What are Wisconsin’s Laws on Texting While Driving?

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.

Texting while driving can cause significant distractions, which can lead to serious accidents on the road. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Wisconsin accident caused by a driver who was texting, you might be able to seek compensation for damages.

What are the Dangers of Texting While Driving?

When you’re on the road, you should pay attention and focus on the road, but some drivers become distracted when checking their phones while driving. If someone is texting or using their phone behind the wheel, they might not be able to react in time to avoid a crash.

Distractions fall into three main categories: visual, manual, or mental. Texting or using while driving can cause the following:

Increased risk of accidents: Using a cell phone behind the wheel significantly increases the possibility of being involved in a car accident because it delays a driver’s reaction time and reduces awareness of the surroundings.
Inability to anticipate and respond: Texting or using the phone while driving can limit the driver’s ability to anticipate and react appropriately to situations, such as a pedestrian crossing the road or an oncoming vehicle.
Loss of control: Diverting attention from the road to texting can result in running red lights, failing to notice sudden changes in traffic, or drifting into other lanes.

What Are Distracted Driving Laws in Wisconsin?

Distracted driving laws in Wisconsin make it illegal for drivers to operate a motor vehicle while occupied with any activity that can interfere with the immediate task of driving. According to these laws under Statute 346.89, a driver may not perform any other activity that reasonably appears to interfere with an individual’s ability to drive safely.

Texting while driving is banned for all drivers. Additionally, drivers with probationary licenses and instruction permits are not allowed to use hand-held devices when driving. Violations of Wisconsin distracted driving laws can result in a traffic ticket for inattentive driving which can add demerit points to your record and increase insurance premiums.

Contact Natasha Misra Law Today for Help

If you were hurt in a Wisconsin accident caused by a driver using a cell phone, contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible.

At Natasha Misra Law, our Milwaukee car accident lawyer, Natasha Misra, will walk you through the justice corridors to ensure you are compensated. Call our office at (414) 210-3834 or get in touch online for a free consultation and get started.

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.