If you’ve been in a car accident in Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton, Green Bay, or anywhere in Wisconsin, the moments afterward can shape your recovery — physically, emotionally, and financially. When no officer arrives to take an official accident report, you might feel like you’ve lost a key piece of your case. But you still have every right to protect yourself and pursue the compensation you deserve.
At Natasha Misra Law, we’ve built our practice on helping accident victims across Wisconsin through challenges just like this. We take the time to understand your situation, explain your options, and handle the details so you can focus on getting back on your feet. Here’s what to do next.
If law enforcement isn’t coming, you need to build the record yourself:
Take photos – Capture vehicle damage, license plates, injuries, debris, and the full accident scene from different angles.
Exchange information – Get names, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, license plates, and insurance details from everyone involved.
Talk to witnesses – Politely ask for their contact information and a brief statement about what they saw.
Think of this as creating your own “mini report”; it can become vital evidence later.
Wisconsin law says you must file a Driver Report of Crash within 10 days if:
You file this report with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) — not the DMV. You can do it online or request a paper form. It’s the state’s official record of your crash, and it can make or break an insurance claim.
Report the accident to your insurer as soon as you can. Stick to the facts you documented. Don’t admit fault or guess at details — just provide the evidence you’ve gathered.
Not all injuries show up right away. A stiff neck today could be a serious soft tissue injury tomorrow. Seeing a doctor immediately protects your health and ties your injuries directly to the crash in the medical record.
When there’s no police report, insurance companies often push back harder. Having the right lawyer means you’re not fighting alone. At Natasha Misra Law, we:
You only get one chance to get this right. Call (414) 210-3834 or contact us online for a free consultation. We’ll guide you through the reporting process, deal with the insurance company, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Reach out now to get a lawyer who’s not just another suit.
Accidents can be overwhelming. Not only are you shaken, but you must worry about your health, your safety, and your damaged vehicle. Should you try and drive the vehicle home? Call a tow truck? Let the police have it hauled away? Here is some basic information about what you should do if your vehicle has been damaged in an accident.
As evidence of the accident, cars must be carefully preserved until any accident reports and insurance investigations are complete. To determine fault and assess damages for insurance claims, the insurance companies of all involved drivers will complete an independent damage assessment of the affected vehicles.
Typically, cars that are not drivable from the scene of an accident are towed to an impound lot, tow lot, collision center, auto body shop or home. With the exception of your home, the vehicle is usually accumulating daily storage fees at these locations. Until all assessments and any investigations are complete by the insurance companies, it is important that the vehicles are not altered, repaired, or moved more than necessary.
If the vehicle is deemed a total loss as a result of the insurance investigation, then the insurance company may arrange to pick it up. If the insurance investigation concludes that the vehicle is repairable, then the vehicle repairs may begin at a collision center or auto body shop.
The short answer is yes. If your vehicle is not operable, it should be towed to an impound lot, tow lot, collision center, auto body shop, or it can even be towed home to your driveway if you prefer. If you choose not to tow an inoperable vehicle and leave it near the accident scene, local laws will determine how quickly police have the vehicle towed when you do not return for it. It will then be your responsibility to pay the towing fees, storage fees, and other costs.
While you may have to bear the initial costs for towing and storage, ultimately the responsibility for the expense will fall on the insurance company for at fault driver. Even if you believe another driver is at fault and will have to pay for your towing and storage fees, it is important to have the vehicle towed at a reasonable cost and remove the vehicle from storage as soon as appropriate to mitigate damages.
First, before you move the vehicle it is important to take photos of the accident scene including your car, the other vehicles, and your surroundings. This will be important evidence for insurance claims. The other driver's insurance company will likely want to see the vehicle to perform an independent damage assessment; however, these scene photos will save you from the risk of insurance adjusters questioning whether damage came from the accident or a subsequent event during transportation or storage.
Accidents lead to a lot of back-and-forth insurance negotiations and confusing policy language. An experienced car accident attorney can help lessen the burden of figuring out what specific steps you need to take after an accident. From figuring out how to store your car after an accident to negotiating the insurance settlement you deserve, a personal injury attorney can help make the process a little less stressful. Natasha Misra Law helps with the repair or replacement of your car at no additional cost to you.
Contact Milwaukee personal injury attorney Natasha Misra Law today.
My law practice is dedicated to helping people who have suffered injuries in accidents which were not their fault. Born and raised in Milwaukee, I come from a family of medical professionals. My background and experience help me understand and represent individuals injured in accidents.
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