Posted in Car Accident
A 56-year-old West Allis man was arrested for operating while intoxicated after he crashed into three parked cars near 96th and Lapham on Sunday evening, March 8, 2026. If your vehicle has been damaged by a drunk or impaired driver, a West Allis, WI car accident lawyer can walk you through what comes next.
What Happened Near 96th and Lapham
West Allis police responded around 9 p.m. after a caller reported a vehicle striking parked cars, according to FOX6 News. When officers arrived, they found three unoccupied vehicles had been hit. The driver was arrested on OWI charges at the scene.
Even though no one was injured, that doesn’t diminish the impact. Repair bills, time spent coordinating with insurance adjusters, and arranging alternative transportation while a car sits in a body shop all take a toll. For the vehicle owners affected, the disruption from this crash likely extended well beyond that evening.
Your Rights After a Drunk Driving Accident
Wisconsin treats OWI offenses seriously under Wis. Stat. § 346.63. What a lot of people don’t realize is that criminal charges and civil claims run on completely separate tracks. You don’t need to wait for a conviction to pursue compensation. And a criminal case ending in a plea deal or dismissal doesn’t prevent you from filing a civil claim for your losses.
Intoxication itself is strong evidence of negligence. A driver who gets behind the wheel impaired has already failed to exercise reasonable care. Still, you need documentation. If your parked car or property has been damaged by a drunk driver, here’s what you can do:
- File a police report and get your own copy of it
- Take photos of the damage before anything gets moved or repaired
- Get the at-fault driver’s insurance information from the police report if you weren’t at the scene
- Notify your insurance company, but be cautious about recorded statements
- Save every receipt for towing, rental cars, rideshares, and anything else out of pocket
- Talk to an attorney before you agree to any settlement amount
Why These Claims Get Complicated
A lot of people figure a property damage claim from a drunk driving crash should be open and shut. Sometimes it is. Often, it isn’t.
The impaired driver may carry minimum coverage or no insurance at all. Their carrier may lowball the value of your car, especially if it’s older. If your vehicle was totaled, the gap between what the insurer offers and what it actually costs to replace can be significant.
Under Wisconsin’s comparative negligence law, Wis. Stat. § 895.045, fault gets allocated proportionally. When a parked car is struck by someone who was drunk, fault allocation is about as clear as it gets. But “clear fault” and “fair settlement” are not the same thing. Having an attorney involved keeps the process honest and prevents low offers from going unchallenged.
Talk to a West Allis Car Accident Attorney
Property damage from an impaired driver may not make headlines, but the cost is real. Hickey & Turim, S.C. represents people across Wisconsin who’ve been stuck paying for someone else’s reckless decision. If your vehicle was damaged in an OWI-related crash, our car accident lawyer can review the facts and help you work toward a fair resolution.
