Did you recently sustain injuries in a truck accident in Wisconsin? Are you feeling overwhelmed as you try to keep up with unanticipated medical appointments and bills? If so, you should know that you could be entitled to monetary compensation for the harm you have suffered. The Wisconsin truck accident attorneys at LawtonCates can help you demand the money you deserve.
For more than 65 years, we at LawtonCates have been standing up for people hurt in accidents caused by others. We work hard to hold responsible parties accountable and get you the money you need for your recovery. Our attorneys will listen to your story and fight for your rights. You don’t have to worry about dealing with insurance companies or paperwork. We’ll do all that for you so you can focus on healing.
Don’t wait to get the help you need. Call LawtonCates now for a free initial consultation with a Wisconsin truck accident lawyer, and let us help you move forward.
Why You Should Hire an Attorney for Your Truck Accident Claim
Having a lawyer by your side can be a game-changer if you get hurt in a truck accident. They do more than just give you legal advice; they take action to help you through every step of your claim.
Among the ways a truck accident lawyer in Wisconsin can assist you in your case include:
- Assessing the full value of your truck accident injury claim
- Gathering evidence from the accident scene
- Interviewing witnesses who saw the accident
- Consulting medical professionals about your injuries
- Calculating your lost wages and future lost income
- Analyzing the truck driver’s driving record
- Investigating the trucking company’s safety record
- Filing all necessary claim paperwork on time
- Negotiating with insurance companies for a fair settlement
- Protecting you from unfair tactics by insurance companies
- Advising you on whether or not to accept a settlement offer
- Preparing and filing a lawsuit on your behalf if necessary
- Representing you in court if your case goes to trial
- Protecting your rights throughout the legal process
What to Do After a Truck Accident
It’s natural to feel overwhelmed and uncertain in the aftermath of a truck accident, but there are simple steps you can take to protect your well-being and your legal rights. Here’s what you should do:
- Notify your insurance company about the accident.
- See a doctor as soon as possible, even if you feel OK.
- Follow all medical advice and keep records of your treatments.
- Write down a detailed account of the accident while your memory is fresh.
- Keep a journal documenting your symptoms and recovery progress.
- Save all medical bills and receipts related to your injury.
- Avoid discussing the accident details on social media.
- Contact a commercial truck accident attorney from LawtonCates as soon as possible.
- Do not sign any documents without consulting the attorney handling your truck accident claim.
- Do not admit fault or make statements that could be used against you.
How Come Trucking Accidents Are More Complicated Than Other Motor Vehicle Collisions?
Trucking accident cases are more complex and difficult than other motor vehicle accident cases for several reasons. First, trucks are much larger and heavier than cars, so truck accidents can cause more serious injuries and damage. This means there’s often more at stake in compensation claims.
Second, truck drivers must follow specific federal and state rules that don’t apply to most other drivers. These rules cover things like how long they can drive without taking a break and how they must maintain their vehicles. Understanding these regulations is essential in proving that a truck driver or trucking company was at fault.
Third, multiple parties can share responsibility for a truck accident. Besides the driver, the trucking company, the vehicle manufacturer, and even the company responsible for loading the truck might share in the blame. Figuring out who is liable requires rigorous investigation.
Lastly, insurance coverage for trucks is usually much more complex than it is for cars, involving higher policy limits and more detailed policies. This can make negotiations and settlements more challenging to navigate without legal help.
Who Could Be Liable for a Trucking Wreck in Wisconsin?
In truck accident injury cases, figuring out who could be responsible can be tricky, as several parties are often involved in the operation of any given commercial truck. Among the parties that could be liable include the following:
- Truck Drivers – The person driving the truck could be at fault if they were breaking the law, such as speeding, driving while distracted, or being under the influence.
- Trucking Companies – The company that owns the truck or employs the driver might be liable, too. This could be the case if they didn’t check the driver’s background properly, forced them to drive with insufficient rest, or didn’t maintain the truck correctly.
- Cargo Loaders – Sometimes, the way cargo is loaded onto a truck can increase crash risk. If a company loaded the truck in a way that made it unsafe, like overloading it or not securing the load properly, that company could be held responsible.
- Truck Manufacturer – If the accident was due to a fault in the truck, such as a preventable brake failure or a tire blowout, the manufacturer of the truck or the faulty part could be liable.
- Maintenance Providers – Companies that are responsible for maintaining and servicing the truck might be liable if their failure to do so properly led to the accident.
If you get hurt in a truck accident, you’ll likely need money to cover different costs and losses resulting from the wreck. Among the kinds of truck accident compensation you can demand in your claim include the following:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages if you can’t work because of your injuries
- Loss of future income if you can’t earn as much as before
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Losses in your quality of life
- Loss of companionship or support if a loved one died
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
In some cases, it’s still possible to recover compensation if you are partially at fault for a Wisconsin truck accident. However, the greater your percentage of fault, the less compensation you can demand from other liable parties. And, if your percentage of fault meets or exceeds 51 percent, the courts will bar you from recovering compensation from other parties entirely.
This is why working with a knowledgeable lawyer is so important if another party accuses you of fault after a truck accident. Your attorney can minimize your exposure to liability and maximize your payout by identifying useful evidence and building a strong case on your behalf.
If you get hurt in a Wisconsin truck accident, you generally have three years from the day of the accident to file a truck accident lawsuit. You should contact a LawtonCates attorney for the filing date specific to your case. If you wait too long and miss this deadline, you lose your chance to demand money for your injuries and losses in court. Waiting too long could mean you get nothing to help with your medical bills, lost wages, or other expenses. A Wisconsin truck accident attorney can handle the process of preparing your case in a timely manner so you don’t lose out on the compensation you are due.
Many types of vehicles qualify as trucks, and they can vary in size, use, and how they’re built. Here are some examples of vehicles that could be considered trucks in a Wisconsin truck accident case:
- Semi-trucks
- 18-wheelers
- Dump trucks
- Garbage trucks
- Box trucks
- Flatbed trucks
- Tow trucks
- Tanker trucks
- Delivery vans
- Moving vans
- Refrigerated trucks
- Concrete mixer trucks
- Utility trucks
- Fire trucks
- Logging trucks
- Mobile crane trucks
- Mail delivery trucks
- Beverage delivery trucks
- Farm trucks
The sheer variety in the trucks’ sizes, types, and functions means that truck accidents can vary widely in their nature and impact. From cargo spills that create perilous road obstacles to collisions that cause severe injuries, truck accidents are serious events that can have lasting consequences. Here are some common examples of types of truck accidents in Wisconsin:
- Rear-end truck collisions
- Head-on truck collisions
- Side-impact truck crashes
- Truck rollovers
- Jackknife truck accidents
- Tire blowout truck accidents
- Lost load truck accidents
- Wide-turn truck accidents
- Blind spot truck accidents
- Under-ride truck accidents
- Bridge strikes truck accidents
- Runaway truck incidents
- T-bone truck crashes
- Cargo spill truck accidents
- Intersection truck crashes
- Parking lot truck accidents
- Fatal truck accidents
Accidents with an 18-wheeler, semi-truck, big rig, or other kind of commercial truck are often devastating events that can result in life-threatening or even deadly injuries. Common examples of injuries someone can sustain in a truck accident include:
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Crush injuries
- Amputations
- Dislocations
- Eye injuries
- Hearing loss
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Death