Wausau Truck Accident Attorneys
Experienced & Determined Attorneys Seeking Justice
At Bye, Goff & Rohde, we understand how devastating truck accidents can be for victims and their families. We have seen firsthand the physical and emotional trauma resulting from these collisions. That’s why our team is dedicated to helping you get the justice you deserve.
Our attorneys are experienced in handling all types of motor vehicle accidents involving large trucks, including tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, and more. We will thoroughly investigate your case to identify any potential negligence or wrongful conduct on behalf of the driver or other parties involved, seeking to maximize your financial recovery.
We also provide compassionate legal counsel throughout this complicated process so you can feel confident that you have an experienced advocate fighting on your behalf. Contact the Wausau truck accident lawyers at Bye, Goff & Rohde today if you’ve been injured in a truck accident—we’re here to help!
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can occur as a result of many different things. While some accidents cannot be avoided, the sad truth is that many are easily prevented by driving safely, paying attention, and respecting the other vehicles on the road. Unfortunately, many trucking companies impose harsh, often unrealistic deadlines for their drivers, leading them to drive faster and more aggressively than they would otherwise need to.
Common causes of truck accidents include:
- Driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of truck accidents as it impairs a driver’s ability to safely operate their vehicle due to exhaustion and lack of alertness.
- Reckless driving behaviors such as speeding, failure to yield the right-of-way, and improper lane changes can also lead to serious collisions with other vehicles.
- Defective equipment can cause truck accidents when brakes fail, tire blowouts, or other essential components malfunction.
- Poorly maintained trucks that are not serviced regularly can also contribute to truck accidents due to faulty parts or mechanical issues.
These factors can all lead to catastrophic injuries for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Commercial trucks are massive, fast, and have an overwhelming capacity for destruction if mishandled. As such, collisions can lead to severe injuries.
One of the most common types of injuries sustained in truck accidents is musculoskeletal injuries, such as neck and back pain. These can range from relatively minor issues requiring a few weeks of physical therapy to more severe conditions that may require ongoing management or surgery. Fractures and dislocations are also possible, depending on severity.
Whiplash is another common injury resulting from truck accidents. This type of neck injury occurs when the head is forcefully jerked in one direction, then snaps back quickly in the other direction. Symptoms may include intense neck pain that radiates into the upper back and shoulders, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, and tingling or numbness in the arms
Internal organ damage can also occur in a truck accident due to blunt force trauma (such as striking an airbag) or lacerations (such as those caused by broken glass). If not treated immediately, internal bleeding or torn ligaments and muscles can lead to significant health consequences.
In addition to physical injuries, truck accident victims may also experience emotional trauma due to their experiences. Victims often develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Seeking treatment for psychological trauma is just as important as seeking medical attention for physical injuries sustained in a truck accident.
A comprehensive medical examination following an accident is crucial for several reasons. Most importantly, making sure you are safe should be your top priority. A medical report also helps us calculate potential damages. We do not want you to realize you have an unaddressed injury once your case is over, and a medical report could catch injuries you are not yet aware of that could be expensive to treat.
Who Can Be Found Liable for a Truck Accident in Wisconsin?
Truck accidents are more complicated than many people realize. Though they have some similarities to car and motorcycle accidents, truckers typically have an employer and other parties who do things like load their trucks, inspect their trucks for issues, etc. Consequently, various parties can be held liable for truck accidents.
The most common liable party is the truck driver, who may be found responsible if they acted negligently or recklessly while driving. This could include operating their vehicle while intoxicated, driving at excessive speeds, aggressive driving, or failing to observe standard safety protocols.
In some cases, the trucking company can also be held liable. This is more likely to occur if the company hires an unqualified driver or forces them to drive beyond legal limits. The general rule is that if the accident happened while the trucker was acting in the scope of their duty, their employer could be liable for any accident in which they are involved.
Additionally, negligent maintenance practices that lead to mechanical failures may also place liability on the trucking company. In this case, liability could fall on whoever was responsible for performing maintenance on the truck.
In other cases, third-party companies may be liable for truck accidents in Wisconsin due to inadequate inspection and repair services. For example, a mechanic may have incorrectly inspected a vehicle and failed to identify an issue that resulted in a breakdown or collision. Similarly, manufacturers of defective parts could potentially face liability if an accident was caused by faulty equipment.
For Support, Experience, and Representation, Call Today
Our truck accident attorneys at Bye, Goff & Rohde provide personalized attention and are committed to protecting your rights. Our team will endeavor to deliver justice as well as fair compensation. We have stood by the people of Wisconsin since 1974 and would be honored to represent you in your case.
Call (715) 402-4343 or contact us online for a free consultation. If your injuries prevent you from meeting with our team, we can meet you at your home.
How Can an Attorney Help You Recover Damages for Your Injuries?
The Wausau truck accident attorneys at Bye, Goff & Rohde have years of experience advocating for victims of serious accidents caused by negligence. Our firm has successfully helped many clients recover damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, disability benefits, and more. We understand that no amount of money can make up for the suffering you have endured after a crash. Regardless, we are dedicated to fighting for your right to fair compensation.
We will thoroughly investigate the accident and look for any evidence of negligence or wrongful conduct by the truck driver, their employer, or any third parties. This includes examining all relevant documents such as driver log books, maintenance records, black box data logs, and more to determine if any safety regulations were violated or whether the driver was under the influence at the time of the crash.
Our attorneys will also provide support throughout the process, from filing claims with insurance companies to negotiating with defense lawyers and insurers on your behalf. We will answer all your questions about your legal rights and fight to obtain an outcome that best serves your interests.
"Bye, Goff & Rohde Helped When the Insurance Company Didn't"Bob Parsons was very helpful, very understanding, and very easy to work with. I told Bob at the beginning that we would do what he thought was best and we would follow through with the process as long as it would take.
- Jeff
What Damages Can You Recover?
In a truck accident case, the injured party may be entitled to a range of damages depending on their injuries and the nature of the case. These typically include special (economic) and general (noneconomic) damages, with the possibility of punitive damages.
Special damages include costs that have a clear monetary value, such as:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
We calculate compensation for these damages using receipts, bills, and invoices.
General damages are more abstract and subjective, typically involving compensation for emotional and psychological pain following an accident, such as:
- Loss of Consortium
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Distress
Punitive damages are awarded to punish wrongdoers and to deter similar conduct in the future. It is important to note that punitive damages are not always available and are typically only awarded if the defendant acted with malicious intent or gross negligence.
Explore Our Past Successes We Get Results
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$6.0 Million Drunk Driving Accident
Bye, Goff & Rohde obtained $6,000,000 on behalf of a client who was injured due to a tavern intoxicating an underage driver.
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$2.4 Million Distracted Driving Accident
Bye, Goff & Rohde obtained $2,393,000 on behalf of an adult male who suffered serious injuries (including a brain injury) when he was hit by a truck driver who was texting on a cell phone.
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$2.3 Million Spinal Cord Injury
Bye, Goff, & Rohde obtained $2,300,000 on behalf of an adult male who suffered a spinal cord injury in a Dodge vehicle.
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$2.17 Million Tractor-Trailer Accident
Bye, Goff, & Rohde obtained $2,167,990 on behalf of an adult male who suffered multiple serious injuries including brain damage in a tractor-trailer accident.
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$2.0 Million Burn Injury
Bye, Goff, & Rohde obtained $2,000,000 on behalf of an adult female who suffered severe burns as a result of a defective product.
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$1.25 Million Pedestrian Accident
Bye, Goff & Rohde obtained $1,250,000 on behalf of a minor who was struck by a vehicle while on a skateboard.