What If I Was Rear Ended By an 18-Wheeler?

You may face serious injuries and expensive damage if you are involved in a rear-end accident. However, when the rear-ending vehicle is a massive 18-wheeler, the injuries and damages you may be left with will likely be far more severe.

If you are asking yourself what to do after being rear ended by an 18-wheeler, you should reach out to an experienced Wisconsin truck accident lawyer from Studinski Law, LLC as soon as possible. We’ll examine the details of your case and inform you of your legal options.

Call us today at (715) 343-2850 for a free and confidential case consultation.

Why Do 18-Wheelers Cause Rear End Accidents?

At Studinski Law, LLC, we represent victims who have been rear ended by an 18-wheeler caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Speeding- Speeding is one of the most common causes of truck accidents. Truck drivers speed because they are in a hurry to make it to their destination, are not paying attention to their driving, or do not view speeding as dangerous.
• Driver fatigue- While federal regulations limit the amount of time drivers can log per week in order to prevent driver fatigue, drowsiness among drivers still happens, especially when trucking companies and drivers ignore these regulations.
• Distracted driving- Drivers may get bored after spending so much time on the road and try to entertain themselves by using their phone, eating, fiddling with their radio, and engaging in other activities that take their attention off the road.
• Inadequate driver training- Handling a commercial truck requires special skill. If a driver has not been trained on how to drive one, they may fail to drive defensively and pose a hazard to other motorists on the road.
• Improper maintenance- Trucking companies must properly maintain all of their vehicles and document each of their maintenance checks. Improper maintenance may lead to defective brakes, tire blowouts, and other issues that can cause an accident.

Injuries You May Experience After Getting Rear Ended by an 18-Wheeler

The majority of injuries that occur after someone gets rear ended by an 18-wheeler are life-altering. They can leave a victim with costly medical bills, lost wages, disability, disfigurement, and a lifetime of pain and suffering. If you’ve been rear ended by an 18-wheeler, you may experience one or more of these injuries:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Whiplash and neck injuries
• Facial trauma
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Broken ribs
• Internal bleeding
• Organ damage

Although some of these injuries will be apparent immediately after the accident, others like carpal tunnel and whiplash may not appear until days or weeks later.

Determining Liability in a Rear End Accident with an 18-Wheeler

The vehicle that strikes from the rear is usually at fault in a rear end accident. However, this is not always the case, especially when an 18-wheeler is involved. Determining who is ultimately liable in these situations is more difficult. While the truck driver may have caused the accident, the trucking company they work for may be responsible.

Trucking companies must abide by strict state and federal regulations. They are legally obligated to adhere to strict hiring practices, monitor their drivers, maintain and repair their trucks, and only allow drivers to operate their trucks after they’ve received proper training.

In order to increase their profits, trucking companies often disregard state and federal regulations. They may engage in negligent hiring, fail to train their drivers, allow their drivers to drive trucks that have not been maintained or repaired, and permit their drivers to drive more hours than they are legally allowed to.

Since most trucking companies are large corporations with strong insurance policies and lawyers, they are known for challenging liability in an attempt to pay as little as possible. For this reason, it’s imperative that you reach out to a Wisconsin truck accident lawyer if you’ve been rear ended by an 18-wheeler.

How Can a Wisconsin Truck Accident Lawyer Help?

If you’ve been rear ended by an 18-wheeler, a Wisconsin truck accident lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation of your case and review all photographs, cell phone records, police reports, witness statements, and other evidence associated with the accident.

In the event they are able to find that the driver acted negligently, they will work to prove this negligence. If the trucking company tries to deflect blame on you or state that you came to a short stop for no reason, a lawyer will defend you. With legal representation by your side, you can increase your chances of recovering fair compensation for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Disability
• Disfigurement
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage

Contact Studinski Law, LLC Today

If an 18-wheeler rear ended you, you should contact a Wisconsin truck accident lawyer from Studinski Law, LLC right away. We will make sure your rights are protected and work to ensure a favorable outcome for your case.

Contact us today at (715) 343-2850.