Car accidents are traumatic experiences that result in various physical and emotional injuries or death. If you have lost a loved one or suffered injuries due to a car accident in Eau Claire, WI, you may have the grounds to pursue a personal injury or wrongful death claim.
In these instances, consulting with a lawyer focusing on car accident claims can help you understand your legal options. The car accident lawyers at Gingras, Thomsen & Wachs, LLP have successfully pursued numerous car accident cases and obtained fair compensation for our clients.
Whether you need help negotiating with an insurance company, preparing your claim, gathering evidence, or arguing in court, Gingras, Thomsen & Wachs, LLP is here for you. Contact our law firm today for a free case consultation and explore your legal options. Here is what you should know about car accidents in Eau Claire and how a car accident attorney can help you.
Types of Car Accident Claims We Handle
At Gingras, Thomsen & Wachs, LLP, we handle various types of car accident cases, such as:
- Head-on collision
- Rear-end collisions
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle or pedestrian accidents
- Wrongful death claims
Each type of auto accident case has its own subtleties and circumstances to highlight. We understand the pain and suffering car accident victims go through.
However, our dedicated and compassionate personal injury lawyers are here to take that burden off your shoulders and bear the grunt of gathering evidence, assessing damages, preparing witnesses for testimony, negotiating, and dealing with legal paperwork.
While our car accident attorneys prepare your case and gather and analyze the evidence, you can dedicate your time to recovery, knowing that a top personal injury law firm is taking care of the legal proceedings with your best interests in mind.
Car Accident Laws in Eau Claire, WI
Auto accidents in Eau Claire are subjected to state laws. To protect their rights and have the best chance of recovering compensation, car accident victims should be aware of the following laws:
Modified Comparative Negligence Laws
Wisconsin follows the modified comparative negligence system. In this system, car accident parties are assigned a certain percentage of fault based on the available evidence.
If a party is deemed more than 50% responsible for the crash, they lose their right to pursue damages. What’s more, your compensation award will be reduced by your percentage of fault if it’s less than 50%.
Statute of Limitations
Among the most critical rules regulating car accident lawsuits is Wisconsin’s statute of limitations for personal injuries. The statute of limitations is the legal deadline that personal injury victims have to pursue a lawsuit.
When it comes to a car accident lawsuit in Eau Claire, victims have three years to file. If the car accident resulted in the death of a family member, eligible family members must pursue a wrongful death claim within two years from the date of death. Contact our wrongful death lawyers to learn more.
If you haven’t suffered injuries during your car crash and only wish to pursue a property damage claim, you only have six years from the date of the crash to pursue a claim legally.
Minimum Insurance Requirements
Under Wisconsin law, all drivers must carry a minimum liability insurance coverage to operate their vehicles on Wisconsin roads. The minimum liability insurance for drivers in Wisconsin is:
- $10,000 for property damage
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death to one person
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death for multiple victims
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
In Wisconsin, you can purchase underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage. Wisconsin law requires uninsured motorist coverage with a minimum limit of $25,000 and $50,000 per accident. Underinsured motorist coverage is not mandatory. However, it can provide vital protection during a car accident with a driver with insufficient coverage.
Accident Reporting Law
In the state of Wisconsin, parties involved in a car crash must report the incident to law enforcement agencies if the event resulted in injuries, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000.
Seatbelt Laws
Wisconsin, like many other states, has strict seatbelt laws. If a car accident occurred while a person wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, they can expect their compensation award to be reduced by 15%.
Defendants use the seatbelt defense argument to suggest that part of your injuries sustained during a car accident may not have been as serious if you had worn a seatbelt as required.
However, an experienced car accident lawyer can help you fight this claim. They may argue you are not medically required to wear a seatbelt or challenge the defense to provide concrete evidence that you were not wearing one. A car accident lawyer can fight any argument the defense may throw your way. Contact the Gingras, Thomsen & Wachs, LLP to learn more.
Why You Should Seek Legal Assistance After a Car Accident
Every car accident case has its unique challenges and circumstances. For example, the insurance company might send you a settlement offer that does not reflect the true extent of your damages.
You must consider your lost income, medical expenses, emotional distress, out-of-pocket expenses, and other losses. In other instances, your insurance company may deny your claim. Wisconsin car accident lawyers can help you pursue a fair car accident settlement reflecting the damages you have incurred.
How much compensation you will receive will usually depend on the strength of your evidence, what you did or didn’t do during and after the accident, legal representation, the severity of your injuries, and what percentage of fault you were assigned.
When you work with an experienced legal team of personal injury attorneys, they will guide you throughout the claims process, advocate for your rights, and negotiate on your behalf. If your auto accident occurred while you were driving a motorcycle, contact our motorcycle accident attorneys for a free initial consultation to learn more.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Eau Claire
If you have been involved in an auto accident in Eau Claire, there are several steps you should take to strengthen your car accident claim:
Seek Medical Attention
If anyone is injured, you must receive medical care immediately. Regardless of whether you feel pain or not, you should call 911 and request emergency service. Car accidents often involve injuries that are not immediately apparent.
Do not think about medical bills, you must first prioritize your health and let the paramedics assess your injuries. By accepting care, you’re also ensuring there will be medical records when it’s time to file a claim.
Contact Law Enforcement
If the car accident resulted in serious injuries, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000, you are required by law to report the accident to the police. When they arrive, tell them what happened, but do not admit fault. To avoid a complicated legal process, do not say anything incriminating. The police report will be useful later in your claim. This accident report will be vital during insurance negotiations.
Exchange Contact Information
Before leaving the accident scene, exchange contact information with the at-fault driver. Get their insurance information and license and plate numbers.
Gather Evidence
Financial compensation is tied to the strength of your evidence. If you can, start gathering evidence. Take photos or videos of the accident scene, the damage to all vehicles, your injuries, road conditions, and anything else that might be useful in proving negligence or highlighting what caused the accident.
If witnesses are present, write down their names and contact details. Witnesses play a vital role in car accident claims.
Notify Your Insurance Provider
Notify your insurance company about the accident. You can use your Medical Payments coverage if you were involved in a car crash and you incurred bills for medical treatment. If you exhaust your limits for Medical Payments under your policy you are responsible for payment of medical treatment and must seek compensation from the other driver’s insurer at the appropriate time.
Preserve Evidence and Avoid Making Statements
It is essential to preserve evidence while you rest and heal. Keeping track of medical expenses, receipts, and treatments. Write about your symptoms and how you feel as you recover. These will be useful later when you pursue a claim. If the other driver or their insurance company tries to make you a settlement offer, do not accept it before speaking with a personal injury attorney.
Experienced lawyers will know if you are being offered an unfavorable settlement. If the other driver’s insurance company asks you to provide a recorded statement, deny the request. It can be used against you.
Consult With a Car Accident Lawyer
When you pursue a personal injury claim, you enter a complicated legal process involving many back and forths. However, if you consult with car accident attorneys, they can make the process much smoother. A personal injury lawyer will help the injured party hold the negligent drivers responsible for their injuries, property damage, lost wages, and other damages.
Sometimes, it may not be immediately clear who is at fault, especially in deadly accidents. If the car accident occurred due to defective equipment or poor road conditions, there may be more than one party to blame. However, a Wisconsin car accident lawyer can help you identify all liable parties during a free consultation. If your accident involved a truck driver, the process may differ as the employer may share some liability. Contact our commercial truck accident lawyers to learn more.
Successful Cases
At Gingras, Thomsen & Wachs, LLP, we take pride in the successes we’ve had for our clients. We have obtained fair compensation for countless injured victims and helped them get their lives back on track. Some of our most notable successful cases include:
- Winning $5.25 million for a client who lost her spouse and suffered brain injuries when struck by a drunk driver
- $4.9 million awarded to a family who were injured due to the negligence of a truck driver and his employer
- $1 million in compensation to three different people whom drunk drivers injured
- Winning a $1 million settlement for a man injured in a motorcycle accident
No matter what type of car accident you were involved in, we have the necessary resources at Gingras, Thomsen & Wachs, LLP to help you pursue a claim. Contact our law office in Eau Claire for a free consultation on your case, and let our dedicated attorneys help you seek justice and give you a fighting chance at maximizing your claim.