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.

Step 1: Become Your Own Investigator

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.

Step 2: File a Crash Report with the State

Wisconsin law says you must file a Driver Report of Crash within 10 days if:

  • Anyone was injured or killed
  • There was $1,000 or more in damage to any one person’s property
  • There was $200 or more in damage to government property

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.

Step 3: Let Your Insurance Company Know

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.

Step 4: Get Checked Out

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.

Step 5: Call a Milwaukee Car Accident Lawyer

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:

  • Have handled thousands of auto, truck, and motorcycle accident cases across Wisconsin
  • Include property damage help at no extra cost — we’ll deal with repairs, rentals, and towing so you don’t have to
  • Offer language access in Spanish in-house and nearly any language through on-demand interpretation, including Burmese and Rohingya
  • Keep you in the loop, so you always know what’s happening with your case

Don’t Let a Missing Accident Report Derail Your Claim

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.

Seat belts are designed to keep us safe, but what happens if an accident leads to injuries caused by the very restraint that was supposed to protect us? If you were injured by your seat belt in an accident, you may have a claim. Here is a quick overview of what to expect if you have seat belt injuries following a car accident.

Can you be injured by a seat belt in a car accident?

Seat belts are intended to keep you safe in the event of an accident. By restraining you securely in your seat, seat belts can prevent ejection and fatality. However, although proper seat belt use may save your life, it can also lead to serious bodily harm. To do its job, the seat belt must be tight and, in an accident, the force of the seat belt can result in injuries ranging from mild bruising to a severe and potentially life-threatening aortic injury.

What types of injuries do seat belts cause?

Seat belts are designed to lock upon impact. Unlike when you are bending down to retrieve something under your seat or to toss something into the back, the seat belt will not move with you in an accident. Upon impact, this force can cause significant bruising, broken bones, abdominal contusions, shoulder injuries, soft tissue injuries, and even open wounds.

Bruised or fractured ribs are common seat belt injuries, but high impact accidents can also result in dislocated bones. These injuries and other chest or sternum bruising can make it difficult to breathe and may even affect your heart and other internal organs.

Additionally, the impact of the seat belt at the shoulder and abdomen can cause soft tissue injuries which may not be immediately apparent. Torn muscle fibers or tendons in the shoulder typically cause pain, discomfort, swelling, and bruising soon after the impact; however, injuries to the abdomen may not cause pain right away. Because soft tissue injuries like herniated or bulging discs can result in chronic pain and discomfort requiring long-term medical treatment and therapy, it is imperative to seek a medical evaluation after an accident even if you are not experiencing immediate pain or an obvious injury.

If you experienced bruising, contusions, or other injuries in an accident, you should take photos of your injuries. Photographs of bruising, for example, are important documentation when seeking compensation after an accident.

How are seat belt injuries treated?

Less severe injuries like bruising and soreness can be treated with rest, ice compression, and OTC pain medicine. However, more severe injuries such as soft tissue or skeletal issues often require medical intervention which may include casting, splints, or other corrective measures. Physical therapy or chiropractic care may be adequate, long-term treatment options for soft tissue injuries, but it is not uncommon for surgical intervention to be required for more serious injuries.

Can you recover compensation for seat belt injuries?

Generally speaking, yes. You may be entitled to recover damages for your pain, suffering, and to reimburse you for associated medical expenses. A court will consider the severity of your injuries, impact on your life, and associated medical expenses in determining your damages award. An experienced car accident attorney can help you understand the value of your case.

Natasha Misra

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.