1. Check for injuries and get safe
Check yourself and your passengers. If anyone is hurt, call 911. Turn on your hazard lights. If the cars can be driven and nobody is hurt, move them out of traffic to the shoulder or a parking lot. On a freeway, if you can't move, stay buckled in unless the car is smoking or on fire.
2. Call police when the law requires it
Wisconsin law requires you to notify police right away if a crash causes injury or death, or about $1,000 or more in damage to anyone's property (a lower amount applies to government property). Modern repairs pass $1,000 quickly, so if there's visible damage, call. If police don't come to the scene, Wisconsin requires a driver report to the state within 10 days. Check the statute linked below for details.
3. Exchange information
- Names and phone numbers of the other drivers
- Insurance company and policy numbers
- License plates, and the make, model and color of each vehicle
- Names and numbers of witnesses
4. Take photos before anything moves
Photograph every vehicle from several angles, the damage up close, the plates, the street and any signs or signals, skid marks and debris. Once a car is loaded on a tow truck, some of that is gone.
5. Call your insurance company
Start the claim as soon as you can. Ask whether your policy covers towing and where they'd like the car to go. Keep every receipt, including the tow.
6. Decide where the car goes
Unless police direct otherwise, you can choose the tow company and the body shop. If you haven't picked a shop yet, have the car towed home or to a shop you trust so it isn't sitting somewhere racking up storage fees. If police already called a tow, follow their instructions; you can have the car moved to your shop later.
7. Getting the car off the road
Damaged cars can have broken wheels, leaking fluids and loose parts. They should go on a flatbed, with loose pieces secured. PS Towing & Recovery does accident towing 24/7 at our posted rate: $120 to hook up plus $8 a mile. If the car left the road, it may need a winch-out first. Call (414) 254-1468.
8. Watch for the Move Over law
Wisconsin's Move Over law requires drivers to move over a lane, or slow down if they can't, for stopped emergency vehicles, tow trucks and disabled vehicles with hazards on. Stay well off the road while the scene is cleared.
If it's an electric car
If an EV's battery area was hit and you see smoke or hear popping or hissing, move away and tell 911 it's an electric vehicle. See how to tow an electric car.