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Tomah, Wisconsin, a small city in Monroe County that experiences traffic incidents primarily due to its position along major interstate highways. As a key stop between Madison and La Crosse, negligent drivers traveling at high speeds and truck traffic contribute to crashes. With congestion along I-90 and I-94, it’s no surprise locals see their fair share of accidents. A Tomah truck accident lawyer is a valuable resource after such an accident.
Craig Steger has decades of experience helping victims of motor vehicle accidents throughout western Wisconsin. If you believe another party is responsible for causing your recent truck accident in Tomah, it is crucial to hire a truck accident lawyer with proven experience resolving cases like yours. The right lawyer can help you build a successful case and maximize your compensation.
The initial aftermath of any vehicle accident can be traumatic and confusing. The first steps you take can have significant effects on your recovery process and determine the amount of compensation you receive for your damages. When you choose Craig Steger to represent you, you have a dedicated legal advocate ready to provide support and guidance through every step of your case.
Ultimately, every truck accident case is unique, and every injured victim will face various challenges in their efforts to recover. Your Tomah truck accident lawyer can be a vital asset for proving liability, filing an auto insurance claim, and building a personal injury case if necessary to ensure the fullest possible recovery.
The National Safety Council reports that in 2023, there were 5,375 large trucks involved in crashes that resulted in fatalities and 114,552 trucks involved in crashes resulting in nonfatal injuries throughout the United States. Most victims of these accidents, about 70%, were occupants of smaller passenger vehicles.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation reported that in 2024, there were 4,476 tractor-trailer accidents throughout the state. Three thousand seven hundred eighty-one of these accidents caused only property damage, while 651 caused injuries and 44 were fatal. In Wisconsin, all vehicle accidents are resolved based on fault, so it will be necessary to prove fault before you can claim any compensation from any other party after your accident.
Many truck accidents result from the same types of negligence that cause standard passenger vehicle accidents. Speeding or driving too fast for conditions is especially dangerous for truck drivers, as these large commercial vehicles require more time and distance to slow down or stop. Improper lane changes, failure to yield the right-of-way, and other moving violations are also easily capable of causing serious accidents.
Trucks are also subject to additional risk factors unique from passenger cars. Truck accidents sometimes occur because of failure to conduct appropriate vehicle maintenance, failure to comply with regulatory requirements like hours-of-service rules, and improperly loaded cargo.
Your Tomah truck accident lawyer can help you gather the evidence needed to prove liability for your truck accident and identify the party or parties responsible. You could encounter various legal issues depending on the type of truck involved. Accidents involving owner-operators and small fleet operators, for example, typically present different challenges than accidents involving large trucking companies.
When a trucking company fails to meet its regulatory requirements, it can not only lead to liability for any damages their driver causes, but also various other penalties from agencies like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. If any such issues are present in your case, your attorney can advise you as to how they may impact your recovery efforts.
Wisconsin law requires all drivers to have vehicle insurance, and filing a claim against an at-fault driver’s policy is usually your first option for recovering from an accident in Tomah. The same applies to truck accidents, and most truck drivers and their employers have commercial auto insurance policies that include greater coverage than what an average individual policy may cover.
However, dealing with insurance companies is often difficult due to the fact that they will almost always look for ways to devalue or deny a claim. It is important that you do not wait for this to happen to you to hire a truck accident lawyer. When you hire legal counsel before filing an auto insurance claim, the insurance company is more likely to process your claim in good faith and deliver a fair settlement offer.
Your attorney can help you file your auto insurance claim and will resolve any unexpected complications you encounter with the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. Should you encounter any bad faith or if the insurance carrier offers an unfair settlement, your attorney will know how to respond.
If you must recover from a truck accident with a personal injury case, you are more likely to succeed and more likely to maximize your compensation if you have a Tomah truck accident lawyer representing you. Winning any personal injury case in Wisconsin requires proving that the defendant is directly responsible for causing your claimed damages.
Once you establish fault for the truck accident, your local truck accident lawyer can calculate the total damages you are eligible to claim from the defendant. A successful personal injury case in Wisconsin can potentially yield compensation for various economic damages, including:
In addition to the financial losses you experienced, the defendant is also liable for your pain and suffering. The average person may not know how to determine appropriate pain and suffering compensation to include in their claim. Your attorney can help you claim an amount that reflects the overall severity of your injury and the scope of the long-term medical complications you are likely to experience.
There is no set formula for calculating pain and suffering compensation in Wisconsin personal injury cases. Usually, a plaintiff’s attorney can use their client’s total economic damages as a starting point for calculating pain and suffering; they will multiply this amount by a factor that reflects the severity of the long-term or permanent effects the plaintiff will experience from the accident. Generally, more serious injuries yield greater pain and suffering compensation.
Beyond your economic and non-economic damages, you could also receive punitive damages at the court’s discretion. Punitive damages usually come into play in cases resulting from illegal misconduct. The amount the defendant must pay depends on their financial status and the overall severity of their actions. Your Tomah truck accident lawyer can explain what you can expect if punitive damages are likely to come into play in your case.
An experienced legal representative is an invaluable asset after any vehicle accident in western Wisconsin. Trust your attorney to gather the evidence you need to prove fault for your accident, help you calculate the full extent of the damages you are eligible to claim, and they will also be able to determine the most efficient path to resolving your case.
Truck accident cases are often more challenging to resolve than standard passenger vehicle accident cases for several reasons. First, they often entail far greater damages than one might expect from a standard car accident. Second, they can require more complex insurance claims, as most trucking companies have commercial auto insurance policies. Finally, they can raise more difficult questions of liability.
For example, fault for your recent truck accident in Tomah could fall to the truck driver, but it is also possible for their employer to bear vicarious liability for the accident. For example, if the accident happened because the trucking company failed to enforce hours-of-service rules, the company could not only face vicarious liability for the resulting damages but also fines and other penalties from oversight agencies.
It is also possible for your accident to have happened because of the actions of another driver, or for multiple drivers to share fault for the accident. Ultimately, you need to hire a truck accident lawyer who can help you discern liability for the damages you suffered, and you have a limited time to pursue compensation for those damages.
Craig Steger is confident in his ability to provide responsive and client-focused legal counsel in the most challenging personal injury cases in Tomah and throughout western Wisconsin. When you need legal counsel you trust to help you recover from a serious commercial truck accident, it’s vital to choose an attorney with a proven record of success handling cases like yours. Reach out to our team today to learn how an experienced Tomah truck accident lawyer can help.
Proving fault for a truck accident in western Wisconsin requires various forms of evidence that an experienced attorney can obtain for you. Truck black box data, cell phone records, dash cam footage, trucking company records, and eyewitness statements are often some of the most valuable evidence the victim of a truck accident can secure to prove fault for their accident. It’s important to hire a truck accident lawyer right away so they can begin gathering evidence.
The value of a truck accident case in Tomah depends on several factors. You may have grounds to claim compensation for any economic losses you suffered from the accident, and you are also likely eligible to claim compensation for your pain and suffering. Hire a truck accident lawyer at your first opportunity so they can accurately calculate the full scope of your damages and determine the optimal way to maximize your compensation.
If you share fault for your recent truck accident, Wisconsin’s modified comparative fault rule comes into play. If you are found more at fault than the defendant, you will not be able to claim compensation from them. However, if you are found less at fault, the percentage of fault assigned to you will be deducted from the case award, and you can keep the remainder. Consult an attorney if you are concerned about shared fault for your accident.
The time required to resolve a truck accident case in Tomah usually depends on several factors. You may be able to resolve the case within a matter of weeks with the right attorney representing you. If you are able to recover full compensation through auto insurance, it is generally faster than filing a personal injury case. An experienced Tomah truck accident lawyer can provide an estimate of your case’s most likely timetable.
You should hire a truck accident lawyer because your case is likely to be more challenging than it appears at first. You could encounter various obstacles that you will not know how to overcome on your own, and the right attorney can guide you to a positive outcome in your case. You should hire a truck accident lawyer to not only increase your chances of success, but also because they can help you maximize your compensation.
Craig Steger has the professional resources, skills, and experience needed to provide compassionate and effective legal representation in the most challenging vehicle accident cases in Tomah and throughout western Wisconsin. If you believe that another party is responsible for causing your recent accident, contact us today and schedule a consultation with a Tomah truck accident lawyer to start working toward your recovery.