Truck Accident Attorneys Serving Wisconsin and Minnesota
A collision with an 18-wheeler, semi-truck, tractor-trailer, delivery truck, dump truck, tanker, or other commercial vehicle can cause catastrophic injuries in seconds. These cases may involve a professional driver, a motor carrier, several businesses, commercial insurance policies, and safety records that do not exist in an ordinary passenger-vehicle claim.
Bosshard Parke represents people and families affected by commercial truck accidents throughout western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota. Attorney Howard J. Eglash investigates the driver, trucking company, vehicle, cargo, electronic data, safety records, and available insurance coverage to determine how the crash occurred and who may be responsible.
You do not have to handle a motor carrier or commercial insurer alone. Fill out the form to request a free consultation about a semi-truck or commercial truck accident claim.
Schedule a Free Truck Accident Consultation
What to Do After a Truck Accident
Your health and safety should come first after a motorcycle accident. Once emergency needs have been addressed, a few additional steps may help preserve important evidence and protect your ability to pursue a claim.
- Report the crash and seek medical care. Call 911 and get evaluated by a medical professional, even if your injuries do not seem serious immediately. Local 24-hour emergency departments include Emplify Health by Gundersen in La Crosse, Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse and Sparta, Vernon Health in Viroqua, and Winona Health in Minnesota. In an emergency, follow the direction of first responders or go to the nearest appropriate emergency department.
- Identify the driver, truck, and companies involved. If it is safe, record the carrier name, USDOT number, truck and trailer numbers, license plates, logos, and insurance information, as well as driver’s information.
- Document the scene. Photograph or record the vehicles, damage, skid marks, debris, cargo, roadway, traffic controls, weather, and visible injuries.
- Collect witness and report information. Obtain witness contact information and ask how to get the police or crash report.
- Preserve records and limit insurer discussions: Keep medical, wage, property, and communication records. Avoid a quick settlement or recorded statement before understanding the injuries and coverage.
- Contact personal injury attorney Howard J. Eglash promptly. He can send preservation requests, investigate the carrier and available insurance, evaluate deadlines, and handle insurer communications.
Understanding Truck Accident Claims in Wisconsin and Minnesota
Truck accident claims may be governed by Wisconsin or Minnesota law, while interstate motor carriers are also subject to federal safety regulations. Intrastate carriers may be governed by state commercial-vehicle requirements that incorporate or differ from federal rules. The crash location, vehicle weight and configuration, cargo, route, type of operation, driver credentials, company relationships, and insurance policies can all affect the claim.
-
Semi-truck and commercial vehicle collisions may result from driver error, motor-carrier practices, licensing or qualification problems, vehicle condition, cargo issues, or a combination of factors. Common issues include:
- Driver fatigue or hours-of-service violations
- Distracted, impaired, or aggressive driving
- Speeding or driving too fast for weather and road conditions
- Following too closely or failing to account for stopping distance
- Unsafe lane changes, wide turns, and blind-spot collisions
- Inadequate driver training, qualification, or supervision
- Overloaded, unbalanced, or improperly secured cargo
- Brake, tire, lighting, steering, or other maintenance problems
- Unsafe hiring, scheduling, dispatch, or company practices
The cause cannot always be determined from the crash report alone. Driver logs, electronic data, inspection records, maintenance history, cargo documents, and company communications may provide critical context.
Commercial Driver’s Licenses, Endorsements, and Restrictions
A commercial driver’s license, commonly called a CDL, is required for certain vehicles and operations. The required class depends primarily on the vehicle or combination’s weight and configuration, while endorsements address specialized cargo or passenger operations. The following is a general overview that should be reviewed against the current law and the facts of the crash:
- Class A CDL: Generally applies to a combination vehicle rated or weighing 26,001 pounds or more when the towed unit is more than 10,000 pounds. This class commonly includes tractor-trailers and many heavy truck-and-trailer combinations.
- Class B CDL: Generally applies to a single vehicle rated or weighing 26,001 pounds or more, including a qualifying vehicle towing a unit of 10,000 pounds or less. Examples may include certain dump trucks, concrete mixers, large box trucks, and straight trucks.
- Class C CDL: Generally applies to vehicles outside Classes A and B that are designed to transport 16 or more people, including the driver, or that transport hazardous materials requiring placards or specified regulated materials.
- Endorsements: Additional testing may be required for double or triple trailers, tank vehicles, hazardous materials, combined tank and hazardous-material operations, passenger vehicles, and school buses.
- Restrictions and qualifications: A CDL may restrict operation of vehicles with full air brakes, manual transmissions, fifth-wheel connections, or certain passenger configurations. Medical certification, entry-level driver training, drug and alcohol requirements, and employer qualification duties may also apply.
A commercial driver may hold a valid license but still operate outside its class, without a required endorsement, in violation of a restriction, or without a current qualification. Conversely, some commercial vehicles and exempt operations do not require a CDL. The licensing analysis must be based on the actual vehicle, weight, cargo, operation, and governing law.
A licensing or regulatory violation does not automatically establish responsibility for a civil claim. The violation must be evaluated with the crash evidence and applicable Wisconsin or Minnesota law.
Interstate and Intrastate Trucking Rules
Interstate commerce generally involves transportation across state lines or transportation connected to an interstate movement. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requirements may govern driver qualifications, hours of service, electronic logging, vehicle inspection and maintenance, cargo securement, drug and alcohol testing, and other safety obligations.
Intrastate commerce occurs entirely within one state. Wisconsin and Minnesota maintain their own licensing, medical-certification, and commercial-vehicle requirements, and state rules may adopt federal standards or provide state-specific exceptions. Whether a truck was operating interstate or intrastate should be confirmed from dispatch records, shipping documents, the route, cargo origin and destination, and the nature of the carrier’s business.
How Bosshard Parke Builds a Truck Accident Case
A truck accident claim requires a clear understanding of the collision, the commercial relationships involved, the governing safety standards, the available insurance, and the full effect of the injuries. Bosshard Parke gathers and analyzes the evidence needed to present those issues to the insurers or court.
Semi-Truck and Commercial Vehicle Claims We Handle
- Semi-truck, tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler, and big-rig collisions
- Delivery truck, box truck, moving truck, and commercial fleet crashes
- Dump truck, tanker, concrete mixer, construction vehicle, and utility-truck collisions
- Jackknife, rollover, underride, and wide-turn crashes
- Crashes involving fatigued drivers, unsafe driving, maintenance issues, or cargo problems
Our Motorcycle Injury Process
Meet Our Personal Injury Attorney
Attorney Howard J. Eglash brings more than 35 years of trial and litigation experience to Bosshard Parke’s personal injury practice. He has represented individuals and families in cases involving motor vehicle accidents, dog bites, wrongful death, workers’ compensation, and other serious injuries.
Howard is admitted to practice in Wisconsin and Minnesota and previously served as President of the La Crosse County Bar Association. Regardless of the size of the case, he believes every client deserves personal attention, clear guidance, and compassionate representation.
Why Choose Bosshard Parke for a Truck Accident Claim?
-
Decades of Injury and Trial Experience – Bosshard Parke brings extensive experience in investigation, insurance negotiation, mediation, and litigation to serious motor vehicle claims.
Personal Attention From an Experienced Attorney – Clients receive direct guidance, practical answers, and representation tailored to their injuries and circumstances.
Wisconsin and Minnesota Representation – Bosshard Parke represents injured people throughout western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota, including the La Crosse, Sparta, La Crescent, and Winona areas.
Detailed Commercial-Vehicle Investigation – We identify the companies and policies involved, preserve truck-specific evidence, and examine the driver, vehicle, cargo, and business practices that may have contributed to the crash.
Prepared to Negotiate or Litigate – We pursue a fair resolution through careful case-building and negotiation while remaining prepared to take the case to court when necessary.
Free Truck Accident Case Evaluation – Initial injury case evaluations are free. Personal injury matters are handled on a contingency basis, and the written fee agreement explains attorney fees and responsibility for case expenses.
Howard Eglash was my attorney at the firm and he has gone to great lengths in my situation. The firms attorneys are without a doubt the best in the La Crosse area as Mr. Eglash is the most professional I have seen.
Bosshard Parke Client
Truck Accident Representation Across the Region
With offices in La Crosse and Sparta, Bosshard Parke represents people and families affected by truck crashes throughout western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota.
Office Locations
- La Crosse, WI
- Sparta, WI
Additional Areas We Serve
- Onalaska, WI
- West Salem, WI
- Black River Falls, WI
- Holmen, WI
- Tomah, WI
- Vernon County, WI
- La Crescent, MN
- Winona, MN
Don’t see your area listed above? Give us a call at 608-782-1469.
Truck Accident FAQs
How is a truck accident claim different from a car accident claim?
A truck accident may involve a commercial driver, one or more transportation companies, several insurance policies, federal or state safety requirements, and specialized records such as driver logs, electronic data, inspection files, and cargo documents. These additional issues can make early investigation especially important.
Who may be responsible for a commercial truck crash?
Depending on the facts and applicable law, responsibility may involve the truck driver, motor carrier, employer, truck or trailer owner, cargo loader, maintenance contractor, or another business involved in the trip. Contracts, ownership records, dispatch information, and insurance policies can help clarify each party’s role.
What evidence should be preserved after a truck accident?
Important evidence may include the truck and trailer, electronic logging device and onboard-system data, driver logs, dispatch records, inspection and maintenance files, driver qualification records, cargo documents, photographs, video, witness accounts, police reports, and medical records. The evidence needed depends on the crash.
Do federal trucking-rule violations prove who is responsible?
Not automatically. A violation may be relevant, but responsibility depends on the evidence, the law that applies, and whether the conduct contributed to the crash or injuries. The regulations should be evaluated alongside the full circumstances of the collision.
What if the trucking company is based in another state?
An out-of-state carrier can still be involved in a Wisconsin or Minnesota claim. The crash location, the parties, the carrier’s operations, the insurance policies, and jurisdictional rules must be reviewed to determine where and how a claim may proceed.
Does every commercial truck driver need a CDL?
No. Whether a CDL is required depends on the vehicle or combination’s weight and configuration, passenger capacity, hazardous-material status, and any applicable exemption. Some vehicles are commercial motor vehicles under safety regulations even though their drivers do not need a CDL. The vehicle specifications and operation should be verified rather than assumed.
What if the truck driver had the wrong CDL class or lacked an endorsement?
The driver’s license, CDL class, endorsements, restrictions, medical status, and qualification file should be compared with the vehicle and operation. A mismatch may be relevant to the investigation, but it does not automatically prove that the licensing issue caused the collision or establishes civil responsibility.
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim?
In general, Wisconsin allows three years to bring a motor vehicle personal injury claim, while Minnesota allows six years. Different or earlier deadlines may apply in some circumstances, including claims involving government entities. If the crash caused a death, wrongful death deadlines may differ. Speak with an attorney promptly rather than relying on a general deadline.
Can I recover compensation if I was partly at fault?
Wisconsin and Minnesota both allow recovery in some cases when an injured person shares fault, but compensation may be reduced and recovery may be barred depending on how fault is allocated. The standards differ by state. The crash evidence should be investigated before an insurer’s conclusion about fault is accepted.
How much does it cost to hire Bosshard Parke?
Bosshard Parke offers a free truck accident case evaluation. These matters are handled on a contingency basis, meaning attorney fees are not owed unless compensation is recovered. The written fee agreement will explain the terms and responsibility for case expenses.
Talk With a Truck Accident Attorney Serving Wisconsin and Minnesota
After a collision with a commercial truck, you may have questions about medical bills, lost income, insurance coverage, the companies involved, or what to do next. Bosshard Parke can review the circumstances, explain which laws and safety standards may apply, and help you evaluate your options.
To schedule a free truck accident case evaluation, call 608-782-1469, or request a consultation below.