Truck Accident Lawyers

Because the trucking industry is heavily regulated, truck accident law is significantly more complex than auto accident law. Frequently, an action can be brought against not just the driver, but also the driver’s employer (the trucking firm) and the insurance company. Therefore, you need a truck accident lawyer who has the experience and specialized knowledge to lead the investigation into the cause of the truck accident and help you collect the maximum amount allowed under the law

Truck accident cases are similar to other personal injury cases, starting with the question of liability: who is at fault, are they entirely responsible for the truck accident or are there other people responsible, and is the person claiming injury partially responsible for the truck accident? The ultimate damage issue in a truck accident case is: what is fair and reasonable compensation for injuries suffered as a result of the truck accident? Our lawyers can help you find the answer.

Truck accidents happen all the time and result in personal injuries or wrongful death claims. However, it would be mistaken to think that they are always easy to resolve. In addition to the “rules of the road,” the truck accident attorneys at Murphy & Prachthauser understand the special duties imposed on commercial and public carriers, as well as the complex scientific and engineering principles often necessary to unravel just how an accident occurred and who was at fault. We are Milwaukee’s truck accident lawyers, and we have the knowledge and ability to properly evaluate your injuries, as well as the economic and accounting rules needed to evaluate your damages.

There are several types of truck accidents:

• Sideswipe Collisions: A sideswipe truck accident, also known as a lane departure crash, occurs when the driver coasts into the adjacent lane, hitting another vehicle going in the same direction. Common causes of these accidents are:
  • A failure to check blind spots
  • A failure to signal a lane change
  • Distractions
  • Hydroplaning
• Rear Impact Collision: A rear-end truck accident occurs when a truck collides with the vehicle in front of it, often pushing the vehicle into yet another vehicle. Common causes of these accidents are:
  • Tailgating
  • Panic stops
  • Distractions
  • Lack of traction
• Head-On Collision: A head-on truck accident is one of the more dangerous types of crashes, especially when the vehicles involved have such a drastic difference in size. Typically these collisions occur when a truck strays out of its lane and into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Common causes of these accidents are:
  • Distractions
  • Loss of control
• Left-Turn Collision: Left-turn truck accidents occur when a vehicle makes a left turn at an intersection into oncoming traffic, often resulting in a T-bone crash. A driver making a left-hand turn only has the right of way if they are acting on a left-turn arrow. Common causes of these accidents are:
  • Misjudgment of speed
  • Misjudgment of the distance between vehicles
  • Obstructed view
• Failure to Yield Collision: Wisconsin law clearly states the rules of the road and when to yield the right of way. A failure to yield commonly occurs at intersections and can cause a number of different accidents, such as head-on collisions and T-boning. Common causes of these accidents are:
  • Distractions
  • Malfunctioning traffic lights
  • Aggressive driving
• Jackknife Collision: Jackknife truck accidents occur when a cab skids in one direction while its trailer goes in another, forming a 90-degree angle. A jackknifed tractor-trailer can often hit many vehicles across multiple lanes as it loses control. Common causes of these accidents are:
  • Bad brakes
  • Speeding paired with sudden stops
  • Road conditions
  • Driver inexperience
• Wide Right Turn Collision: Wide right turn truck accidents occur when there is not enough space between a truck and a car. When the truck makes a right turn, their cab then hits a car in the adjacent lane. Common causes of these accidents include:
  • Driver not starting far enough to the left to make the turn
  • Unchecked blind spots
  • No turn signal
• Improperly Loaded Cargo Collision: Cargo that has been improperly loaded and secured in the cab of a truck can shift the weight moving around inside the cab, which can cause the tractor to sway or even spill its contents. Even if the contents themselves don’t cause damage, it can influence drivers to swerve in their lane, possibly off the road or into other cars. A common cause of these accidents includes mishandling and loading the cargo incorrectly by the truck loaders.

According to the United States Department of Transportation, there are 500,000 estimated truck accidents every year. The most common causes of truck accidents are:

• Non-commercial driver error
• Poor vehicle maintenance, including improper cargo loading
• Equipment failure
• Weather
• Truck driver error, including truck driver fatigue, unrealistic schedules
• Inclement weather

If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, there are certain steps you should take immediately:

1. Take down insurance and contact information.
   • Name
   • Address
   • Phone number
   • Driver’s license number
   • Make and model of their vehicle
   • License plate
   • If possible, get witness names and contact information
2. Get medical help. Call an ambulance in case of injury, and always call the police if estimated damages exceed $1,000 dollars.
3. Take photos of the accident scene. Make sure you get photos of the truck involved in the accident as well as your own vehicle.
4. Call a lawyer right away. Even if you don’t think you need legal representation, it is important to call a truck accident attorney right away. An attorney can help you obtain police reports, obtain traffic cam footage (which is often deleted every 72 hours) and they can also help you manage medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses.
5. Notify your insurance company. You may not need to make a claim against your own insurance company, but you should still provide notice of an accident.
6. Don’t post about your accident on social media. Wait until you talk to your attorney before posting anything on social media. Anything you post can be found by insurance companies and used against your insurance claim and potential settlement.
7. Don’t settle. You are not required to settle your case unless you feel it is the right choice. It is important to find a lawyer who doesn’t just settle every case as fast as possible. In fact, it’s best to have a legal team that is willing and able to take your case to court and win. Preparing every case like it is going to trial means your legal team is behind you 100 percent, not just hoping to settle your case and move on to the next.