The first forty-eight hours

What to do, in order, starting at the roadside. Most of the decisions that matter are made in the first two days, usually by somebody who has never had to make them before.

No. 1

At the scene

Safety first and paperwork second, but do not skip the paperwork, because almost everything that becomes difficult later becomes difficult for want of something that took ninety seconds at the scene.

Get clear of traffic if the car moves and it is safe to move it.
Call it in. An incident or crash report number is the single most useful reference you can hold, and a not-at-fault claim without one is harder.
Photograph more than the damage. Both cars, both plates, the position of the vehicles, the road, the signage, the weather and the light.
Exchange and record names, policy numbers, insurer names and telephone numbers. Photograph the other driver’s documents rather than copying them out.
Do not discuss fault. Not because it is a trick, but because you do not yet know what happened, and neither does anybody else.

No. 2

The call from the adjuster

This is the moment the repair shop is chosen, and it is usually chosen by default, in a conversation where you are doing five other things.

You will often be given a name, or a link, or a list. None of that is improper. What matters is knowing that it is a recommendation and not a requirement.

§ 632.375(2)(a)Motor vehicle repair practices[No required facility]

For purposes of this section, a consumer has the right to select the motor vehicle repair facility of his or her choice.

Wis. Stat. § 632.375(2)(a) History: 2015 a. 93. Read it at the source

A sentence that settles it

“I understand you recommend that shop. I’m choosing my own under § 632.375(2)(a). Please note the file.” Asking for it to be noted is the useful half.

No. 3

Before the car is moved

A tow decision made in a hurry can cost more than the tow. Storage charges accrue daily at whichever yard the car lands in, and getting it out of one and into another is paid for twice.

Ask where the car is going and what the daily storage charge is.
Say where you want it to go, if you already know. It is your car.
Take your documents and valuables out before it leaves, including anything in the boot, the glovebox and any toll or parking transponder.
Note the mileage and photograph the dashboard.

No. 4

In the first two days

The useful work in this period is almost entirely administrative, and it is worth doing while you still remember the details.

Open the claim and write down the claim number, the adjuster’s name, and a direct telephone number.
Find out your rental coverage: the daily limit and the total limit. The total limit is the one that bites on a long repair.
Find out your deductible, and whether this is a comprehensive claim (hail, theft, animal strike) or a collision claim, because the deductibles usually differ.
Keep a dated note of every conversation. Three lines each. It is the cheapest insurance there is.

No. 5

What not to rush

Signing an authorisation to repair is a contract, and it is entirely reasonable to read it before signing. Ask what the storage terms are, and what happens if the insurer declines part of the supplement.

Accepting a settlement figure for a total loss is also not something to do on the first telephone call. The figure is based on comparable vehicles, and comparable vehicles are a thing you are allowed to look at yourself.

Statutory passages on this page are quoted from the Wisconsin Statutes and were last checked in October 2026 against docs.legis.wisconsin.gov. Statutes are amended. This is general information about a public law, not legal advice, and it is not a statement about your particular claim. Read the section yourself, or ask a lawyer.

Or just ask

None of this is secret and none of it requires an appointment. Telephone and describe what has happened, and you will get a straight answer about what comes next.

Call (608) 555-0142

Mon–Fri 7:30 AM–5:30 PM CT