a Car Accident Report in Wisconsin
Car accident reports filed by local police in Wisconsin are available through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) about two weeks after the crash. Many local departments, including Milwaukee police, no longer provide copies of accident reports.
Crash reports are available online at app.wi.gov/crashreports and are downloadable in PDF format upon purchase.
On the page above, you can search for an accident report by any one of the following criteria:
- Date of the crash and the driver’s license number of one of the parties involved
- WisDOT document number
- WisDOT accident number
A skilled car accident attorney can help you obtain the police report and file an insurance claim or a lawsuit to seek fair compensation.
What Information Do Car Accident Police Reports in Milwaukee Contain?
Car accident police reports in Milwaukee and Milwaukee County typically include details about the drivers, vehicles, witnesses, injuries, and property damage. They also outline the responding officer’s observations.
These reports feature the names, contact information, and insurance details of all drivers involved, as well as descriptions of the vehicles, including make, model, and license plate numbers. Witness statements, if available, are also documented to provide additional perspectives on the incident.
The report includes a narrative or diagram illustrating how the accident occurred, based on evidence at the scene and statements from those involved. Information about any injuries sustained, the extent of property damage, and whether any traffic laws were violated is also included. Photographs or sketches of the crash site may accompany the report.
Why You Need to Have a Car Accident Report on File
When you report a car accident to an insurance company, the insurer will almost immediately ask for the accident report—or its number—so they may download a copy.
Before an insurance claim will be paid in Wisconsin, fault for the car accident must be established. Once fault has been determined, the driver responsible for the accident may be compelled to repay the injured for costs and losses, or “damages,” usually through their auto liability insurance coverage.
The accident report is the first piece of evidence used to determine fault. If there is a dispute about who is to blame for an accident, the accident report provides the basics required to begin an investigation. It gives the who, what, when, and where needed to establish how and why the accident occurred.
Liability Disputes
Both drivers involved in an accident have an obligation to report the accident if police do not. It is better for your version of events to be on the record if, for some reason, there is no police report.
If the other driver disputes responsibility for a crash, their insurance company will side with their policyholder as long as it is reasonable, to avoid a payout.
That leaves it to you to persuade the insurer that their policyholder is responsible for your losses and that they are therefore obligated to compensate you.
How a Milwaukee Car Accident Attorney Can Help
A car accident attorney can identify and preserve evidence to support your claim. Along with our accident investigation, we can calculate what you are due for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and impaired earning capacity.
After gathering evidence to support your claim, an attorney can submit a claim to the insurer for full compensation and follow up with negotiations.
If it is necessary, your lawyer will be prepared to go to court and prove to a judge and jury that you deserve full compensation for the unjust harm you have endured.
Our Milwaukee Car Accident Attorneys Are Here for You
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Gruber Law Offices is proud to serve communities across Wisconsin with a team of over 130 skilled and experienced legal professionals. We fight relentlessly for our clients, never backing down in the face of a challenge, and have the resources and knowledge needed to secure successful outcomes.
At Gruber Law Offices, we operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront. Our fees come directly from your settlement, so there’s no cost to you until we win your case. Your first case evaluation is completely free and comes with no obligation to retain our services.
We offer free consultations. Contact us today by making “One Call…That’s All!” to get help pursuing the compensation you deserve!
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