Truck accidents can lead to life-altering consequences in a matter of seconds. In 2024 alone, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recorded 170,745 large commercial truck and bus accidents, resulting in over 87,000 injuries. These crashes often involve serious trauma, long-term medical care, and emotional distress for victims and their families. In this blog, we’ll explore the most common truck accident injuries and how having the right truck accident attorney can help protect your health and your future.
Why Truck Accidents Are Different
Crashes involving large commercial trucks aren’t like typical car accidents. These vehicles can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, making the impact of a collision far more severe. The sheer size and weight of a truck can cause catastrophic damage, especially when smaller passenger vehicles are involved.
Truck accidents often happen for reasons that go beyond ordinary driver error. Common causes include driver fatigue, improperly secured or overloaded cargo, poor highway conditions, and mechanical failures. Commercial drivers are held to strict federal regulations, but when these rules are ignored or corners are cut, the results can be devastating.
Due to the higher impact forces, injuries in truck accidents tend to be more severe, and recovery times are longer. Victims may face extensive medical treatment, lost income, and permanent disability.
Common Types of Injuries in Truck Accidents
The force of a truck collision can cause a wide range of serious injuries. These injuries often require long-term medical care and can permanently affect a person’s quality of life. Some of the most common truck accident injuries include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): From concussions to more severe brain trauma, head injuries are common in high-impact crashes. Symptoms like headaches, confusion, dizziness, and memory loss may appear right away or develop over time.
- Spinal Cord Injuries & Paralysis: Truck collisions can lead to herniated discs, vertebral fractures, and in some cases, partial or complete paralysis. These injuries often come with long-term complications like reduced mobility, nerve damage, or chronic pain.
- Orthopedic Injuries: Broken arms, legs, ribs, and pelvises are frequent in truck accidents. Dislocated joints and damaged cartilage can lead to lengthy recovery periods and sometimes require surgical intervention.
- Internal Organ Injuries: High-impact collisions can damage vital organs like the spleen, liver, or kidneys. Internal bleeding may not be immediately obvious, making quick medical evaluation crucial.
- Soft-Tissue Injuries: Whiplash, sprains, and muscle strains might sound minor, but can significantly affect mobility and lead to persistent discomfort or chronic pain.
- Chest & Abdominal Trauma: Rib fractures, lung bruising, and abdominal injuries can compromise breathing and organ function. These types of trauma often require imaging to fully assess.
- Burns & Amputations: In severe crashes involving fuel fires or chemical spills, victims may suffer burn injuries or even traumatic amputations. Recovery can involve skin grafts, prosthetics, and long-term rehabilitation.
- Psychological Injuries: Emotional trauma is just as real as physical injury. Many truck accident survivors experience PTSD, anxiety, or depression. Mental health care should be part of any comprehensive recovery plan.
Medical Considerations & Treatment Pathways
After a truck accident, getting the right medical care is crucial. Prompt treatment protects your health and helps establish a clear record of your injuries, which is vital for any personal injury claim. Below, we outline the common medical steps and considerations that follow a serious truck crash in Wisconsin.
Immediate Medical Response
If you’re injured in a truck accident, seek medical attention immediately. Emergency rooms and trauma centers are best for severe injuries, while urgent care may handle less critical concerns. Wisconsin is home to several Level I and Level II trauma hospitals equipped to manage high-impact injuries.
Diagnostic Testing & Documentation
Imaging tests like CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays are often necessary to diagnose internal injuries and fractures. Blood work may also be used to detect organ damage or other complications. Accurate and detailed medical records also play a key role in linking your injuries to the crash.
Ongoing Care & Specialists
Depending on the type and severity of your injuries, you may need care from specialists such as neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists, or mental health professionals. Recovery often includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, or both to restore function and improve quality of life.
Long-term Management
For many truck accident victims, recovery doesn’t end after the hospital stay. Ongoing pain management may involve medications, injections, or even surgical intervention. Some individuals may also require assistive devices like wheelchairs or braces, along with home modifications to support mobility and independence.
Medical Costs & Wisconsin Insurance Rules
Wisconsin drivers can elect to add Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage to their car insurance. This typically offers up to $10,000 for accident-related medical expenses. In cases of severe injury, this may not cover everything. Even with medical insurance, you’ll likely be expected to cover some of your medical expenses. Seeking legal recourse can help ensure you aren’t stuck paying out of pocket for truck accident injuries.
Steps to Take After a Wisconsin Truck Accident
What you do in the hours and days after a truck accident can make a major difference in your recovery and your legal case. You should:
- Seek Medical Attention Immediately: Even if you feel okay at first, don’t delay medical care. Some injuries—especially internal or soft-tissue ones—may not show symptoms right away. Waiting too long to see a doctor can harm both your health and your legal claim, as insurers may question the cause or severity of your injuries.
- Preserve Evidence: Document everything you can. Take photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries. If there are witnesses, get their names and contact information. The more evidence you gather, the stronger your case will be.
Wisconsin Reporting Requirements
Wisconsin law requires you to file a crash report with the Department of Transportation within 10 days if the accident involved injury, death, or at least $1,000 in property damage. Filing a timely report helps establish an official record and protects your compliance with state regulations.
Truck Accident Statute of Limitations
In Wisconsin, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit after a truck accident is three years from the date of the crash. Missing this deadline can prevent you from pursuing compensation, so it’s important to consult an attorney well before the clock runs out.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Insurance companies may reach out quickly after an accident, but be careful what you say. Avoid giving recorded statements or accepting early settlement offers without legal advice. These initial decisions can have lasting consequences and may lead to lowball settlements or reduce the compensation you’re entitled to receive.
Building Your Case: Legal & Medical Synergy
At Murphy & Prachthauser, we know that a strong truck accident case requires close coordination between legal strategy and medical expertise. We collaborate with medical professionals to clearly document the full scope of your injuries, your treatment plan, and any long-term care you may need. A detailed life-care plan can play a key role in showing the impact of your injuries and ensuring your future needs are considered.
When calculating damages, we look beyond immediate costs. This includes medical bills, lost income, future treatment expenses, and the emotional and physical pain you have experienced. Providing a complete picture of your losses helps us advocate for the full compensation you deserve.
Truck accident cases often involve more than just the driver’s conduct, so having knowledgeable trucking experts is critical. These cases can involve complicated federal regulations, industry standards, and company practices. We examine whether the trucking company followed proper hiring procedures, conducted background checks, provided adequate training, and offered proper supervision. Understanding how the company operates is often key to establishing liability and strengthening your case.
Wisconsin-Specific Legal Considerations
Truck accident claims in Wisconsin involve several unique legal factors that can impact the outcome of your case. Understanding how state laws interact with federal trucking regulations is essential when pursuing compensation.
Comparative Negligence
Wisconsin follows a comparative negligence rule, which means your compensation can be reduced if you are found partially at fault for the accident. For example, if you are determined to be 20 percent at fault, your total recovery would be reduced by that same percentage. If you are found to be more at fault than the other party, you may be barred from recovering damages altogether.
Truck-Company Liability & Federal Regulations
Commercial trucking is governed by a complex set of federal regulations designed to ensure safety on the roads. These include hours-of-service rules that limit how long a driver can operate without rest, maintenance requirements to keep vehicles in safe working condition, and cargo loading regulations to prevent overloading or improper securing of freight. Violations of these regulations can be critical in establishing negligence.
Wisconsin Dram Shop & Third-Party Claims
In cases where alcohol consumption or driver fatigue is a factor, liability may extend beyond the driver and their employer. Wisconsin’s dram shop laws allow for potential claims against establishments that serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals who then cause accidents. Additionally, third-party claims can be pursued against entities responsible for vehicle maintenance or cargo loading if their negligence contributed to the accident. Identifying all liable parties is essential to ensure that victims receive full and fair compensation for their injuries.
Conclusion
Truck accidents are complex cases that often involve serious injuries, multiple responsible parties, and a web of federal and state regulations. Understanding the medical, legal, and procedural steps after a crash can make a huge difference in protecting your health and securing the compensation you deserve.At Murphy & Prachthauser, we bring decades of experience to truck accident cases across Wisconsin. If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash involving a commercial truck, contact us today for a free consultation. We’re here to answer your questions, evaluate your case, and help you move forward with confidence.