For those who have been through a serious accident with an 18-wheeler in Wisconsin, the word "different" actually means "devastating." Eighty-five percent of the victims injured or killed in accidents with large trucks are occupants of passenger cars, and this is mostly due to the trucks' massive strength, weight, and size.

Accidents with large trucks are, however, different in other ways:

• The trucking industry is subject to numerous, far-reaching and detailed safety regulations.
• The plaintiff does not face a private person but a corporation, usually a large motor carrier operating hundreds or thousands of trucks.

Rules and regulations

Recognizing the unique risks associated with large trucks weighing up to 80,000 pounds sharing the road with much smaller and more vulnerable vehicles, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued very detailed rules dealing with:

• Truck drivers' license, record and qualifications;
• Truck drivers' health and drug or alcohol use tests;
• Motor carriers' and truck owners' insurance requirements;
• Truck drivers' maximum hours of service and driving, and minimum rest periods;
• Motor carriers' and truck owners' inspection, maintenance, and repair obligations.

After a crash caused by a large truck, the motor carrier and their insurers will be concerned that there might be evidence of their, or the truck driver's, failure to abide by the rules. Truck drivers report hours of service on logbooks that can easily be tampered with. Dysfunctional brakes may have aggravated the crash, or a drowsy truck driver on medication may have caused it. Their representatives will often be on the scene at once to remove whatever papers, electronic devices or other evidence there is that would prove damaging to their case.

Powerful companies

Victims of accidents with large trucks in Wisconsin often have to file claims for huge amounts in order to receive compensation for the terrible damage they have suffered. On the other side, many motor carriers and insurers deal with traffic accidents almost daily, and have become expert tacticians in order to limit or discard claims that are a threat to their balance sheet.

Only a top-rated truck accident lawyer, experienced and successful in both negotiations and litigation with powerful opponents, can give you the crucial support you need to fight for justice and win your case.

If you have been hurt in a Wisconsin or Illinois car, truck or motorcycle accident, contact the attorneys of Hupy & Abraham, S.C. today at 800-800-5676 (toll-free) or 414-223-4800 (local) for a free evaluation of your case, or send us an e-mail with your questions. Hupy & Abraham has lawyer offices in Milwaukee, Madison, and Appleton in Wisconsin, and Gurnee and Bloomington in Illinois.