Getting into a car accident can bring about physical injuries, emotional stress, and financial strains, too, like hefty medical bills and soaring insurance premiums. If you find yourself in this situation, it might be a good idea to consider contacting a car accident attorney. They can guide you through your legal options and help you understand how the incident might impact your insurance rates.

How Does Fault Affect Car Insurance Rates?

Insurance companies consider several factors when determining liability, and one of the most important factors is the fault of the accident. Who's at fault in a car accident can significantly impact the rate of insurance premiums.

The duration for which your insurance premiums rates will be higher after an accident varies depending on several factors, including:

  • Milwaukee laws
  • Insurance company policies
  • Your driving history
  • The severity of the accident

When determining premium rates, insurance companies consider the level of risk associated with each driver. If you are liable for a motor vehicle accident or have a history of accidents, it indicates a higher level of risk, increasing the likelihood of future accidents. 

At Natasha Misra Law, we encourage you to report your accident immediately to your insurance company. If you believe that your insurance company does not have your best interest at heart or that your rates increase, though you were not at fault for the accident, we can help. 

How Fault Impacts Insurance Claims

Insurance companies consider several factors when determining liability after an accident, with the fault being one of the most critical. Filing a claim should not lead to rate increases if you are not at fault for the collision. However, if you are liable or have a history of accidents, your premiums may rise due to the increased risk.

It's still vital to file a claim regardless of fault determination. This ensures you receive compensation for injuries, vehicle damage, and other expenses from the at-fault driver's insurance. Your own policy may also provide coverage like medical payments or uninsured motorist coverage to help pay bills.

Steps for Filing an Effective Insurance Claim

Here are some tips for filing a thorough insurance claim after a car accident:

  • Report the Accident: Notify your insurance company about the accident as soon as possible after it occurs. Provide key details like date, time, location, and parties involved. This starts the claims process.
  • Cooperate with the Insurer: Work closely with your insurance company during the investigation. Provide a recorded statement, access to your vehicle for inspection, and any supporting documents they request. This shows you are acting in good faith.
  • Track Expenses: Keep detailed records of all accident-related expenses, including medical bills, auto repair estimates, missed wages due to injuries, and communication with insurers. This evidence helps support your claim.
  • Request a Police Report: Obtain a copy of the official accident report filed by the responding law enforcement officer. Review it for accuracy regarding the determination of fault and details provided.
  • Don't Delay Care: Seek medical treatment immediately after the accident and follow all doctor's orders. Gaps in care can lead insurers to dispute injury claims.
  • Rental Car Coverage: If your vehicle is not drivable, make sure to specifically request rental car reimbursement from the at-fault driver's insurer. Most policies include this coverage.

Filing an insurance claim is the essential first step after any accident, regardless of who is deemed at fault. It starts the process of getting your bills paid and vehicle repaired.

Injured in a Milwaukee Car Accident? Contact Natasha Misra Law For Help

It's important to report your accident to your insurance company. If your premiums rise even if you were not at fault or believe the fault was wrongfully assigned to you after the accident, contact Natasha Misra Law for help. Call (414) 210-3834 for a consultation.

Slip and fall accidents can lead to serious injuries. It is common for people to lose their footing on slippery surfaces or trip over obstacles and end up sustaining dislocated joints, broken bones, or head injuries.

In some cases, someone else may be responsible for the accident. Proving liability in these types of cases can be challenging. Demonstrating that you fell and sustained serious injuries is not enough to prove liability. Instead, you have to prove that the property owner overlooked the unsafe condition that caused the accident.

Here are ways to prove liability and get the compensation you deserve from a slip and fall accident in Wisconsin.

Proving Negligence

Everyone in Wisconsin, resident or not, has a legal duty to operate with reasonable care towards others. In slip and fall incidents, this means that property owners have to ensure that their property is not unreasonably dangerous.

The Wisconsin Safe Place Law

The safe place law sets higher legal standards than the typical negligence theory outlined above. The law requires employers and property owners to ensure that their property is safe enough for visitors and employees. However, this law only applies to public buildings and not private property. For instance, you cannot claim compensation under the safe place law if you sustained injuries in your neighbor’s home.

The law requires the property owners and employers to take the necessary measures to safeguard the health, life, and welfare of customers, suppliers, and employees in public buildings.

However, this does not mean that the property owners have to take every possible safety measure. Instead, they should provide a reasonable amount of safety, considering the nature of activities conducted on the premises. Proving liability under the safe place law requires you to demonstrate that the property owner or the employer had constructive or actual knowledge about the unsafe condition.

Duty of Reasonable Care

A property owner may argue that the victim knew about the dangerous condition and failed to take reasonable care to avoid it. The property owners and employers may not be held liable for slip and fall accidents resulting from open and obvious hazards.

Work with a Milwaukee Slip and Fall Attorney

Proving liability in slip and fall accidents can be challenging. Fortunately you are not alone. The Milwaukee slip and fall attorneys at the Natasha Misra Law are ready to help. Contact us now to schedule a free consultation with our team.

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.