Experiencing a car accident can be a traumatic and overwhelming event, especially if you've been rear-ended. Understanding the proper steps to take after a rear-end collision is crucial. This guide will walk you through the essential actions you should consider, emphasizing the importance of seeking professional legal assistance from a Milwaukee car accident attorney to navigate the aftermath.

Ensure Safety First

Immediately after a rear-end collision, prioritize your safety and the safety of others involved. If possible, move your vehicle to a safe location, turn on hazard lights, and check for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call emergency services immediately.  

File an Accident Report

Contact the local police to report the accident and make sure an official report is filed. The accident report can serve as a crucial piece of evidence when dealing with insurance claims or legal matters.  Depending on the severity of the accident, law enforcement may or may not come to the scene.  If possible, it is preferred for law enforcement to respond to the scene to conduct an investigation of the accident.  If law enforcement does not come to the scene, then you should self-report the accident at the police station or online.  

Exchange Information

Exchange information with the other party involved in the accident. Get their name, contact details, and insurance information, and note the make, model and license plate of their vehicle. During this process, be sure to not admit to anything to the other party as that could be used against you later. Gathering contact information will be crucial when filing a claim with insurance or if legal action becomes necessary.

Document the Scene

Take pictures of the accident scene, including all vehicles involved, any visible damage, and the surrounding area. Note the weather conditions, traffic signals, and any relevant road signs. These details can serve as valuable evidence later on.  Also, obtain the name and contact information for any witnesses to the accident.  

Seek Medical Attention

It’s important to seek medical attention at the onset of injury. Some injuries, such as whiplash, may not manifest symptoms until hours or days after the accident. Documenting your injuries will be important for both your health and any potential legal proceedings. Take photos of any bruising or visible injuries.  

Contact Natasha Misra Law Today

Navigating the legal complexities of a car accident case, especially if you've been rear-ended, can be challenging. A Milwaukee car accident attorney can help you by negotiating with insurance companies and getting you the compensation you deserve. 

Being rear-ended in Milwaukee can lead to a range of challenges, but taking the right steps immediately following the accident can significantly impact the outcome of your case. Natasha Misra Law is your ally in securing compensation for any damages and navigating the complexities of the legal process.

When it comes to personal injury, traffic accidents seem to get the spotlight. However, many accidents occur off the street as well. When property owners fail to reasonably maintain their property and allow dangerous conditions to exist, serious injuries can result.  Natasha Misra Law represents victims of slip and fall accidents that involve issues of premises liability. 

What is premises liability? In simple terms, if you have been injured in a slip and fall accident or a trip and fall accident caused by a dangerous condition on someone else’s property, then the property owner or occupier may be held responsible for your injuries and losses.

What Is Premises Liability?

Property owners and people who occupy property have a legal duty to keep their premises in a safe condition and ensure that whoever enters the property is protected from an unreasonable risk of injury. 

To prove your slip and fall claim, you must be able to show that the owner or occupier of the property failed to keep the premises in safe condition. In addition, the court will look to your own actions and whether you were on the property legally. The court will also determine whether or not you were exercising reasonable care for your own safety.

What Is Considered A Dangerous Condition?

A successful slip and fall case will show that the accident was caused by an unsafe condition on the property. Dangerous conditions that create an unreasonable risk of harm, and lead to possible premises liability claims, include:

  • Insufficient lighting
  • Improperly constructed stairwells
  • Wet floors
  • Damaged carpet
  • Poorly designed walkways
  • Improperly maintained equipment
  • Trip hazards

But just because there was a slip and fall accident caused by one of these conditions does not always mean that the property owner or occupier can be held responsible. The following is often considered in determining whether the owner or occupier of the property can be held responsible for your injuries:

1. Whether the dangerous condition was caused by the owner or occupier of the property,
2. Whether the owner or occupier knew about the dangerous condition but did not fix it, or

3. Whether the owner or occupier should have known about the dangerous condition because a reasonable person maintaining the property would have discovered the dangerous condition and repaired it.

Who Can Sue For Premises Liability?

In addition to establishing that a dangerous condition existed, you would also need to prove that you were legally permitted to be on the property at the time of the accident.

Typically, visitors are categorized as either an invitee, a licensee or a trespasser. Invitees are visitors that are invited to the property, such as a general store customer. A licensee is a visitor that enters onto the property for their own purposes, but with the property owner’s consent. Trespassers, on the other hand, do not have consent to be on the property and are not owed the same level of care as invitees and licensees.

If you are in a grocery store during normal operating hours, for example, then you are considered an invitee. As an invitee, the grocery store owes you a duty of care to keep the premises clear of dangerous conditions.

Is There A Violation Of The Wisconsin Safe Place Statute?

In addition to a negligence claim for your slip and fall, you may also have a claim alleging that the owner of the building or employer violated Wisconsin’s Safe Place Statute. This law covers places of employment and public buildings, and applies to employees and people who frequently visit those locations. The Safe Place Statute holds employers, owners of public buildings, owners of places of employment, and builders responsible for constructing, maintaining and repairing the premises so that it is free of dangerous conditions.

Cases where the Safe Place Statute applies are often easier to prove, as the law holds an employer or the owner of a place of work to a higher standard of care. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you determine if the Wisconsin Safe Place Statute applies to your slip and fall case.

Do You Need A Personal Injury Attorney?

If you have been injured as the result of a dangerous condition on someone else’s property, you should consult with a Milwaukee personal injury attorney today. Slip and fall cases are almost never straightforward and can involve a number of complex premises liability issues. In addition, property owners and occupiers responsible for your injuries will attempt to limit the compensation owed to you. An experienced Milwaukee slip and fall attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Call our office at (414) 635-2858 for a free consultation and speak with a Milwaukee personal injury attorney today.

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.