A car accident does more than ruin your day. For many people in Central Wisconsin, it disrupts their jobs, forces them to attend medical appointments, puts them under immense financial pressure, and creates a level of uncertainty that can be overwhelming. Relief may take the form of a financial settlement or a judgment, and our firm helps car accident survivors obtain that relief.
This article helps you understand the many types of car accidents, why they happen, and what steps you must take to protect your rights after the crash. If you have been in an accident, reach out to our car accident attorneys at Anderson O'Brien, LLP for your free consultation.
We are a highly respected Central Wisconsin firm with deep roots in the state and a reputation for strong, compassionate advocacy. We support injury victims through some of the toughest moments of their lives, and we will support you.
Car Accident Key Takeaways
- There are numerous types of car accidents—rear-end, head-on, T-bone, rollovers, pileups, and more—and each introduces different injury patterns and legal considerations.
- Crashes do not always occur because of driver negligence, as road design, weather, wildlife, mechanical issues, and poor maintenance can also contribute.
- After an accident, your top priorities should be getting medical care and engaging an attorney.
- Your attorney will handle the investigation, communications, negotiations, legal filings, evidence gathering, expert collaboration, and, if necessary, litigation.
- Victims may recover damages for medical expenses (including future costs), lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, property damage, and the cost of a loved one’s wrongful death.
- Wisconsin’s statute of limitations is generally three years for injury claims and two years for wrongful death claims involving a motor vehicle, and you should never risk missing these deadlines by waiting to contact an attorney.
- The sooner you hire a lawyer, the more time we have to build your case. Acting quickly is critical when seeking compensation after a car accident.
How Car Crashes Happen: A Closer Look at the Most Frequent Collision Types
Every accident is a unique story, and knowing the entire story is pivotal when seeking compensation for a survivor or loved ones mourning a loss. The events leading up to the crash matter, as what the at-fault parties did before the collision can be just as important as the moment of impact.
The nature of the crash is as essential as any element of your accident story. Knowing how the collision occurred helps clarify how the collision occurred, who may be at fault, and who may compensate you for your damages.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end crashes are some of the most common in Central Wisconsin and throughout the United States. Wisconsin’s winter conditions only heighten the risk of these accidents, as drivers have a lesser ability to brake when roads are icy or drenched in melted snow.
While many people underestimate the toll these collisions can cause, even a low-speed rear-end collision can cause:
- Whiplash (which is directly associated with rear-end collisions)
- Herniated discs
- Concussions
- Shoulder and knee injuries
- Headaches and neurological symptoms
We know that driver behaviors are a key factor in rear-end accidents. Tailgating and speeding are among the risk factors for these types of collisions.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on crashes generate tremendous force. These accidents are prevalent on Central Wisconsin’s rural two-lane roads where visibility is limited, shoulders are narrow, and drivers sometimes drift over the centerline. Head-on collisions can result in:
- Severe fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Organ damage
- Spinal injuries
- Fatalities
Because of the severity, these cases often involve extensive medical treatment, long-term rehabilitation, and substantial claims for damages. They even accounted for more than 11% of fatal accidents in 2023, showing how head-on accidents are disproportionately likely to cause catastrophic injury.
Side-Impact (T-Bone) Crashes
T-bone crashes often occur at intersections where one driver misjudges the right of way, disregards a traffic signal, or recklessly speeds through a light. Injuries in these accidents can be severe, in part because the sides of many vehicles lack the structural reinforcement found in the front and rear of automobiles.
Sideswipe Collisions
Sideswipe crashes may appear minor, but can lead to even more harmful traffic events. A sideswipe incident might lead to a rollover, secondary collision with another vehicle, or a crash with a fixed object.
Sideswipe accidents can result from:
- Failure to check blindspits
- Distracted driving
- Impaired driving
- Drifting out of one’s lane
- Merging errors
- Speeding, racing, and other forms of aggressive driving
Even low-speed sideswipe collisions can result in neck injuries, back strains, and other significant injuries.
Multi-Vehicle Collisions (Including Pileups)
Wisconsin’s unpredictable weather: sudden snow squalls, dense fog, and black ice among them, heightens the risk of multi-vehicle crashes. These collisions involve multiple drivers and vehicles, making it more difficult to determine who is at fault.
Some of the challenges native to multi-vehicle accidents are:
- Conflicting insurance claims
- Questions about comparative fault
- Multiple responsible parties
The attorneys at Anderson O’Brien, LLP have extensive, highly valuable experience resolving claims and lawsuits arising from multi-vehicle collisions.
Rollover Accidents
Rollovers often occur on curves, soft shoulders, construction zones, or when navigating rural roads with uneven surfaces. Contributing factors in these accidents may include:
- Vehicles with high centers of gravity (such as SUVs, vans, and pickups)
- Overcorrecting during a skid
- Striking an obstacle that triggers the car to roll over
- Mechanical failures
Rollovers can result in “roadway departure,” which introduces harmful variables such as the rolling vehicle colliding at high velocity with fixed objects.
Single-Vehicle Accidents
Even when only one vehicle is involved in a crash, the driver of that vehicle is not always at fault. These accidents often stem from conditions such as:
- Poorly maintained roads
- Dangerous construction zones
- Vehicle mechanical failures
- Unsafe vehicle design
An experienced car accident lawyer can help determine whether another party’s negligence played a role in your single-vehicle crash.
Accidents Involving Pedestrians, Cyclists, or Motorcyclists
Pedestrians and other non-drivers on or near roadways lack physical protection, making these accidents particularly devastating. If you or a loved one was injured as a pedestrian, bicyclist, scooter rider, or in another non-driver capacity, you are entitled to fair compensation for your damages.
Accidents Involving Impaired Drivers
Impaired driving is so common that it warrants its own mention. A driver may be impaired because of:
- Alcohol or drug use
- Fatigue
- Disorientation
- Vision problems
- Emotional or psychological disturbance
The long, dark Wisconsin winters are a particularly risky time for drunk, drug-impaired, and psychologically compromised drivers to cause severe accidents.
Not All Car Crashes in Wisconsin Are a Matter of “Driver Versus Driver”
While most auto accidents stem from at least one driver’s poor decisions, that’s not always the case.
Mechanical Malfunctions Are Another Risk Factor for Car Accidents
Mechanical or manufacturing defects can cause crashes, even when drivers operate safely. Tire blowouts, brake failures, steering issues, and faulty sensors or electronics are among the hazardous symptoms of defective vehicle components.
Proving such defects typically requires professional analysis, which is why the car accident attorneys at Anderson O'Brien, LLP maintain close relationships with qualified professionals throughout the automotive sector.
Take Your First Steps Toward Safety and Recovery After a Car Accident in Wisconsin
Regardless of where you are after the crash, we want to provide some essential guidance for anyone who’s been involved in a car accident:
Seek Medical Care Immediately
Even if you feel “okay” after a crash, unseen injuries such as concussions or internal bleeding can lie hidden. Get medical care to protect both your health and your compensation claim.
Contact a Lawyer as Soon as Possible
A car accident attorney will protect you from common mistakes that can weaken your claim or reduce compensation.
Keep Relevant Evidence and Documentation
Photographs of vehicles, damage, skid marks, debris, and road conditions are invaluable. We will collect such evidence if circumstances permit, but you should not dispose of any such evidence that is already in your possession.
Medical records, receipts, damaged clothing, prescription bottles, and repair invoices may also be critical features of your case, so don’t discard them.
A Car Accident Lawyer Does the Work So You Can Recover
Our car accident lawyers pride themselves on being more than just attorneys. We excel at legal work, but we also provide priceless support to clients who often need medical care, trauma treatment, and a team they can trust during a time of immense uncertainty.
An attorney will build a car accident claim using:
Investigate with Urgency
- Police reports
- Digital crash data
- Witness statements
- Surveillance footage
- Medical records
- Expert evaluations
Using this evidence, the lawyer will construct a compelling case against the liable parties.
Bring Experts Onto Your Cause
Cases like yours often benefit from the services of:
- Accident reconstruction specialists
- Biomechanical engineers
- Medical professionals
- Vocational experts
- Economists
Skilled personal injury attorneys have the resources to bring on these experts to contribute to cases like yours.
Keep Insurance Companies Honest
Insurance adjusters are deployed to minimize claimants’ payouts. We know this, and your attorney will:
- Negotiate directly with insurers
- Push back against low offers and other bad-faith tactics
- Advise you against making statements that could harm your case
Insurance companies are familiar adversaries for car accident attorneys, who understand the tactics insurers use and how to counter them effectively.
Fight for a Fair Settlement and Prepare for Trial if Necessary
If insurers refuse to settle for a fair amount, we will prepare your case for litigation.
Some Common Damages for Those Injured in Wisconsin Car Accidents
Accident-related damages are categorized as:
Economic Losses
These include quantifiable financial expenses, which may result from:
- ER visits
- Hospital stays
- Surgeries
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Prescription medications
- Lost wages
- Future reduced earning capacity
- Transportation for medical care
- Property damage
Calculating these damages can be complicated, and you should have a car accident lawyer handle the process for you.
Non-Economic Losses
Non-economic damages reflect how car accident victims suffer in ways that invoices and bills don’t document. Your non-economic damages may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
- Adverse impact on relationships and family dynamics
Wrongful Death Losses
Families affected by fatal car accidents often recover damages for:
- Funeral expenses
- Burial costs
- Lost financial support
- Loss of companionship
- Emotional distress
FAQs About Car Accidents
What if the other driver has no insurance?
You may still have options through uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage or claims against third parties.
Will I have to go to court?
Most cases settle, but your lawyer will urgently prepare for litigation if insurers refuse to be reasonable.
How much do attorney fees cost?
With contingency fee agreements, you pay nothing upfront for most car accident lawyers. Your attorney fees will come as a percentage of the recovery.
Retain a Car Accident Attorney Right Away
A car accident can alter your health, income, relationships, and long-term stability. You deserve compensation that reflects both your immediate needs and your future challenges. Anderson O’Brien, LLP, with more than a century of experience serving Central Wisconsin, offers strong advocacy and compassionate guidance.
Remember, time is in short supply after a crash, as Wisconsin’s laws give you only a limited window to act.