Were you hurt in a commercial truck crash in Eau Claire, WI?
At Johnston | Martineau PLLP, people injured in commercial truck and big rig crashes across Eau Claire and western Wisconsin work with attorneys admitted in Wisconsin and supported by more than 40 years of combined experience.
If a semi-truck or other large commercial vehicle injured you in or around Eau Claire, our firm can begin protecting your Wisconsin claim today. Our Eau Claire, WI truck accident lawyer can preserve the trucking company's records, identify each party at fault under Wisconsin law, and pursue full compensation for your injuries. We handle the carrier and its insurers, secure the evidence before it disappears, and press for an amount that reflects your medical care, lost income, and long-term needs. The attorneys of Johnston | Martineau PLLP have represented injured people against trucking companies for decades. Schedule a free consultation to talk through what happened.
Truck Accident Lawyer Eau Claire, WI
A truck accident case arises when a large commercial vehicle collides with a smaller passenger vehicle, and the size difference makes the injuries far more serious. Federal trucking rules and Wisconsin law both govern these claims, which sets them apart from an ordinary car crash. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and needs far more room to stop than a car, which is why a collision at highway speed so often causes life-changing harm. Our firm handles these claims from the Minnesota border to the central part of the state.
According to national crash data, 5,472 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks in 2023, and most were occupants of the smaller vehicles involved. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation records large-truck crashes statewide in its Wisconsin crash data. Eau Claire sits on Interstate 94, the main freight route between Minneapolis and Madison, which keeps heavy trucks moving through the area day and night.
Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle in Eau Claire
Our work centers on the large commercial vehicles that move freight along Interstate 94 and the region's highways. The claims below reflect the big rig and commercial truck matters our Eau Claire truck accident attorneys handle across western Wisconsin.
- Semi-truck and tractor-trailer collisions. These 18-wheelers cause the most severe injuries on the interstate, and we examine driver logs, maintenance files, and onboard data to trace the cause. The forces involved can produce traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and broken bones that require months of treatment.
- Tanker truck accidents. Shifting liquid loads raise the risk of rollover, and tanker crashes carrying hazardous cargo add the danger of spills and fire.
- Fuel truck accidents. A fuel tanker collision can bring fire and chemical exposure, and these claims demand a close look at hazmat handling.
- Concrete and construction truck accidents. Mixers and heavy construction vehicles are common near the area's growth corridors, and these crashes often involve blind spots and unbalanced loads.
- Logging truck accidents. Wisconsin's timber industry keeps logging trucks on rural highways, where an unsecured load can spill across the road.
- Fatigue and maintenance-failure crashes. Overworked drivers and neglected brakes or tires cause preventable wrecks, and driver logs often reveal the pressure behind them. Federal rest requirements exist for a reason, and violations frequently surface once the records are examined.
- Fatal truck accidents and wrongful death. Losing a family member in a commercial truck crash calls for careful, respectful handling, and Wisconsin sets a shorter filing deadline for these claims when a vehicle is involved. We help surviving family members pursue accountability while protecting the deadline that applies to their claim.
Why Choose Johnston | Martineau PLLP as my Truck Accident Lawyer in Eau Claire, WI?
Admitted in Wisconsin and Backed by a Trial Firm
Christopher P. Martineau is admitted to practice in both Wisconsin and Minnesota, earned his undergraduate degree in Wisconsin, and belongs to the ATAA, an organization limited to attorneys with substantial truck-litigation experience. Before representing injured people, he worked as an insurance claims adjuster, which informs how he anticipates a carrier's defense. The firm handles Wisconsin truck claims of every kind, from semis and tankers to logging and concrete rigs, and treats each one as its own investigation.
Christopher A. Johnston concentrates on semi, tanker, and commercial vehicle cases and has been selected to Super Lawyers five times. Both attorneys earned their law degrees at what is now Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Clients in the area receive that same attention from our truck accident lawyer in Wisconsin.
Recognized Results in Serious Injury Claims
The firm has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients, and its trial preparation has drawn recognition from peers and rating organizations alike. That preparation shapes how the firm builds a claim from the first day, long before any courtroom date. Every claim depends on its own facts, and prior results do not predict what any new case will bring.
Understanding Truck Accident Cases
A truck accident claim in Eau Claire brings together Wisconsin law, federal regulation, and the physical evidence from the crash, and a semi-truck crash rarely resembles an ordinary collision. Because a single collision can involve the driver, the trucking company, and others, the work begins well before any lawsuit is filed.
What Is the Truck Accident Case Timeline?
Every claim follows its own timeline, though the stages are familiar. The work starts with an investigation and the preservation of evidence, continues through medical treatment until your condition stabilizes, and moves into negotiation with the insurers once your losses are clear. If a fair settlement does not follow, the case proceeds to a lawsuit. Acting early matters, because the evidence that decides most cases can disappear long before a claim is filed. Wisconsin generally allows three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim, and a wrongful death claim arising from a vehicle crash must be brought within two years of the date of death.
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Truck Accident Cases
Compensation is meant to restore what a crash takes from you. Under Wisconsin law, an injured person may pursue several categories of damages:
- Medical expenses, including future care and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life
- Property damage from the collision
Liability often extends beyond the driver to the motor carrier, a maintenance provider, or the company that loaded cargo insecurely. Wisconsin follows a comparative negligence rule that allows recovery as long as your share of fault is not greater than that of the party you are suing, with any award reduced by your percentage of responsibility. Insurers often argue that the injured person carried a large share of the blame, since a higher percentage lowers what they must pay, so a careful account of fault protects the value of a claim. Where a company acted with intentional disregard for safety, punitive damages may also be available.
What Are Important Aspects of a Truck Accident Case?
Trucking cases depend on evidence the carrier controls, such as electronic logs, engine data, driver training files, and maintenance records. That material can be overwritten or discarded within days, so preserving evidence early can determine whether key facts survive. A written demand sent to the carrier and its insurer is often one of the first steps we take. Photographs, witness accounts, and the physical evidence at the scene round out the picture and help reconstruct how the collision happened.
Most Dangerous Locations for Truck Accidents in Eau Claire
Heavy trucks in the Eau Claire area concentrate on a handful of routes.
- Interstate 94 carries the region's long-haul freight between Minnesota and Madison and sees frequent high-speed crashes.
- U.S. Highway 53 moves commercial traffic north and south through the city, while U.S. Highway 12 and Clairemont Avenue draw local delivery and construction trucks.
- To the north, Highway 29 serves as a major freight route toward central Wisconsin.
- River crossings and the interchange where Highway 53 meets Interstate 94 add further risk where traffic merges and slows.
Wisconsin winters bring ice and reduced visibility to these same corridors, which lengthens stopping distances for heavily loaded trucks.
What Should You Bring to Your Truck Accident Consultation?
Bringing a few documents helps our Eau Claire truck accident lawyers evaluate your claim. Useful items include:
- The crash or police report, if one exists
- Photographs of the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries
- Medical records and bills connected to the crash
- Insurance information and any adjuster correspondence
- Notes on missed work and lost income
Even an incomplete set is enough to start. The first consultation carries no charge, and it lets us explain your options under Wisconsin law.
Reach Out to Johnston | Martineau PLLP to Schedule a Consultation
A truck crash on a Wisconsin highway can cause months of medical treatment and lost income. Our Eau Claire truck accident lawyer can review the collision, explain how Wisconsin law applies, and pursue the compensation you are owed at no cost to you upfront. The attorneys of Johnston | Martineau PLLP represent injured people throughout Eau Claire and western Wisconsin. Contact us to schedule your consultation.