You’re driving cautiously through a snowstorm on your way home from Green Bay, keeping a safe distance and staying under the speed limit. Suddenly, another car loses control on the icy road, slams into your vehicle, and changes your life in an instant. Wisconsin winters can be dangerous, but accidents like these happen all the time, because someone else wasn’t careful.

The team at Natasha Misra Law wants you to be as prepared as possible for any road conditions, and we’re here to fight for you if someone else wasn’t, and injured you in an accident. Let’s take a look at what winter conditions you could face, and how you can best try to stay safe out there in the snow. 

Winter Driving Hazards in Wisconsin

Icy Roads: As temperatures drop, moisture on the roads can freeze into a slick, invisible layer of ice. Icy conditions are common across Wisconsin’s highways and residential streets, especially on bridges and overpasses.

  • How it causes accidents: Cars can lose traction, making it difficult to stop or steer.
  • Stay safe: Drive slower, increase following distance, and brake gently to avoid skidding.

Snowstorms and Reduced Visibility: Heavy snow can make it nearly impossible to see other vehicles, road signs, or obstacles. Rural areas like Oshkosh and Fond du Lac can be especially hazardous, with blowing snow creating whiteout conditions.

  • How it causes accidents: Drivers may fail to notice stopped cars or drift into other lanes.
  • Stay safe: Use headlights, drive cautiously, and avoid sudden lane changes.

Black Ice: Black ice is a thin, transparent layer of ice that blends with the pavement, making it almost impossible to detect. It’s especially dangerous on shaded roads or during early morning hours.

  • How it causes accidents: Drivers can spin out or lose control without warning.
  • Stay safe: Slow down, avoid sudden steering, and stay alert on bridges and overpasses.

Snow-Covered Roads: Packed snow can be as slippery as ice and often hides road markings, making it hard to judge where your lane ends or begins. This is a common issue in cities like Green Bay and Appleton after a heavy snowfall.

  • How it causes accidents: Cars can slide when braking or turning too quickly.
  • Stay safe: Use winter tires, keep speeds low, and avoid abrupt maneuvers.

Unplowed or Poorly Maintained Roads: Snow and ice are bad enough, but when roads aren’t properly plowed or salted, the danger increases. Wisconsin’s smaller towns and rural highways often face delayed maintenance, making conditions worse.

  • How it causes accidents: Drivers may skid, collide with snowbanks, or lose control on untreated roads.
  • Stay safe: Avoid driving immediately after storms and report dangerous road conditions to local authorities.

Winter Conditions Lead to More Crashes and Serious Injuries

Winter driving hazards are more than inconvenient—they’re dangerous. Snow, ice, and low visibility significantly increase the likelihood of crashes, and when another driver isn’t as cautious as you are, the consequences can be devastating. Rear-end collisions, multi-car pileups, and sliding accidents happen more often during winter, leading to serious injuries like whiplash, broken bones, and head trauma. If you’ve been hurt because someone else wasn’t careful on Wisconsin’s winter roads, you deserve justice.

Get in Touch with a Car Accident Attorney Today

If you’ve been injured in a winter driving accident in Milwaukee, Green Bay, Appleton, or anywhere in northern WI—don’t wait to get experienced legal advocacy. Contact Natasha Misra Law today for a free consultation.

Stay safe this winter, and remember: when you need someone to fight for you, Natasha Misra Law is more than just another suit. We’re advocates for your health, safety, and your future.

When Are you Required To Report A Car Accident?

Wisconsin drivers are required to report motor vehicle accidents that involve:

  • Bodily injury or death;
  • Property damage of at least $1,000 or more; or
  • Damage to a state or government owner property exceeding $200.

Those involved in the accident are required to report the accident to the police department, the sheriff’s department, the traffic department or the Wisconsin State Patrol. If a law enforcement officer responds to the accident, they have 10 days to file a report with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, or WisDOT.

In some cases, however, law enforcement may not respond to a car accident. In those situations, the individuals involved in the accident are required to report the crash to WisDOT. Drivers may get a letter from WisDOT requesting them to complete a report. If you receive this request from WisDOT, then you are required to complete the report. If you do not file a report or complete a report sent to you by WisDOT, then you may be fined for your failure to comply.

How To Report Your Car Accident

If law enforcement does not respond to your accident, then you will need to submit an accident report to WisDOT. To do this, you will need to complete an online form titled “Wisconsin Driver Report of Crash DT4002.” You can find this form online HERE.

Before you begin filling out the online form, however, you should gather the information that you will need to complete the report. WisDOT will request the following information:

  • Your Driver License Number
  • Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
  • Your Social Security Number
  • Insurance information for the vehicles involved in the accident

WisDOT will also request information about the accident. Specifically, the department will ask you to describe the accident and who was involved. For example, you will need to indicate whether the accident involved a motor vehicle, an animal, a bicyclist, a pedestrian, a parked vehicle or unoccupied vehicle, a fixed object or a non-fixed object.

In addition, you will be asked to discuss any injuries that occurred as a result of the car accident. The report will ask you to indicate whether you have suspected serious injuries (including deep lacerations, broken bones, paralysis, unconsciousness or significant loss of blood), suspected minor injuries (like minor cuts), or possible injuries (such as whiplash, limping or nausea).

Completing the online accident report form should take less than an hour to complete. Not only will reporting the accident help you avoid any potential fines, but you will also be able to use the accident report when seeking damages for your injuries.

Why Is Filing A Car Accident Report Important For My Case?

After an accident, your insurance company will likely request a copy of the accident report. In fact, before an insurance claim can be paid, the driver responsible for causing the accident must be identified. The driver at fault for the accident will then be responsible for compensating the other driver for his or her injuries and property damage.

Often, the accident report will be used to determine who was at fault for a car accident. In the event that there is a dispute regarding who is responsible for causing the accident, the official accident report will serve as the basis for an investigation into how the accident occurred.

A Wisconsin Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

If you have been injured in a car accident in Wisconsin, it is important that either a law enforcement official or you file an accident report with the WisDOT. The report will help identify the at fault party who caused the accident and ultimately help you recover compensation for your injuries.

When injured in a crash, you should also consult an experienced Milwaukee personal injury attorney - Natasha Misra Law. Our law office can help you with the accident reporting process and assist you in obtaining a copy of the accident report. Call our office at (414) 635-2858 for a free consultation and speak with a Milwaukee car accident lawyer today.

Natasha Misra

My law practice is dedicated to helping people who have suffered injuries in accidents which were not their fault. Born and raised in Milwaukee, I come from a family of medical professionals. My background and experience help me understand and represent individuals injured in accidents.