Injured? Get Nicolet.
A collision with a large commercial truck on a Wisconsin highway can have devastating consequences.
The sheer size and weight difference between a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle often leads to catastrophic injuries, significant financial strain, and profound uncertainty about the future.
When you are trying to recover, the last thing you should have to deal with is a complex legal battle against a powerful trucking company and its insurers.
At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we provide the dedicated legal support you need following a serious truck crash.
Our team is well-versed in the federal regulations and state laws that govern the trucking industry, and we are prepared to thoroughly analyze every detail of your accident.
You are not alone in this fight. A consultation with our experienced legal team can provide the clarity and direction needed to move forward. We are ready to listen to your story and explain how a Wisconsin truck accident lawyer from our firm can help.
Contact our award-winning personal injury law firm online or at (715) 377-2141 for a free case evaluation. We are available 24/7 to help.
Injured in Wisconsin? Get Nicolet.
Key Takeaways About How a Wisconsin Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help Pursue Fair Compensation
- Wisconsin is an at-fault state with a direct action statute: This means you can pursue compensation directly from the driver and trucking company responsible for the crash within the same lawsuit. Not all states feature these same parameters. Legal representation is key to proving fault and navigating this process.
- Navigating complex liability: Truck accidents often involve multiple responsible parties, including the driver, the trucking company, cargo loaders, and vehicle manufacturers. Our commercial semi-truck accident attorneys can help identify all liable parties to strengthen your claim.
- Understanding Wisconsin's comparative negligence rule: You may still be able to recover damages even if you were partially at fault, as long as your share of the blame is not greater than the other party's. We work to minimize unfair fault assignment and maximize your settlement.
- Acting within the statute of limitations: Wisconsin law provides a three-year window for filing a personal injury lawsuit following an accident. An attorney helps manage this deadline and preserves your right to seek compensation.
- The role of a truck accident lawyer: A lawyer handles all communication with insurance companies, helps gather critical evidence like black box data and driver logs, and builds a comprehensive claim to address all your losses.
Wisconsin Truck Accident Statistics
The data surrounding commercial truck crashes in Wisconsin paints a sobering picture of the dangers on our roads.
While safety efforts are ongoing, hundreds of people are still injured and dozens lose their lives each year in preventable collisions.
These are not just numbers; they represent families and communities forever changed by a single moment.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA):
- On average, more than 2,500 vehicles were involved in fatal and non-fatal truck crashes annually in Wisconsin between 2021 and 2023.
- Large truck collisions led to over 100 fatalities in 2021, with dozens more lost each year since. Even a single lapse in attention or safety can have life-altering consequences for victims and their loved ones.
- Non-fatal crashes remain a serious threat, resulting in thousands of injuries—ranging from catastrophic harm like brain and spinal injuries to long-term disabilities that dramatically change a victim’s life and financial outlook.
Truck accident cases are uniquely complex, with overlapping state and federal regulations, commercial insurance policies, and the likelihood of multiple liable parties.
If you or someone you love has been harmed by a negligent truck driver or trucking company, contact Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers for comprehensive and compassionate legal support.
Why Legal Representation Matters After a Wisconsin Truck Accident
Are you struggling to fully demonstrate the value of your commercial truck accident injuries?
The legal, financial, and physical consequences of a truck collision are far more complex than a standard car crash.
You will likely face a large corporation and its aggressive insurance providers, all of whom have one goal: to minimize their financial liability.
Partnering with our award-winning personal injury law firm in Wisconsin helps level the playing field and protects your interests against challenges such as:
- Investigating the crash and gathering evidence: We move quickly to preserve critical evidence that can disappear, such as the truck’s black box data, driver logs, maintenance records, and cargo manifests. This evidence is often vital to proving negligence.
- Identifying all liable parties: A crash may be caused by more than just driver error. The trucking company, a parts manufacturer, or a cargo loading company could also be at fault. We investigate every angle to identify all potential sources of compensation.
- Handling negotiations with trucking insurance companies: Insurers for trucking companies are notorious for their aggressive tactics. We manage all communications and negotiations, shielding you from pressure to accept a lowball settlement offer.
- Accurately calculating your damages: Your losses extend beyond immediate medical bills. We work with medical and financial professionals to calculate the full value of your claim, including future medical needs, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
- Navigating complex regulations: The trucking industry is governed by a web of federal and state regulations. We use our knowledge of these rules to demonstrate how a violation, such as falsified driver logs or improper maintenance, contributed to your accident.
Our legal team manages these challenges, allowing you to focus on your recovery with confidence that your case is in capable hands.
Nicolet Law is a Proud Partner of Wisconsin Athletics. Go Badgers!
Eligibility for Legal Help After a Truck Collision in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is an at-fault state, which means injured parties may be able to hold the negligent driver or company financially responsible for their losses. Wisconsin’s direction action statute allows injured parties to name these two parties in the same lawsuit.
We can help you determine if you have the eligibility to seek compensation based on these and other considerations:
- Did another party’s negligence cause the accident? Was the truck driver speeding, distracted, or driving while fatigued? Did the trucking company fail to maintain its fleet or hire an unqualified driver? Proving negligence is the foundation of a successful claim.
- Have you suffered significant injuries and losses? These accidents often result in severe injuries, leading to substantial medical expenses for emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment.
- Are you facing overwhelming financial costs? The financial toll of an accident can include lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and mounting medical debt. Legal action may provide a path to financial recovery.
- Did the crash tragically result in the death of a loved one? Surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim under Wisconsin Statute § 895.04, within two years of the car accident, one year less than for those who were injured but survived the collision.
Understanding your eligibility is the first step toward holding negligent parties accountable. A Wisconsin truck accident lawyer from our firm can evaluate your case, explain your rights, and guide you through the legal process during a free consultation.
Injured in Wisconsin? Get Nicolet.
Types of Wisconsin Truck Accident Cases We Handle
Our firm provides commercial truck crash legal services for a wide range of accident scenarios across Wisconsin, from incidents on the I-94 corridor to crashes on rural roads:
- Jackknife accidents: Sudden braking can cause a truck’s trailer to swing into a 90-degree angle, sweeping across multiple lanes of traffic. These crashes often occur on highways like I-94 and can result in severe injuries, including broken bones and spinal trauma.
- Rollover crashes: High speeds, sharp turns, or improperly loaded cargo can cause a semi-truck to roll over, endangering nearby vehicles. These accidents frequently happen on rural roads with sharp curves, leaving victims with catastrophic injuries.
- Underride accidents: Smaller vehicles can slide under the side or rear of a tractor-trailer, often leading to fatal or life-altering injuries. These devastating collisions are common at intersections where trucks make wide turns.
- Tire blowouts: Poor maintenance or defective tires can lead to sudden blowouts, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. These incidents often occur at high speeds on interstates, such as I-41, creating chain-reaction crashes.
- Wide turn accidents: Misjudged turns at intersections can cause a truck’s trailer to swing into adjacent lanes, crushing vehicles in its blind spot. These accidents are particularly dangerous in urban areas like Milwaukee.
- Lost load accidents: Improperly secured cargo can spill onto highways, creating sudden hazards for other drivers. These crashes often involve flatbed trucks and can lead to multi-vehicle pileups.
- Delivery truck collisions: Delivery vehicles navigating residential streets can cause accidents due to tight spaces, distracted driving, or rushed schedules. These crashes often result in injuries to pedestrians and cyclists.
- Tanker truck spills: Tanker trucks carrying hazardous materials can cause chemical spills during a crash, leading to burns, respiratory issues, and environmental damage.
Each of these accidents presents unique challenges, ranging from identifying negligent parties to gathering evidence, such as black box data and maintenance records. Our team has the legal knowledge and experience to help build a strong case for compensation.
Wisconsin Truck Accident Compensation We Fight For At Nicole Law
A successful truck accident claim can provide financial resources to cover the extensive losses caused by the crash. Our goal is to pursue compensation that addresses both your immediate needs and long-term security:
- Past and future medical expenses: This covers everything from emergency room visits and hospital stays to surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical care.
- Lost wages and income: Compensation for the paychecks you missed while recovering from your injuries.
- Loss of future earning capacity: If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or limit your ability to work, you can seek damages for this long-term financial impact.
- Property damage: The costs to repair or replace your vehicle and any other personal property destroyed in the crash.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish caused by the accident and your injuries.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: For the inability to participate in hobbies, family activities, and other life pursuits you once loved.
- Wrongful death damages: In cases involving a fatality, family members can pursue wrongful death claims from truck accidents to cover funeral costs, lost financial support, and the loss of companionship.
We will explore every available avenue for your recovery. Learn how much you could be eligible to recover during a free case evaluation with our truck crash injury lawyers.
Wisconsin Truck Accident Lawyer FAQs
How is a truck accident case different from a car accident case?
Truck accident cases involve federal regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, such as the trucking company and cargo loaders, and more aggressive insurance defense tactics. The evidence, including black box data and driver logs, is also unique to the commercial trucking industry.
What should I do if the trucking company’s insurer calls me?
It is advisable not to provide a statement or sign any documents without speaking to an attorney first. Insurance adjusters are trained to protect their company's bottom line and may use your words to limit your claim. Directing them to your truck accident attorney in Wisconsin is the safest course of action.
The truck driver said the accident was my fault. Can I still file a claim?
Wisconsin’s comparative negligence law allows you to recover damages as long as you are found to be 50 percent or less at fault. Do not let a truck driver’s initial statement discourage you. A thorough investigation by a trucking company liability lawyer often may help reveal the true cause of the crash.
What is black box data, and why is it important?
A truck's "black box," or electronic data recorder (EDR), records crucial information about the truck’s speed, braking, and other operational data in the moments before a crash. An attorney can help gather black box evidence after a truck crash to help prove what really happened.
Nicolet Law is a Proud Partner of the Milwaukee Brewers
Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers | Your Advocate for Justice After a Wisconsin Truck Accident
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a commercial trucking accident, you need a law firm that will stand up to powerful trucking companies and their insurers.
At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to supporting accident survivors and their families in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Iowa in securing the resources they need to rebuild their lives.
Call us 24/7 at (715) 377-2141 or message our Wisconsin personal injury lawyers online to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation.
Don't wait. Time is of the essence. Early legal intervention can support a claim for the maximum compensation you may be eligible to recover.
Injured in Wisconsin? Get Nicolet.
Nicolet Law is a Proud Partner of the Milwaukee Admirals
Client Testimonials
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“They were great people to work with. Even after a year, I had something come up from a case and they were more than willing to help me out!”
Review by: Nicole B.
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