- If you hit a parked car with no one in it, try to find the owner. If the parking lot is small, such as at a convenience store, you might find the owner by going back in and asking if anyone knows who owns the car you hit; that wouldn’t work at the mall or at a large office complex. If you cannot locate the owner, Wisconsin law requires you to leave a note where the owner will see it. Include your contact information, along with the date and time the accident occurred. Auto information website Edmunds.com recommends taking a photo of any damage. If you don’t have a camera or a cell phone with you, write down a detailed description of the damage the cars suffered.
- If the other driver is present, exchange names, addresses and other vital information, including: driver’s license number; car insurance policy number; car license plate; and the manufacturer, model and year of the vehicles involved. Get the names of any passengers in the car as well as names and numbers of any witnesses.
- Report the accident to police if the accident results in any injury or fatality, or if damage to property owned by either party exceeds $1,000. Law enforcement officers will file an accident report for you if the agency investigates the accident or prepares a report. If not, you must file the accident report. That report, Form MV4002, is available on the website of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, located at dot.state.wi.us.
- Report the accident to police if you hit any government property in the parking lot, such as stop signs, and if the damage totals more than $200. Should you hit a government vehicle, you do not need to file a report with law enforcement unless the damage exceeds $1,000. Again, if the police officer does not write a report on the incident, you must file Form MV4002, available on the website of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Find the Owner
Exchange Information
Reporting the Accident
Government Property
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