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.

Why an Accident Report Matters

An accident report serves as an official, third-party record of your accident. It often includes:

  • The date, time, and location of the crash
  • Statements from the drivers and any witnesses
  • The officer’s observations and sometimes even a fault determination

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.

Can You Still File a Claim Without It?

Yes. You can still file a car accident claim without an accident report — but your claim will likely need stronger supporting evidence.

That includes:

  • Photos of the damage, scene, and injuries
  • Medical records showing your treatment
  • Witness statements
  • Repair estimates
  • Proof of missed work due to the accident

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.

What If the Other Driver Changes Their Story?

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:

  • Someone is injured
  • There’s $1,000 or more in property damage
  • A government-owned vehicle is involved
  • When in doubt, call.

When to Call an Accident Injury Lawyer in Wisconsin

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.

Contact Natasha Misra Law Today, and Get a Lawyer Who’s Not Just Another Suit

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.

If you are injured on the job, you may wonder how to go about seeking compensation for your losses. Who is responsible for your injuries? What are the potential sources of recovery?

You may have heard of personal injury claims and workers comp lawsuits - both of which can reimburse an injured victim for damages sustained in work-related injuries. However, what many people don’t know is that these two types of claims are vastly different. In this blog post, we will break down the differences between them. 

What is the Difference between Workers Compensation and Personal Injury?

The most straightforward way to distinguish the two claims is the issue of fault. Personal injury claims are based on fault, while workers comp claims are not.

Accidents often happen when no one is at fault. However, in a personal injury claim, you must establish that someone acted negligently and this negligence caused your injuries. You establish negligence by showing that the at-fault party owed you a duty of reasonable care, breached that duty, and that breach was a substantial factor in causing your injuries.

In a workers comp claim, however, the traditional negligence analysis does not necessarily apply. Any employee injured on the job is entitled to some payout from the employer’s workers compensation policy. While exceptions do apply, workers compensation generally has nothing to do with fault. In other words, you need not prove that your employer did anything wrong in order to recover some payout.

If I Get Workers Compensation, Can I Still File A Personal Injury Claim?

Generally, not against your employer. Workers comp claims are designed to compensate injured employees while protecting employers from lawsuits against them. As such, if you file a workers comp claim, you generally forfeit your right to sue your employer for negligence. There are a few narrow exceptions to this rule, however, so be sure to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney to learn more about your rights.

However, if the negligence of a another party caused your injuries, then you may be able to also bring a third party liability claim against that party.

What is A Third Party Liability Claim?

When you are injured on the job, you can bring a workers compensation claim without having to prove fault. However, in some cases you can also bring a third party liability claim. This refers to a bodily injury caused by a third party’s negligent or reckless conduct.

These situations may arise when a third party unrelated to your employer causes the accident. A common example is when someone driving in the course of their employment gets hit by another party.

If you bring a third party liability claim, you will need to prove the third party’s fault. This involves walking through the traditional negligence analysis, just as you would in a personal injury lawsuit.

Hiring A Personal Injury Attorney after A Work-Related Injury

To better understand your case and which course of action is the best for you, contact an experienced Milwaukee personal injury attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can help you pinpoint the best approach for your case, identify liable parties, gather evidence, and preserve your claim before vital evidence fades or the statute of limitations tolls. 

Contact Natasha Misra Law today to schedule a free consultation by calling our office at (414) 210-3834.

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.