Following a commercial truck accident in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliance records can serve as crucial evidence in establishing liability and securing fair compensation. These records provide detailed documentation of a trucking company's safety practices, maintenance schedules, driver qualifications, and regulatory compliance history. Key areas covered by FMCSA records include hours-of-service logs, vehicle inspection reports, driver qualification files, drug and alcohol testing records, and crash history data. For injury victims, these records can reveal patterns of negligence, maintenance failures, or regulatory violations that may have contributed to the accident. Understanding how to obtain and effectively utilize FMCSA compliance records is essential for building a strong personal injury case, as they can demonstrate whether the trucking company met federal safety standards and fulfilled their duty of care to other motorists on Wisconsin highways.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Wisconsin law, victims of commercial truck accidents have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (Wis. Stat. § 893.54). The state follows a modified comparative negligence system, allowing recovery as long as the plaintiff is not more than 51% at fault. Commercial trucks typically carry mandatory liability insurance with minimum coverage of $750,000, though many carriers maintain higher limits. Compensation may include economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages, property damage) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress). Punitive damages may be available in cases involving egregious violations of FMCSA regulations. Victims have the right to request preservation of electronic logging device (ELD) data and other FMCSA compliance records, but prompt action is crucial as some records may only be retained for six months. An experienced Green Bay truck crash lawyer will handle all aspects of the legal claim.

A good injury attorney can handle a variety of injury and accident claims including:

• Green Bay car accidents
• Green Bay pedestrian accidents
• Green Bay motorcycle accidents
• Green Bay workplace accidents
• Green Bay brain injuries
• Green Bay spine injuries
• Green Bay wrongful death claims

Related Resources

Local Courts

• Brown County Circuit Court
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin (Green Bay Division)

Support Services

• Wisconsin Department of Transportation - Motor Carrier Safety Program
• Brain Injury Alliance of Wisconsin
• Wisconsin State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service

Regulatory Resources

• Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual
• FMCSA Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System
• Wisconsin Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (Trans 325-327)
• Wisconsin State Patrol Motor Carrier Enforcement Information System

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