Failure to Leave Name at Scene of an Accident in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, there are a number of laws that you must follow after being involved in a car wreck. Knowing these laws can help save you from inadvertently getting into legal trouble.

Legal Responsibilities Following a Car Wreck

If you were involved in a car wreck, you must immediately notify the police if you, anyone with you, or the other party has any injuries, or if there is property damage estimated to be over $1,000. If there is an injury as a result of the wreck, you must provide reasonable assistance, which typically includes calling an ambulance or driving the injured party to the hospital.

If you’ve been in a car wreck involving damage to private property along the roadside, you have an obligation to attempt to locate the property owner and provide your name and license plate number, regardless of the value of the property.

Similarly, if you hit a parked vehicle with your car, then you are legally responsible for tracking down the owner or leaving a note on the car with your identifying information.

Possible Consequences

Failure to follow these rules can result in monetary and licensing penalties for both the driver of the vehicle and the owner of the vehicle. Some of these penalties include:

• • You could be charged with a misdemeanor, face up to six months in jail, and could be fined up to $1,000 if you flee from the scene of a wreck without any injuries.
• • You could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, face up to nine months in jail, and be fined up to $10,000 if you flee the scene of a wreck that caused injuries.
• • You could face a felony charge, pay up to a $50,000 fine and serve up to 15 years in prison if you flee from the scene of a wreck in which the other party suffered great bodily harm.
• • You could face up to 25 years in prison plus incur a fine of $100,000 if you flee from the scene of a wreck where there was a fatality.

Let Us Help

Whether you were in a car wreck and did not correctly follow your legal responsibilities as a citizen, or the other party fled from the scene of the wreck, we can help.

At Tracey Wood & Associates, we understand how confusing the legal system can be and how stressed you might feel after being in a car wreck. We will be with you every step of the way to ensure that you achieve the best possible outcome for your case. Give us a call today or schedule a consultation online to discuss your options.