Auto Accident Injury in Green Bay, WI
Have you suffered an injury due to a car accident in Green Bay? If so, your life may never be the same again. Injuries from a car accident can interfere with your ability both to work and to enjoy everyday activities. They can also be incredibly painful. As such, you need an auto accident attorney who understands the laws in and around Green Bay, WI that will fight for your legal rights and help you receive the financial compensation you deserve.
Auto Accident Injury Statistics in Green Bay, Wisconsin
According to the National Safety Council, in 2019 about 4.4 million people suffered serious injuries in motor vehicle accidents and an estimated 38,000 were killed. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation collected reports of 28,791 statewide injuries in 2019. From 2014 to 2018, the average total number of crashes reached over 130,000 incidents. In total, citizens of Green Bay and Brown County reported around 3,923 incidents for the same period.
What to Do After an Auto Accident
It’s important to be prepared in the event you are a victim of a car accident. Below are the steps to remember immediately after your crash.
Receive Immediate Medical Attention
What is the most important step that you need to take after an auto accident? You need to receive immediate and proper medical treatment. You may believe that the injuries sustained after an auto accident are minor. Proper medical treatment helps ensure that you have not sustained any internal injuries that you may not be aware of.
File a Police Report
Even if no one sustained injuries, you still need to call 911 and request law enforcement assistance. When officers arrive, jot down each one’s name and badge number. Answer their questions honestly, but don’t volunteer any unasked-for information, especially your thoughts on exactly what happened or who caused the car accident. Be sure to ask the officers for the number of their police reports. Also ask when and where you can get a copy of it, including how much it will cost you.
Residents can submit their auto accident report to the Green Bay Police Department through its online portal. After finding medical attention for any injuries, it’s in your best interest to finish this form as soon as possible. Delaying your notification to authorities may result in a delay or denial of future legal actions.
Gather the Appropriate Documentation
While waiting for officers to arrive after a car accident, collect information from all other drivers involved in the accident, including the following:
- Full name, address, phone number and email address
- Driver’s license state and number
- Auto insurance company name, policy number, and phone number
Use your cell phone to take pictures of each driver’s license, auto insurance card, your vehicle, and each additional vehicle involved in the car accident. Don’t rely on verbal communication. Having as much information as possible will only help you and your case later on. Try to keep this exchange as civil and friendly as possible. However, do not apologize for causing the accident or indicate in any way that you think you may have caused it.
Recovering Damages After an Auto Accident Injury
After surviving a car accident, the emotional and economic toll it takes can be staggering. You are not only dealing with the mental anguish that comes with being involved in a crash, but you may also be experiencing severe physical harm as well.
Common injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents include:
- Burn injuries
- Back and neck injuries, such as whiplash
- Brain and head injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
A guide to calculating costs by the National Safety Council estimates that incidents with minor injuries cost $28,500. Year-end statistics published by the Department of Transportation identified 28,791 out of 145,288 crashes that caused injuries. If the corresponding rate of 19.8% of accidents resulting in physical suffering applies to Green Bay, the result is 776 accidents per year with an injury. Based on these potential averages, injuries to motorists cost Green Bay residents roughly $22.1 million in 2019 alone.
Hiring a car accident lawyer ensures you have the financial ability to cover any losses resulting from a crash. An auto accident attorney will also help you handle the paperwork you must complete from insurance companies. This boosts your odds of receiving the insurance compensation you deserve.
Auto Accident Laws in Wisconsin
Liability Laws for Green Bay
When car accidents happen, it is essential to determine who bears responsibility for the resulting damage and medical bills. Determining fault impacts everything from your insurance claim and level of liability to the amount of confusion you may endure during the claims process.
Many states operate under “no-fault” laws, requiring insurance companies to pay for damages regardless of who caused the accident. Wisconsin, however, follows a fault-based judicial system where the at-fault party or their insurance provider is responsible for covering damages and injuries.
In Green Bay, residents are also subject to comparative negligence laws. This means that if a jury determines a person is more than 50% at fault for the accident, they may be barred from recovering compensation for their damages.
Statute of Limitations in Green Bay
Each state has its tort laws that determine the statute of limitations on a claim. In some states, this gives you just one year to file a claim in court, while others may give you up to six years. For Green Bay residents, the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit after an auto accident is 3 years. However, if a government entity is involved, you only have 120 days to take civil action.
This is why it is important to consult with an attorney immediately after your car crash. Don’t wait and risk losing out on any compensation they can recover.
Work With an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer Near Green Bay, WI
After a car accident, you have enough to worry about. We can help you find an auto accident attorney for your unique case. Get the financial restitution that you deserve if you’re the victim of someone else’s conduct. We can even help you connect with legal help across Wisconsin state lines.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an attorney in your area!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
If you would like to know more about other areas of law in Green Bay, WI, then we’ve also got you covered!