You just got rear-ended at a stoplight in Madison. The other driver seems cooperative, and the damage doesn’t look too bad, so you both decide not to call the police. A few days later, your neck starts to hurt, your car needs more repairs than you thought — and now you’re wondering how to file a claim.
But then reality hits: there’s no accident report. Can you still file a car accident claim in Wisconsin?
The short answer is yes — but it can be more complicated. At Natasha Misra Law, we’ve helped drivers across Milwaukee, Appleton, Green Bay, Madison, and Hales Corners handle accident claims with and without accident reports. Here's what you need to know.
An accident report serves as an official, third-party record of your accident. It often includes:
Insurance companies often rely on accident reports when deciding how to handle a claim. Without one, the process can feel like your word against the other driver’s.
Yes. You can still file a car accident claim without an accident report — but your claim will likely need stronger supporting evidence.
That includes:
Without an accident report, it’s even more important to act quickly and stay organized. The insurance company may be more likely to challenge your version of events, delay your claim, or offer less than you deserve.
This is a common issue when there’s no report to back up what really happened. At the scene, the other driver may admit fault or apologize — but a week later, their insurance company says you were to blame.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to involve the police, even in minor crashes. In Wisconsin, you’re legally required to report the accident to police if:
If you’ve been injured in a crash and there’s no accident report, it’s a smart idea to speak with a personal injury attorney early on. At Natasha Misra Law, we help people who’ve been hurt in car accidents navigate claims, even when the case starts out messy or unclear.
We’ll help gather the evidence, build your case, and handle communication with the insurance companies — so you can focus on recovering. Our personal injury team works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless we win.
We also offer multilingual support through a professional translation service, so if you or a loved one speaks Spanish, Burmese, Rohingya, or another language, we’re ready to help.
No accident report? Don’t panic — and don’t give up on your claim. Whether your accident happened in Milwaukee, Green Bay, Hales Corners, Madison, or Appleton, we’re here to help you figure out the next step and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Get a free consultation today. You deserve answers. You deserve to recover.
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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