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A truck accident in Wisconsin is not typically a trivial fender bender or slight bump.
Commercial trucks are significantly heavier than your typical passenger vehicle. To put it in perspective, An average SUV weighs between 5,400 – 6,000 lbs. A commercial truck weighs around 25,000 – 35,000 lbs without any cargo. With cargo, these trucks can weigh up to 80,000 lbs.
In addition to weight disproportions, commercial trucks have larger blind spots, take more time/distance to stop, and can cause unique types of accidents – like jackknifing or rollovers. Moreover, there are trucking companies and governmental regulations for the trucking industry, which creates complexities in truck accident claims.
At Mahony Law, we provide legal counsel to people who have been injured in Wisconsin truck accidents. If you have been injured, these are the most important things to do following the incident.
First and foremost – assuming you are not severely injured – do your best to get to a safe place, like the shoulder of the road, and call 911.
The possibility of serious injuries in a trucking accident is extremely high. Even if you’re not sure of the severity, call the emergency line to get on the scene ASAP.
The evidence captured immediately after a truck accident in Wisconsin will be extremely important in the subsequent injury claim. We are fortunate to live in a time when taking photos/videos is so easy. Any pictures, videos, witness testimonies, and immediate accounts or personal recollections will do a lot to strengthen the injury claim.
This documentation works to provide an accurate depiction of the circumstances surrounding the accident, which would include (but is not limited to):
The more evidence you can provide, the stronger your insurance negotiations will be to establish liability, the extent of damages, and the severity of physical injuries – all of which can significantly affect the amount of compensation you may receive.
Assuming you are in good enough shape, the next move is to collect information from the other driver. You’ll need to get:
If you are unable to get this due to injury, the authorities will likely collect this for you upon their arrival.
Injuries (to some degree) are almost inevitable in a truck accident. Once the police, fire department, and medical staff arrive on the scene, your first move upon their arrival is to get inspected by the medical team.
Important: Many truck accident injuries do not show immediate symptoms. For instance, it can take hours – or days – to show signs of brain injuries or spinal cord injuries.
Some of the most common injuries we see in truck accident cases are:
Refusing a medical assessment can potentially compromise your truck accident claim. The medical experts are trained to spot the early signs of these injuries and direct you to the proper treatment. Even if you don’t feel any pain, get inspected by the staff as soon as you can. They will document the injury – which will be crucial information in a compensation claim.
Your next move is to hire a truck accident lawyer in Wisconsin.
Now, some people involved in trucking accidents believe they can represent themselves and earn a fair settlement. This is especially true if the other driver was clearly at-fault. What they may not realize is that trucking companies have very specialized insurance providers to protect them from legal repercussions in these scenarios.
They have no intention of compensating you fairly after a truck accident in Wisconsin – regardless of the circumstances.
After a truck accident, your primary concern needs to be recovery.
Your truck accident lawyer will manage all the complexities of the insurance policies, negotiate for a fair settlement, and do all other legal tasks involved in earning fair compensation. They also advise you on what to say (and not to say) to insurance adjusters when recounting the accident.
Trying to negotiate truck accident settlements without a skilled attorney almost always ends poorly for the victims – even if there is a mountain of evidence against the other driver.
You have many attorneys to choose from after a truck accident in Wisconsin.
Truth be told, not all injury lawyers are created equal. There are a few key signs to look for that indicate you have a trustworthy truck accident attorney.
For one, they shouldn’t demand any out-of-pocket costs to take your case.
Generally, personal injury attorneys recoup their fees in the form of a percentage of the total settlement AFTER they win the case. This is referred to as a contingency fee agreement. If the attorney demands upfront costs or retainer fees, head for the door.
Second, they should be very clear about the information they will need to gather. Building truck accident cases requires a lot of documentation – police reports, witness accounts, medical bills, invoices, etc. The more information you can provide to the attorney, the stronger your case will be.
Lastly, there is a distinct vibe that a good truck accident lawyer should exude. Most know you’re in this situation for the first time, and they should be compassionate and helpful – not overly pushy.
These are just a few signs to look for in a good truck accident lawyer in Wisconsin.
Here is a list of questions you should ask your attorney to determine if it’s a good fit.
The first few moves after a truck accident in Wisconsin are very, very important in earning a fair settlement.
The bottom line is this:
Get medical attention immediately and take your doctor visits seriously. The reports and bills you accrue will be essential bits of information in the case. Second, get as much evidence as you can. Your truck accident attorney will direct you on the information to gather, but the more you collect at the scene, the better. At Mahony Law, we provide FREE consultations to victims of truck accidents in Wisconsin. We’ll examine your situation, discuss the facts, and determine if you have a valid injury claim to pursue. To get started, call our office at 262-331-3553, email info@mahony-law.com, or send us a message online to get started.
Abby is the founder of Mahony Law and devotes her time to representing people who have been seriously hurt due to the negligence of others. Abby has handled injury cases of all types, including birth injury, wrongful death, automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and truck accidents.
