What to Do if You Were Injured in a Car Accident in Wisconsin but Live in Another State

If you were hurt in a car accident in Wisconsin but you live somewhere else in the United States, you might not be sure where to file your claim. While insurance companies often operate in multiple states, you might not be able to get full damages for your injuries without filing a lawsuit in Wisconsin.

Generally, lawsuits are filed where the injury happened. That means that your car accident lawsuit for a crash in Wisconsin will typically be filed in Wisconsin. This also means you should get help from a Wisconsin car accident lawyer.

For a free case review, contact our Wisconsin car accident lawyers at Wruck Paupore today. Our number is (219) 322-1166. We will work with you remotely and are often able to provide help and resolve your accident claim without you ever having to leave home.

Steps to Take for a Wisconsin Car Accident for Out-of-State Victims

If you were hurt in a car crash in Wisconsin but you don’t live in Wisconsin, you might not be familiar with the expectations and laws surrounding a Wisconsin car accident. Most common wisdom about car crashes (don’t admit fault, get medical treatment right away) holds true, but it is important to go through all the steps and to follow the laws of Wisconsin rather than relying on any assumptions about Wisconsin law based on how things work in your home state.

Stay at the Scene and Call the Authorities

Wis. Stat. Ann. § 346.67 states that, after a car accident involving injury or death, you have to stop as close to the scene as possible. You might also have to render aid, which usually means calling 911 to get an ambulance for anyone who is injured. When you call 911, you should also get police to respond so that you can have them make a police report and deal with any potentially angry or intoxicated drivers.

Gather Evidence

If you are able to stay at the scene of the crash and do not need to go to the hospital right away, you should take pictures of the scene; gather information about the location, weather, lighting, and traffic conditions at the scene of the crash; exchange contact information and insurance information with all drivers involved, and get contact info for any potential witnesses.

Section 346.67 also states that drivers need to display their driver’s license if asked to, and they need to exchange their name, address, and vehicle registration number. You should also get the other driver’s insurance information to help you or your Milwaukee car accident lawyers file any claims.

Get Medical Care

If you were hurt, you should get medical care as soon as you can. This means following any instructions or recommendations from the EMTs and going to the hospital if you need to. For your emergency medical treatment, you will likely have to make do with the treatment at a local hospital, which may or may not be “in-network” for you. During an emergency, we typically must make do with the care available to us, and any additional costs can be worked out later when you claim damages for medical expenses with the help of an Indiana car accident lawyer.

However, you may be able to seek follow-up care from your own physicians and physical therapists back home. Talk to your emergency care doctors and your lawyer for help arranging follow-up care and keeping track of costs and expenses.

Call a Wisconsin Car Accident Lawyer

After getting to safety, gathering evidence, and getting necessary medical care, you should call a local attorney. Our Hammond, IN car accident lawyers can help you with your case even if you live out of state. In fact, our attorneys are licensed to practice in Wisconsin and know the laws of Wisconsin, allowing us to handle your case in this state – something that might not be possible for a lawyer back in your home state.

Once you contact us, we can retrieve police reports and file any additional paperwork necessary with the state to report your crash and begin the process of recovery, including filing any claim in court if necessary. We will also demand insurance companies treat you fairly and pay the damages that they owe you.

How Car Accidents Are Handled in Wisconsin

If your car accident happened in Wisconsin, the law will typically require you to handle your case in Wisconsin. Generally speaking, state courts have jurisdiction over a specific geographic area, usually the county where the court resides. If an accident happened in that county, the court in that county will usually be the one to hear it. There are some special rules that allow people to sue residents of another state in a federal court, but the typical place to file a lawsuit for a Wisconsin car accident is usually in a Wisconsin state court.

This may seem like a challenge if you live out of state because you might fear having to travel to get back to Wisconsin to handle your case. Fortunately, our Wisconsin car accident attorneys can handle most or all of your case from a distance, keeping you updated on filings and insurance claims over the phone and via Zoom when necessary. Documents can be securely transferred without you needing to come into our office in person, and most steps of the legal proceedings can be handled without you present. Ultimately, if your case goes to trial, you may need to return to the state, but the vast majority of injury cases are ultimately settled. It is common for us to resolve these type of cases for our clients without their having to leave home.

If you have any questions or concerns about how Wisconsin law differs from the laws in your home state or how fault will be determined in your car accident case, contact our Indianapolis car accident attorneys right away.

For a Free Case Review, Call Wruck Paupore’s Wisconsin Car Accident Lawyers

For a free evaluation of your car accident case, call Wruck Paupore today at (219) 322-1166 to speak with our Wisconsin car accident attorneys.