Wisconsin Crash Reports: WisDOT Copies, DT4002 and Insurance Rules
Who has your crash report, what drivers must report, insurance rules and traffic deaths in Wisconsin.
I-94 stretches 348 miles from the Minnesota line at Hudson through the Milwaukee area and into Illinois, while I-90 runs from La Crosse down to Beloit. Meanwhile, I-39, I-41, and I-43 carry drivers north toward places like Wausau and Green Bay.
With so much traffic moving along these highways and the local streets that connect them, crashes can happen just about anywhere. State Patrol troopers, city police officers, and county sheriffs all respond to collisions, depending on where they occur.
That location also determines which agency prepares your crash report, although in Wisconsin, reports for all reportable crashes eventually go through the same state office.
Who Has Your Wisconsin Crash Report
A Wisconsin crash report from any police agency, the State Patrol included, is sold online by WisDOT for $6, the fee on WisDOT’s DMV fee schedule. The officer who responded writes the report on the state’s DT4000 form, and the agency must send it to WisDOT within 10 days of the crash under Wisconsin Statutes section 346.70(4). State Patrol policy has troopers send theirs within three days.
Reports show up on the site once WisDOT has received them from the reporting agency, which WisDOT says can take 10 business days or more depending on the crash and the investigation. To find yours, you need the WisDOT document number from the officer, or the crash date and a Wisconsin driver’s license number. Reports stay on the site for four years from the crash date.
The report comes only as a PDF download, available right after you pay. WisDOT does not email, fax, or mail online orders, and DMV offices do not hand out copies. Under section 346.70(4)(f), any person may examine or copy a crash report, subject to the record keeper’s rules. For questions, the WisDOT Crash Records Unit can be called at (608) 266-8753; Milwaukee police list its mailing address as 4822 Madison Yards Way, 9th Floor South, Madison, WI 53705.
Crashes below the state’s reporting thresholds stay with the local department that took the report. Milwaukee police, Green Bay Police, and the Milwaukee County Sheriff also release copies through online vendors, listed below.
Don’t want to deal with the forms, or not sure which agency took your report? We can get a copy of your report for you at no cost.
Police Reports From Wisconsin Cities and Sheriffs
Start with the department that responded to your crash. Here is how five of them handle report requests:
| Department | How to request | Fee |
| Milwaukee Police Department | LexisNexis BuyCrash online or WisDOT; reportable crash reports are generally ready about 14 days after the crash, and (414) 935-7502 can confirm availability. Records on non-reportable crashes come from the Open Records Section by email or by mail to PO Box 531, Milwaukee, WI 53201. The Open Records counter, 2333 N. 49th St., handles crash report requests in person Tuesdays and Thursdays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. | $0.25 per page from Open Records; BuyCrash fee set at request |
| Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office | “Request an Accident Report” link to CrashDocs, or a public records request at 821 W. State St., Room 102, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., (414) 226-7085 | $6 |
| Madison Police Department | MPD does not provide copies of DT4000 crash reports; WisDOT sells them, generally seven to 10 business days after the crash. Non-reportable reports come from police records, (608) 261-8015 | $6 (WisDOT) |
| Green Bay Police Department | LexisNexis BuyCrash, searched by date and last name, street, or report number; or WisDOT for reportable crashes. Records: (920) 448-3329 | Free on BuyCrash for people directly involved |
| Kenosha Joint Services | LexisNexis online or WisDOT, or a records request form by fax, mail or in person at 1000 55th Street, Kenosha; about 10 working days for simple requests | LexisNexis charges a fee if you were not a party; WisDOT also charges a fee |
What Drivers in Wisconsin Must Report
Under Wisconsin Statutes section 346.70(1), the driver in a crash must notify the police department, the county sheriff, or a State Patrol officer immediately, by the quickest means available, when the crash injures or kills anyone, causes $1,000 or more in damage to property owned by one person or to a government vehicle, or causes $200 or more in damage to other government property.
If no police agency files a report on that crash, the driver must send a written report to WisDOT within 10 days. That report is the Wisconsin Driver Report of Crash, form DT4002, filed online. You also have to file one if WisDOT sends you a letter saying you were in a reportable crash. If the driver is physically unable to file, the vehicle’s owner files on their behalf; if the owner also cannot, another occupant files the written report.
Have your driver’s license number, the vehicle’s VIN, your Social Security number, and your insurance details ready, since the online form times out after 30 minutes of inactivity. WisDOT records the crash on every involved driver’s record, regardless of who was at fault. If any driver in the crash was uninsured, WisDOT requires additional safety responsibility forms.
Wisconsin Car Insurance Requirements and Fault Rules
Wisconsin Statutes section 344.62 bars driving on a highway without a liability policy. The minimums under section 344.01(2)(d) are $25,000 for injury or death to one person, $50,000 for two or more people, and $10,000 for property damage.
Every policy must also carry uninsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash, and $1,000 of medical payments coverage, which the policyholder may reject under section 632.32. Underinsured motorist coverage is optional. Insurers must tell you in writing that it is available, and if you buy it, the limits start at $50,000 and $100,000.
Wisconsin is a fault state with no personal injury protection requirement. The driver who caused the crash pays the other side’s losses through their liability coverage. Under Wis. Stat. 895.045, you can recover as long as your share of the fault is not greater than that of the driver you are claiming against, and your damages shrink by your share.
Wisconsin Traffic Deaths by the Numbers
| Measure | Figure | Year | Source |
| People killed in traffic crashes | 537 in 492 fatal crashes | 2025 | WisDOT |
| People killed in traffic crashes | 576 in 509 fatal crashes | 2024 | WisDOT |
| People injured | 32,632 in 24,101 injury crashes, out of 128,800 crashes | 2025 | WisDOT |
| Alcohol-related deaths | 141, down from 153 | 2025 | WisDOT |
| Pedestrians killed | 43 | 2025 | WisDOT |
| Motorcyclists killed | 92 | 2025 | WisDOT |
| Bicyclists killed | 11 | 2025 | WisDOT |
When analyzing these figures, please bear in mind that WisDOT counts a traffic death when the person dies within 30 days of the crash.
Wisconsin Crash Guides by City and County
At Local Accident Reports, we cover accidents throughout the country, working county by county and then city by city. From car crashes and motorcycle wrecks to commercial and residential fires, we report on the incidents that happen in communities across the nation.
Wisconsin is no exception. With 72 counties and 190 cities, there are accidents to report every day, and we keep track of what is happening across the state. Our goal, however, goes beyond telling people when and where a crash occurred. We also want drivers and commuters to understand the places they travel through, from major roads and busy highways to dangerous intersections where accidents can happen.
Here, you can find the latest accident reports from communities across Wisconsin, along with guides to some of the state’s most important cities. That way, you can stay informed about local crashes while learning more about the roads and areas you travel every day.
County accident news: Milwaukee County · Waukesha County · Rock County · Dane County · Racine County · Walworth County · Kenosha County · Outagamie County
Roads and intersections with a history of serious crashes are listed on our Wisconsin dangerous intersections page.
Help After a Crash
- Local Accident Reports. After a crash, we can connect you with local help, from doctors and body shops to injury attorneys. Contact our team.
- Wisconsin Crime Victim Compensation Run by the Department of Justice, it pays up to $40,000 toward medical bills, lost wages, counseling, and funeral costs that no other source covers. Drunk-driving crashes qualify only in limited cases: pedestrians, passengers in another vehicle, child passengers in the impaired driver’s vehicle, and adult passengers who did not know the driver was impaired. Report the crime to police within 5 days and apply within one year. You can call (800) 446-6564.
- MADD Support for people affected by drunk or drugged driving. 24/7 help line: 877-MADD-HELP (877-623-3435).
- 911. Call or text 911 after an accident for support.
- Trauma centers. The Department of Health Services keeps a map of Wisconsin trauma centers showing the hospitals in the state trauma system.
Wisconsin Crash Questions
How do I get a Wisconsin crash report?
Buy it from WisDOT at crashreports.wi.gov for $6. The site carries reportable crash reports from every police agency, including the State Patrol, once WisDOT receives them, which can take 10 business days or more. Search with the WisDOT document number, or the crash date and a Wisconsin driver license number, and download the PDF.
Do I have to file my own crash report in Wisconsin?
Only if no police agency reported the crash. Then the driver files form DT4002 online with WisDOT within 10 days for a crash that hurt or killed anyone, did $1,000 or more in damage to one person’s property or a government vehicle, or did $200 or more to other government property. A WisDOT letter saying you were in a reportable crash also requires one.
Is Wisconsin a no-fault state?
No. Wisconsin is a fault state, so the driver who caused the crash pays through their liability insurance, and no personal injury protection is required. A driver who was partly at fault can still recover a reduced amount, as long as their share is not greater than the other driver’s.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Wisconsin?
Three years for personal injury claims under Wisconsin Statutes section 893.54(1m)(a) and for property damage from a vehicle crash under section 893.52(2). A wrongful death claim from a vehicle crash has two years under 893.54(2m). A claim against a city, county, or other local government needs written notice within 120 days of the crash under section 893.80. If it serves notice disallowing the claim, you have six months to sue.
Recent Wisconsin Crash Coverage
Multi-Vehicle Crash Injures Several on Loomis Rd in Franklin, WI
Excavator Rollover Injures Worker Near Water St and Buffalo St in Milwaukee, WI
Two-Vehicle Rollover Collision on Pilgrim Rd in Menomonee Falls, WI
Bicycle Crash at Calhoun Rd and Wisconsin Ave in Brookfield, WI
Accident
Two Hospitalized in Collision on W North Ave in Little Chute, WI
You can reach the full archive at Wisconsin accident news, and our recent accident alerts follow new crashes nationwide as they are reported.
Local Accident Reports compiles this information from public agency sources and published reports for general reference. It is not legal advice and is not an official police record. Fees, forms and deadlines change, so confirm with the agency before you send a request. Last updated October 2026.