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.
When you are stopped at an intersection that permits U-turns, you will likely witness some close calls when two drivers attempt to proceed in the same direction. However, if the two were to crash, who would be liable? As always, the answer depends upon the specifics of the situation, but here are some general pointers about U-turn crashes in our state.
A U-turn is a sharp left-hand turn at an intersection into the opposite lane. Generally, drivers are required to yield to oncoming traffic before crossing the intersection. Because many don’t, accidents can easily occur at intersections like these. In some cases, though, the other driver may be at fault, for instance, if he was speeding, running the red light, driving while distracted or impaired, or otherwise acting negligently or recklessly behind the wheel.
Yes. Wisconsin law permits U-turns at controlled intersections, unless there are signs or signals to the contrary. Even still, all drivers are responsible for proceeding with caution, keeping a lookout, and using their judgment in determining whether it is safe to execute a left-turn into traffic.
U-turn accidents often occur when a driver fails to follow Wisconsin right of way laws. The law requires drivers turning left to yield to oncoming traffic and only turn left once the traffic has broken. This applies at both a green-light intersection and an uncontrolled intersection.
If you are at an intersection that allows U-turns and see the green arrow, you have the right of way. However, if you have a red light, you need to yield to oncoming traffic. Both drivers must stay in the closest lane and avoid cutting across traffic. If you are making your turn on a green light (not a green arrow), the other drivers have the right of way.
Drivers turning left onto oncoming traffic are also required to yield. Although oncoming traffic need not stop for a driver making a U-turn, it’s incumbent upon all drivers to proceed cautiously and to keep a lookout.
After you seek the medical treatment you need for your injuries, reach out to a personal injury attorney right away. Our firm has extensive experience representing injured motorists in right-of-way accidents and U-turn collisions and can gather evidence to support your claim.
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.