A truck accident can change your life in an instant, leaving you with severe injuries, overwhelming medical bills, and uncertainty about the future. Seeking compensation for your losses is possible, but taking on powerful trucking companies and their insurers alone is challenging.
At Schwaba Law Firm, we stand up for truck accident victims in Green Bay. Our dedicated legal team, led by Andrew Schwaba, is committed to securing the compensation you deserve. With millions recovered for injured clients, we have the experience and resources to take on tough trucking cases.
Contact us today (855) 724-9222 for a free consultation with a trusted Green Bay truck accident lawyer who will fight for your rights.
How Our Green Bay Truck Accident Attorney Can Help
When you hire our experienced Green Bay truck accident lawyer, we take on the legal burden so you can focus on your recovery. Our services include:
- Calculating and Seeking Maximum Compensation – Covering medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and more.
- Handling Complex Legal Paperwork – Ensuring all documents are filed correctly and on time.
- Conducting a Thorough Investigation – Gathering crash evidence, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing police reports.
- Negotiating Aggressively with Insurance Companies – Fighting for a fair and full settlement on your behalf.
- Taking Your Case to Trial if Needed – If a fair settlement isn’t offered, we are prepared to represent you in court.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Truck Accident?
Truck accident victims can pursue compensation for:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- Lost income and reduced earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage
- Funeral expenses (for wrongful death cases)
Our Green Bay truck accident attorneys fight to ensure you receive every dollar you are owed.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident?
Unlike typical car accidents, multiple parties may be liable for a truck crash, including:
- Truck drivers
- Trucking companies
- Cargo loading companies
- Truck manufacturers
- Maintenance providers
- Shippers or brokers
- Government entities responsible for road maintenance
Depending on the circumstances, other parties may also share liability in a Green Bay truck accident, including:
- Truck owners responsible for maintaining the vehicle
- Trailer owners responsible for unsafe or poorly maintained trailers
- Freight brokers who hired unsafe or unqualified carriers
- Manufacturers of defective truck parts or components
- Third-party mechanics or repair facilities that performed negligent maintenance or repairs
Our legal team investigates every angle of your case to hold all negligent parties accountable.
How Truck Accident Claims Work in Green Bay
Truck accident claims are often more complicated than standard vehicle accident claims because commercial trucks are subject to additional regulations and may involve multiple parties. Trucking companies, insurers, and other responsible parties often have significant resources to challenge claims or minimize payouts.
Building a successful truck accident claim requires identifying what caused the crash, determining who may be responsible, and preserving important evidence. This may include truck black box data, driver logs, maintenance records, cargo records, safety inspections, and other documentation that can help establish liability.
Steps in a Green Bay Truck Accident Claim
A truck accident claim typically involves several important steps:
- Investigating the accident: Attorneys review the circumstances of the crash, identify contributing factors, and determine whether negligence caused the collision.
- Gathering evidence: Important evidence may include crash reports, medical records, trucking company records, driver logs, vehicle data, and witness statements.
- Identifying responsible parties: Liability may extend beyond the truck driver to trucking companies, cargo loaders, maintenance providers, manufacturers, or other parties.
- Negotiating with insurance companies: Trucking insurers often attempt to minimize settlements. An attorney can handle communications and negotiate for fair compensation.
- Filing a lawsuit when necessary: If a fair settlement cannot be reached, pursuing a personal injury lawsuit may be necessary to seek compensation.
What If You Are Partially at Fault for a Trucking Accident?
Wisconsin follows a comparative negligence rule, which means:
- You can recover damages as long as you are less than 51% at fault.
- Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Even if you think you may be partially responsible, consult a truck accident lawyer before accepting blame. We can protect your rights and maximize your compensation.
What Is Considered a Truck in Wisconsin?
The term “truck” refers to a large, heavy-duty vehicle used primarily for transporting goods and materials. However, the legal definition of a truck under Wisconsin law includes the term “commercial motor vehicle” (CMV). This legal definition is quite detailed, and certain specific criteria apply.
According to Wisconsin law, a CMV has one or more of the following characteristics:
- The vehicle by itself has a gross weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, or its registered weight or actual gross weight is more than 26,000 pounds.
- The vehicle, when combined with a towed unit such as a trailer, has a gross combination weight rating, registered weight, or actual gross weight of 26,001 or more pounds, including a towed unit with a GVWR, registered weight, or actual gross weight of more than 10,000 pounds.
- The vehicle can transport the driver and 15 or more passengers. This provision mainly applies to passenger vehicles like buses but could include larger trucks.
- The vehicle transports hazardous materials that require placarding under the law.
Why Truck Accident Cases Are More Complex Than Other Crashes
Truck accident cases involve unique challenges, including:
- Severe Injuries & Catastrophic Damage – Due to the size and weight of commercial trucks.
- Multiple Liable Parties – Unlike car accidents, liability often extends beyond the driver.
- Strict Federal and State Regulations – Trucking companies must follow FMCSA and Wisconsin laws.
- Complex Insurance Policies – Trucking companies carry high-value policies, making negotiations more complicated.
- Critical Evidence That Must Be Preserved – Important evidence may include electronic logging device (ELD) data, driver qualification and training records, cargo loading manifests, GPS records, inspection and maintenance records, and other trucking company documents that can help establish how the crash occurred and who is responsible.
Our team knows how to navigate these complexities to build a winning case.
What Are the State and Federal Trucking Laws?
Wisconsin has numerous laws and regulations governing the safe operation of a commercial truck, such as an 18-wheeler, semi-truck, or big rig. Many of these laws align with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, but some also include state-specific rules.
Here are some of the state and federal laws that apply to commercial trucks and drivers in Wisconsin:
- Commercial Driver’s Licensing (CDL) Requirements – Wisconsin follows the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) regulations for commercial driver licensing. Commercial drivers must possess valid CDLs and carry the appropriate endorsements for certain types of cargo.
- Hours of Service (HOS) Regulations – Wisconsin has also adopted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) HOS regulations for interstate commerce, which dictate how long CDL drivers can operate before taking mandatory rest or off-duty periods.
- Vehicle Weight and Size Restrictions – Wisconsin limits the size and weight of commercial trucks. The maximum weight depends on a vehicle’s number of axles and the distance between them. There are also maximum width, height, and length limits.
- Alcohol and Drug Restrictions – Commercial drivers in Wisconsin are subject to stricter blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits than non-commercial drivers. The BAC limit for commercial drivers is 0.04, compared to 0.08 for most drivers. Drivers are also subject to federal regulations regarding drug and alcohol testing.
- Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance Requirements – Federal law requires commercial vehicles to undergo regular inspections to ensure they remain in safe condition. Drivers must also inspect their trucks before each shift and report any defects or issues.
Common Types and Causes of Truck Accidents in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Truck accidents can take many forms based on factors like the types of vehicles involved, the circumstances of the collision, and surrounding road conditions.
Common Types of Truck Accidents:
- Underride accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Rollover accidents
- Rear-end crashes
- Head-on collisions
- Side-impact collisions
- Cargo spill accidents
- T-bone crashes
- Blind spot accidents
- Mechanical defect accidents
- Wide turn accidents
Common Causes of Truck Accidents:
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence
- Inadequate training
- Poor truck maintenance
- Improper cargo loading
- Overloaded cargo
- Reckless driving
- Failure to adhere to traffic laws
- Faulty truck equipment or parts
- Unsafe lane changes
- Following too closely
- Failure to yield
- Lack of safety inspections
- Poor road conditions
- Failure to signal
- Inadequate surveillance
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding or reckless driving
- Distracted driving
- Poor truck maintenance
- Overloaded cargo
- Mechanical failures
If negligence caused your crash, our attorneys will fight for justice.
Common Truck Accident Scenarios in Green Bay
Truck accidents can happen in many ways, and the circumstances surrounding each crash can affect who may be held responsible. Our Green Bay truck accident attorneys handle many types of collisions, including:
Blind Spot Truck Accidents
Truck drivers operate vehicles with large blind spots, often called “no-zones,” where nearby vehicles may not be visible. When drivers fail to check these areas before changing lanes, merging, or turning, they can cause dangerous sideswipe and collision accidents.
Evidence such as truck black box data, GPS records, driver logs, dashcam footage, and surveillance video may help determine how the accident occurred and who was responsible.
Jackknife Truck Accidents
Jackknife accidents occur when a truck’s trailer swings outward and forms an angle with the cab. These crashes may result from sudden braking, excessive speed, improper handling, unsafe road conditions, improper maintenance, or mechanical failures.
Because jackknife accidents can involve multiple contributing factors, a detailed investigation may be necessary to determine liability.
Wide Turn Truck Accidents
Large commercial trucks require significant space to complete turns. When truck drivers fail to account for their vehicle’s size or do not properly check surrounding traffic, wide turns can result in dangerous collisions with nearby vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists.
Overloaded and Cargo-Related Truck Accidents
Improperly loaded or overloaded cargo can affect a truck’s balance, stopping distance, and ability to maneuver safely. Cargo that shifts during transportation can contribute to rollovers, jackknife accidents, and other serious crashes. Liability may involve trucking companies, cargo loaders, shippers, or other parties responsible for safe transportation practices. Cargo loaders, trucking companies, shippers, and other parties may share responsibility when unsafe cargo practices contribute to a crash.
How a Green Bay Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help With Your Claim
An experienced Green Bay truck accident lawyer can help you by taking much of the stress of filing a complicated truck accident claim off your shoulders. After a serious truck crash, you may be dealing with severe injuries, medical expenses, lost income, and insurance companies focused on minimizing their responsibility.
At Schwaba Law Firm, we help truck accident victims understand their legal options, investigate the cause of the crash, identify all responsible parties, and pursue the compensation they deserve. Our team can handle communication with insurers, gather critical evidence, and build a strong claim while you focus on your recovery.
Our Green Bay truck accident attorneys can assist with:
- Investigating the cause of the accident
- Identifying all potentially liable parties, including trucking companies, drivers, cargo loaders, and manufacturers
- Preserving important evidence such as black box data, driver logs, inspection records, and cargo documentation
- Handling negotiations with insurance companies
- Filing a lawsuit when necessary to pursue fair compensation
Serious Injuries Resulting from Truck Accidents
Truck accidents often result in life-altering injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Severe burns
- Amputations
- Emotional trauma (PTSD)
If you’ve suffered serious injuries, you deserve maximum compensation for your medical care and long-term needs.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Green Bay
After a truck accident in Green Bay, you should take the following key steps to protect your right to seek compensation and strengthen your case:
- Follow up with all medical treatment until you fully recover or are not expected to recover further.
- Keep track of all medical bills you receive related to the accident so your lawyer can use them to calculate your past and future medical expenses.
- Photograph your visible injuries and write down everything you remember about the accident in a journal, including dates wherever possible. You should also write down your daily pain levels, as this helps when seeking compensation for pain and suffering.
- Avoid providing a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster. Their job is to reduce the value of your claim by using your words against you.
- Contact an experienced Green Bay truck accident lawyer who will handle all aspects of your case.
How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Wisconsin?
Under Wisconsin’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases, truck accident victims have three years from the accident date to file their claims against the at-fault parties that harmed them. If your loved one passed away due to injuries suffered in a truck accident, you have two years from the date of death to file wrongful death lawsuits against the at-fault parties.
These deadlines are strict, and the penalty for missing them is being barred from recovering compensation through legal means. Once you no longer have the legal ability to recover compensation, insurance companies have no incentive to settle your claims, making it essential to begin working with a lawyer on your case as early as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions About Green Bay Truck Accident Claims
How Much Is My Truck Accident Case Worth?
It’s difficult to say how much your case could be worth without carefully reviewing the facts. Relatively minor injuries could mean thousands of dollars in compensation, while life-altering injuries could take seven figures or more to make right. Schwaba Law Firm offers free consultations, so it won’t cost you anything to learn more about how much your case is worth. Give us a call, and we’ll tell you what you could reasonably expect.
How Much Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Cost?
Truck accidents are expensive, and you don’t want to add to your burden by paying out of pocket for legal representation. Fortunately, you don’t have to. Most truck accident attorneys – including those at Schwaba Law Firm – work on contingency. That means you only pay a fee if and when they win your case. And when you do pay them, it’s a percentage of your recovery that you agreed to beforehand.
Should I Accept the Insurance Company’s Settlement Offer?
It’s generally a bad idea to accept the first insurance settlement offer. This figure is merely the start of negotiations. Frequently, whatever they’ve offered out of the gate is far less than what they’re actually willing to pay – or what your case is truly worth. Just remember: once you sign the settlement, there’s no going back for more later. Be safe and run any offer by an attorney first.
Should I Speak to the Truck Company’s Insurance Adjuster?
There’s a good chance that the truck company’s insurance provider or internal department will contact you after the accident. The adjuster might say they’re just checking to see how you are or
that they’re ready to start your claim and potentially even cut you a check. Be wary of your interactions with this individual, as they may be more interested in saving their employer money than making sure you’re compensated fairly. Be polite, but decline to give them a recorded statement. As soon as you’re off the line, get in touch with a truck accident attorney.
What Evidence Helps Prove Liability in a Truck Accident Case?
Winning a truck accident case requires considerable evidence like the following:
- Photos and videos of the accident and its aftermath
- Testimony from eyewitnesses
- Digital information from the truck’s event data recorder, or “black box”
- Employment records and internal memoranda
- Bills of lading and shipping manifests
An experienced truck accident attorney knows how to access this information, prevent it from being destroyed or deleted, and demand that it be turned over for review.
Will My Truck Accident Case Go to Court?
Most successful truck accident lawsuits end with an out-of-court settlement. This means the accident victim accepts a guaranteed amount from the at-fault party or their insurer in exchange for dropping the case permanently and releasing them from liability. However, when liable parties refuse to make a fair offer, it may be in a claimant’s best interests to go to trial instead of accepting pennies on the dollar. This situation is where you want to have a tough and experienced lawyer representing your interests.
Get in Touch with a Green Bay Truck Accident Lawyer Today
Seasoned lawyer Andrew Schwaba is ready to fight relentlessly for the recovery you deserve. Get in touch with a personal injury attorney from Schwaba Law today for a free consultation.
Results That Matter
- $2.75 million – Class Action Lawsuit
- $2.25 million – Wrongful Death Action
- $1.3 million – Insurance Bad Faith
