Milwaukee

Car Accident

I’m Scott Hawkins. Ruth Hawkins was my stepmom. She was devoted to her family, devoted to church, and devoted to making everyone around her a better person. Antoine, he was my stepbrother. We grew up together. We played together. We had a great bond. They were on their way to Texas to celebrate Easter with my stepsister Rashida.

They were traveling from Jackson, Tennessee, where they just picked up Janese. Janese – she was my sister. I can truly say that for her 20 years of life, me and my sister got along like best friends. My nephew, Antoine Jr., loved to play with his cousins. He loved to play with trains. He just enjoyed being a young kid. He was 3. He didn’t get a chance to enjoy life. They were traveling through a construction zone when they were rear-ended by a semi truck. We chose Warshafsky because to them it was more about taking care of us and not just a settlement. There were other firms that wanted us to settle quick, settle fast, so they could get their paycheck. They weren’t concerned with us. The Warshafsky Firm asked questions about us as a family – how we were doing and how we were handling the situation. One of my family members chose a law firm from the West Coast. That firm tried to convince them to settle for $750,000. The $750,000 they offered was the limit for the insurance carrier for the semi truck diver. Warshafsky was able to get down to the root of the accident and realize that the actual person at fault was the construction company. In the construction zone that they were traveling, the construction company had made it convenient for them to pull into their areas, but not convenient for drivers to flow through smoothly. By proving who was responsible for the accident, Warshafsky was able to get us $3.9 million instead of the $750k that the other company was offering for liability. Attorney Frank Crivello of Warshafsky Law Firm made us feel like more than just a client. He made me feel like a friend, a family member, like a person that he cared about. 12 years after the accident, I still talk to Frank Crivello. He’s become a friend of mine. I don’t wish tragedy on anyone, but if there’s a tragedy in your life, the Warshafsky Law Firm will take care of you and your family.

 
Footer You Tube  Warshafsky Law Firm Milwaukee, Wisconsin  Warshafsky Law Firm Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Practice Areas

Scott Testimonial (60 sec)

Frank Crivello | 60 sec

I’m Scott,

Four of my family members were fatally injured when a semi truck slammed into them from behind driving to visit family for Easter. The car burst into flames all four including my three year old nephew were trapped. I’m Attorney Frank Crivello of Warshafsky, this should never have happened. We were contacted by many lawyers, only Warshafsky said this tragedy can make the world safer. We need to make sure this doesn’t happen again. The semi drivers insurance offered $750,000.00. A famous west coast law firm representing a relative said that’s all they have to pay. Settle. Warshafsky’s lead investigators discovered a construction company was stopping traffic abruptly so its trucks could pull off the freeway. Turning just like you would on a City street. Convenient for them, but the unpredictability to traffic created an extremely dangerous situation. Warshafsky achieved a settlement of 3.9 Million Dollars. This national construction company will not endanger people this way again.”

Free Consultation

No win. No fee.

Types of damages available if you’re injured in Milwaukee

If you have been injured in a Milwaukee car accident, you may be entitled to damages, or money, based on a variety of factors. Straightforward economic damages are easier to measure financially. Your compensation may include:

  1. Property damage 
    (typically including the damage to your vehicle and its contents)
  2. Lost wages  
    (loss of income and loss of future earning capacity from being too injured to work)
  3. Medical expenses 
    (including hospital bills past, present, and future)
  4. Emotional distress
    (sleep loss, fear, anxiety, and PTSD experienced after the injury)
  5. Loss of enjoyment/loss of consortium
    (inability to enjoy hobbies and activities, or companionship with your spouse)

The role of pain and suffering and non-economic damages

If you have suffered an injury in a Milwaukee car accident, you are entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. The physical, emotional and psychological impacts of a crash can be severe and long-lasting – you may experience PTSD, anxiety, lost wages and more. Though no amount of money can undo your hardship, financial damages may help you pay medical bills and make up for lost income. An at-fault party will be especially liable for punitive damages if their actions cause a fatality.

An experienced personal injury lawyer can analyze your Milwaukee car accident, determine fault and fight for maximum compensation in settlement negotiations or court. Don’t go at it alone after a Milwaukee car accident. A knowledgeable car accident attorney can advocate on your behalf so you can focus on healing. Trust the personal injury lawyers at Warshafsky Law and receive the fair compensation you deserve after a car accident injury.

Milwaukee vehicle accident case types

Types of car crash injuries

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation:

  • As of 2024, Wisconsin experiences an annual average of 132,265 total crashes, resulting in approximately 26,755 injuries each year.
  • Milwaukee County makes up about 20% of those car accidents despite only having 16% of the state’s population.

Common Injuries caused by car accidents include: 

Personal injuries from a car accident can range from minor discomfort to serious, lifelong disabilities. Pain delayed by adrenaline, inflammation or shock can initially obscure the true severity of your injuries. Even if you believe your injuries to be minor, you should still seek medical attention immediately, as it can help your attorney substantiate damages in your injury claim. Documenting the progression of your symptoms, treatment and recovery over time builds critical evidence an experienced lawyer can use to demand fair compensation. Consult a doctor and an attorney as soon as possible after you’ve been in a car accident.

In fatal cases, car accidents are often considered causes of wrongful death. When you or a loved one is wrongfully injured or when your loved one is killed in a car accident in Milwaukee, contact an attorney at Warshafsky Law.

Car accident resources

Warshafsky Law

Warshafsky prepares every case for full-scale litigation, through the trial and even the appeal. Insurance companies fear our reputation. They WILL settle for a dramatically higher sum than their initial, small offering. We operate under a strict no-win-no-fee policy, meaning we do not collect payment until we win.

Other Law Firms

Most attorneys want to be hired and settle your case fast. Speed of dispensation and volume means more income for these law firms and less for you. These spineless attorneys are simple settlement mills, looking for the quickest pay cut.

 

84 Car accident fatalities in 2024

Per the Milwaukee County DOT statistics from 2025, car accidents went up slightly in the county from 2023 to ‘24 (from approximately 24,500 to about 24,600). Car accident deaths remained high both years: 82 accidents involved at least one fatality in 2023, and there were 84 deadly crashes in 2024.

Milwaukee County car accidents

Car Accident  Warshafsky Law Firm Milwaukee, Wisconsin  Warshafsky Law Firm Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee County car accident deaths

Car Accident-Boy  Warshafsky Law Firm Milwaukee, Wisconsin  Warshafsky Law Firm Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We handle all types of car accidents in Milwaukee

Warshafsky Law Firm has represented injured clients in all types of auto accidents in Milwaukee. Each case is unique, the particular facts of your case will be investigated during your free case evaluation.

  • Head-on and rear-end collisions
  • T-Bone intersection accidents
  • Highway rollovers
  • Drunk driver accidents
  • Single vehicle and multi vehicle
  • Distract driver (texting and driving) accidents
  • Uninsured, underinsured, and hit-and-run accidents

Can road conditions impact liability in car accidents?

Common types of car crashes are impacted by icy, wet, debris-filled and improperly designed roads and could impact liability in a car accident. For example, if an entity had a duty to keep an area of pavement well maintained and failed in that duty, it might be argued that their insurance company is liable for your injuries. Call a personal injury attorney after a car accident to examine factors that could affect your case.

Types of vehicles impacting your legal claim

  1. Uber and Lyft cars – Ride sharing services try to insulate themselves from legal liability with end-user license agreements (EULAs) for the passenger (you), and other paperwork for the driver. It may be called into question whose insurance is liable for which monetary damages.
  2. Police cars and ambulances – There are additional car accident laws that apply to government vehicles. For example, under Wisconsin state law you must report an accident if $1,000 or more damage is done to any person’s property vehicle, but that threshold drops to $200 for government property or vehicles.
  3. School buses and garbage trucks – Sometimes a Milwaukee car accident lawyer might seek to enjoin many parties to your lawsuit. The company employing the driver directly could be liable. The entity employing that company could be liable. The insurance company of any involved parties could be liable. A lawyer can help you work this out.
  4. Semi tractors and large trucks – Over the road trucking companies are often protected by huge blanket insurance policies that could be the source of liability needed to help you recover financially. Even if the truck driver was only partly responsible for the damages, the company insurance policy could be responsible for all of your expenses – medical and otherwise.
  5. Motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians – Motorcycle accidents are disproportionately likely to involve serious injury or death. Insurance policies do their best to price this into their policy, collecting maximized premiums each month while providing the minimum possible payout to make your accident claim go away.

Most common causes of serious car accident injuries in Milwaukee

Vehicle wrecks can be caused by texting and driving, following too close, or any other 1,000 factors. According to the University of Wisconsin, some of the biggest contributory factors in “serious injury” accidents are:

  • Speed – 126 serious injury accidents 28.6% of crashes had at least one driver who exceeded the speed limit, was driving too fast for conditions, or a citation was issued.
  • Seatbelt – 76 serious injury accidents 17.3% of crashes had one or more persons who did not use any safety equipment. For motorcyclists this includes helmets.
  • Seatbelt – 76 serious injury accidents 17.3% of crashes had one or more persons who did not use any safety equipment. For motorcyclists this includes helmets.
  • Alcohol or Drugs – 58 serious injury accidents13.2% of crashes had one or more persons who were suspected by law enforcement to have used alcohol or drugs, or a citation was issued.

Frequent Milwaukee Car Accident Attorney Questions

Warshafsky Law is a contingency legal firm, which means no win, no fee. You won’t pay any money up-front. You only pay only when you receive compensation. No need to worry about hourly fees or retainers for frequent communication with your attorney.

The most common car accident injuries include scrapes and cuts, soft tissue damage and head, chest, arm, and leg injuries.

Wisconsin operates under a Shared Fault Law, meaning each person involved can be held partially responsible for the crash. Compensation for damages varies based on the percentage of fault attributed to you. Fault is usually determined by the police officers who respond to the scene. Your car accident attorney will examine all the evidence to uncover the true liable parties.

 

Yes, contact an experienced car accident lawyer to receive the maximum insurance settlement you deserve. Milwaukee auto insurance companies often lowball claims, and shared liability laws are complicated to navigate. Wisconsin's Statute of Limitations requires you to file your personal injury case within 3 years of discovering the injury. Damages over $5,000 are not handled in small claims court. Hire the best Milwaukee car crash lawyers to build your case with on-site evidence (police reports, medical records, eyewitness testimony) and uncover hidden sources of liability.

 

Evidence begins deteriorating minutes after the accident. The sooner you contact an attorney the sooner we can begin building your case to win at trial. Retaining a skilled car accident attorney is the only way insurance companies will offer you the full value of your case. Online research can be counterproductive. Our lawyers handle case assessments for free. Act FAST.

Testimonials

What Our Clients Say About Us

Image of a line  Warshafsky Law Firm Milwaukee, Wisconsin