Eau Claire Truck Accident Attorneys

Eau Claire Truck Accident Lawyer

Big trucks fill Eau Claire’s highways, interstates, and even residential streets. While they provide a vital service in moving goods across the state and around the country, they can also have drawbacks—especially when truck drivers cause accidents that result in severe injury.

If you suffered serious injuries in an Eau Claire truck accident, you may have serious concerns about your right to compensation. Contact the Eau Claire truck accident lawyers at Nicolet Law today for a free consultation about your legal rights following serious injuries in a truck accident.

Injured in Eau Claire? Get Nicolet.

About Nicolet Law

dump truck missing wheel on the road with car behind it

Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers is a premier resource for truck accident victims throughout the Eau Claire community. With 15 team members in nine locations throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota, we combine the resources, experience, and dedication of a large regional firm with the personalized attention that you’d expect from an Eau Claire business.

We know how to hold negligent truck drivers and operators accountable, but we also know that each client is different, and has unique needs. We know that if you’re injured or facing financial difficulty, you should only have to think about caring for yourself and your family. We take care of investigating, negotiating, and holding bad actors accountable, so you can focus on what really matters: your recovery and your loved ones.

Our Case Results

Top 100 Lawyers

The dedicated truck accident attorneys at Nicolet Law Firm boast decades of combined experience representing our injured neighbors in Eau Claire. We’ve recovered over $34 million in compensation for our clients, and look forward to the chance to see how we can help you and your loved ones following an Eau Claire truck accident.

Some of our past results include:

  • $500,000 for Wisconsin client who was injured by a drunk driver
  • $450,000 to client injured in a trucking accident
  • $450,000 for a man injured in a semi-truck accident near Eau Claire
  • $200,000 for Wisconsin client injured by a hit and run driver on I-94
  • $200,000 for Wisconsin client who was rear-ended by semi truck on I-94
  • $70,000 for Wisconsin client rear-ended by a milk truck

While no attorney can guarantee the results in any particular case, rest assured that the passionate truck accident lawyers at Nicolet Law Office draw pursue the best possible outcome for members of our Eau Claire community. For more examples of our past success, consider some of our other past case results.

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Injured in Eau Claire? Get Nicolet.

Accident Sites in Eau Claire

Unfortunately, as most of us who live and work in Eau Claire know, truck accidents are not uncommon; road closures on highly trafficked avenues like Highway 53 are common following an accident involving a large truck. Roadways where drivers must share lanes with massive trucks traveling at high speeds are likely locations for a potential collision.

Entering or exiting a turnoff can also place a driver in jeopardy when a big truck is nearby; for example, a northbound semi-truck collided with a passenger car occupied by a 75-year old driver near the northbound WIS 312 on-ramp. Two occupants of the passenger car were transported to area hospitals. The passenger car rolled onto its roof after the collision, and will likely be a total loss and was towed from the scene.

Whether on U.S. 94 or one of the multiple highways crisscrossing Eau Claire, high speeds and large trucks just don’t mix. Between massive vehicle weights, reduced stopping capabilities, and large blind spots, the inherent danger of trucks is only exacerbated by factors like severe Wisconsin weather or negligence on the part of vehicle operators.

Eau Claire Truck Accident Injuries: The Basics

Eau Claire Personal Injury Lawyers

After a truck accident in Eau Claire, you may have substantial injuries, many of which can cause long-term consequences in your life. You may also have the right to pursue a truck accident claim any time you suffer injuries.

Common injury types include:

Contact an attorney to learn more about how the type of injury you suffered can affect your right to compensation.

Claiming Compensation After an Eau Claire Truck Accident

If you suffered serious injuries in a truck accident, you may deserve compensation in the form of a truck accident claim. While an attorney can assess the extent of your injuries and give you a better idea of how much compensation you should expect based on the medical bills and other expenses you may have faced, an attorney cannot guarantee the compensation you will receive for injuries sustained in a truck accident. Most truck accident claims, however, include:

Compensation for Medical Expenses

Medical expenses can add up fast after a truck accident. Often, truck accidents cause more serious injuries than other types of accidents because of the sheer volume and size of a big truck, which may plow over the top of a smaller passenger vehicle before the driver of the passenger vehicle has a chance to respond.

Keep track of all medical bills associated with the injuries from your truck accident. Keep in mind that often, you may receive more than one bill for the same procedure. For example, if you have broken bones, you may receive one bill for emergency care and another for X-rays taken to determine the extent of your injuries. If you have to have surgery, you may pay separate bills for the surgeon’s care and your anesthesiologist, or receive another bill for your use of space in the hospital.

Compensation for Lost Income

Truck accident injuries can leave you struggling to get to work or to complete your usual job duties. While some employers will work with you, others want you to wait until you progress in your recovery before returning to work. That may mean a great deal of lost income. By including the lost income as part of your truck accident claim, you can get the funds you need to take care of your bills.

Talk to an attorney about what factors to include in your lost wages claim, including:

  • Lost time immediately after your accident
  • Lost time for follow-up procedures and visits, including physical therapy
  • Lost time due to inability to work a full shift
  • Lost vacation hours or PTO

Compensation for Pain and Suffering

In addition to compensation for the financial losses you may face after your accident, you may have the right to claim compensation for pain and suffering. Talk to an attorney to learn how factors like missed opportunities, lost enjoyment of life, or lost relationships, as well as the physical pain related to your accident, can impact your claim.

Identifying the Liable Party in an Eau Claire Truck Accident

Truck accidents may require a deeper, more complex evaluation than the average accident involving only passenger vehicles. Your attorney will work to identify all liable parties in your truck accident claim, including:

The Truck Driver

Most often, truck drivers carry high-value insurance policies that can provide a great deal of protection for victims of accidents caused by those drivers. You may have grounds to file a claim against a truck driver who drove distracted, who ignored the rules of the road, or who chose to drive while inebriated, leading to a severe accident.

The Company That Employs the Driver

Trucking companies send their truck drivers all over the country regularly. They bear a high duty of care to the drivers who share the road with their drivers. Unfortunately, sometimes, trucking companies have negligent policies and procedures that can substantially increase the risk of an accident or the potential danger posed by an accident with their drivers.

They may:

  • Ignore maintenance on their trucks
  • Insist that their truck drivers exceed the maximum hours they can drive each day or each week
  • Try to force drivers to break the rules of the road, including speed limits, to save time
  • Continue to employ drivers with a known accident history, who may pose a serious danger to others who share the road with them

Your attorney will carefully investigate the trucking company and its policies to determine whether those policies contributed to your accident in any way.

The Company That Loaded the Truck

Shifting loads in a trailer can cause a truck to tip over, while shifting loads on a flatbed can fall from the truck, causing serious injury to others on the road. While a truck driver does bear some liability for properly securing his load, if another company loads the truck, it may share liability for any errors that take place.

Eau Claire Truck Accident FAQs

Did you suffer serious injuries in a truck accident? Do you have questions about your legal rights, including your right to compensation? These frequently asked questions can help provide you with some of the answers you need.

1. Do I really need an attorney to handle an Eau Claire truck accident claim?

Yes. Anytime you need to file a truck accident claim, an attorney can help.

An experienced attorney can:

  • Investigate your claim
  • Give you a better idea of the compensation you deserve
  • Fight to help you maximize the compensation from your claim

Many clients find that working with an experienced truck accident attorney can significantly increase the compensation they can receive for their injuries.

2. Why does an Eau Claire truck accident claim require so much more investigation than a standard passenger vehicle accident claim?

After a truck accident, your attorney will need to review information about the trucking company as well as the truck driver and the accident itself. Evidence may include logbooks, company records, and even maintenance requests. It can take longer to go over all the evidence related to a truck accident claim than a standard passenger vehicle accident. Having an attorney on your side can make it easier to get access to that information as well as making it easier to check out the information related to your claim.

3. I got a call from the Eau Claire truck driver’s insurance company offering a settlement. Should I take it?

A settlement offer can sound very tempting, especially as your medical bills start to mount or you realize how much work your injuries have caused you to miss. However, insurance companies will often try to minimize the settlement they have to pay, especially after a truck accident involving substantial damage. That settlement offer may not reflect the funds you really deserve for your injuries. Talk to an attorney before accepting any settlement offer related to your claim.

4. Who has to pay my medical bills after an Eau Claire truck accident?

You, as the injured party and the one receiving treatment, will need to make arrangements to pay the medical bills associated with treatment for your injuries. The liable party will not have to pay your medical bills directly, even if the truck driver bears full liability for your injuries.

However, you do have several options that can make it easier to pay your medical bills. First, you may choose to use your medical insurance to pay many of the bills associated with your accident. Your medical insurance provider can let you know what deductibles and copays you can expect as well as how much coverage you have for various types of claims, including claims for long-term care, in-home care, and physical therapy. Second, you can use the funds from your truck accident claim to help cover the cost of your medical bills.

5. Will my Eau Claire truck accident claim have to go to court?

Most of the time, truck accident claims do not have to go to court. The trucking company or insurance company will typically determine that it will cost more to go to court to fight the claim, and the company wants to avoid that if possible. Generally, you can reach a settlement agreement.

6. How soon after my Eau Claire trucking accident should I contact an attorney?

Ideally, you should contact an experienced truck accident attorney as soon after your accident as possible. The longer you wait to contact an attorney and start moving forward on your claim, the more difficult it can prove to collect evidence. Witnesses may have a hard time remembering exactly what led to the accident.

You may have a hard time finding evidence against the trucking company, including accurate copies of the truck driver’s logbooks. An attorney can also provide you with much-needed legal advice as you navigate the initial challenges associated with your claim. Not only that, an attorney can take over negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf, providing a vital buffer that can make it easier for you to focus on your recovery instead of on the legal details of your claim.

7. How long will it take to settle my Eau Claire truck accident claim?

You should expect it to take time to settle your truck accident claim. Your attorney may need time to gather evidence related to your accident, review that evidence, and put together a compelling case. You may also need time to recover from your injuries before you have a solid idea of how much you will ultimately recover and even what your medical expenses will look like, especially if you have a high risk of complications related to your injuries.

Next, your attorney will need time to negotiate with the insurance company. The more rounds of negotiation you must go through, the more difficult it can prove to reach a settlement agreement. If you do have to go to court, it will extend the time necessary to resolve your claim.

8. If I suspect the Eau Claire truck driver was drinking on the job, can it affect my claim?

A truck driver caught drinking on the job may face legal penalties, including the loss of his license. He may also lose his job as a result of choosing to drink and drive. However, a truck driver’s inebriation does not impact your right to a truck accident claim. You have the same right to compensation when a sober truck driver causes an accident.

A truck driver convicted of drinking and driving in the accident that caused your injuries, however, may make it easier for you to file a truck accident claim, since you will have direct evidence that the driver bears liability for your injuries. Talk to your attorney to learn more about how truck driver inebriation could impact your claim.

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When You Need an Eau Claire Truck Accident Attorney, Call Us

Russell Nicolet
Russell Nicolet, Eau Claire Truck Accident Attorney

The Eau Claire truck accident lawyers at Nicolet Law strive to be more than just legal professionals in our community. We are friends, family, and neighbors, and we ensure that when an injured person in Eau Claire hires Nicolet Law, they aren’t treated as just another case file: They deserve our full attention, passionate representation, and a tireless effort to achieve the best outcome possible.

If you need assistance after suffering an injury in an Eau Claire truck accident, our passionate Eau Claire truck accident lawyers can help you seek the compensation you deserve. 

Severe injuries can leave you with plenty of questions, including questions about your legal rights. Contact Nicolet Law Office Accident & Injury Lawyers today for a free case evaluation, either through our confidential email form or by calling (715) 226-6149.

Injured in Eau Claire? Get Nicolet.

Darian T.
"My car accident happened dec 8, 2022. I was rear-ended, and left with an injury to my left hand. I saw Nicolet Laws advertisement while driving. So I looked them up and called in. I had the pleasure to speak with Ryan Muir, who was super professional and explained everything down to the t. I couldn’t be more happy with how everything played out, even when we were looking at 2 plus years of even reaching a settlement agreement, I was ready for the long. Ryan stayed on top of everything and we closed out the settlement around the 1 year mark. My advice to anyone looking for representation from a car accident is to go with Nicolet Law. Those guys and gals are amazing, thank you."
Tomieka G.
"Russell handled mine and my daughters claim, after being in a car accident and I have to say what an Amazing law firm. Stayed on top of my accident claim and case, even when the other company's adjuster did not want to cooperate in communicating. Would highly recommend. While nobody ever "wants" to be in a situation to need to have to hire an attorney, if I ever was in need again, Nicolet Law firm would be my first call."