After a commercial truck accident in Wisconsin, the bill of lading becomes a crucial piece of evidence that can significantly impact your personal injury claim. This document serves as both a receipt and a contract, detailing the cargo being transported, its origin, destination, and the parties involved in the shipment. In truck accident cases, bills of lading can reveal critical information about cargo weight, loading procedures, and delivery schedules that may have contributed to the accident. The document can help establish liability by showing whether weight restrictions were violated, if hazardous materials were properly declared, or if time pressures from tight delivery schedules may have influenced driver behavior. Understanding how to properly obtain and interpret bills of lading is essential for building a strong personal injury case, as these documents often provide key evidence about potential negligence in cargo handling, route planning, and regulatory compliance.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Wisconsin follows a modified comparative negligence system under Wisconsin Statute § 895.045, which allows injured parties to recover damages as long as they are not more than 51% at fault. Commercial carriers must maintain minimum insurance coverage of $750,000 for general freight carriers under federal regulations, though many maintain higher coverage. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Wisconsin is three years from the date of the accident (Wis. Stat. § 893.54). Victims may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. Under Wisconsin law, motor carriers must retain bills of lading and other shipping documents for a minimum of three years, and these records can be subpoenaed as evidence in personal injury claims.

Types of truck accident lawyers in include:

• Green Bay fatigued truck driver accident lawyer(link is external)
• Green Bay brake failure accident attorney(link is external)
• Green Bay truck tire failure accident attorney(link is external)
• Green Bay truck improper load accident attorney(link is external)
• Green Bay jackknife truck accident law firm(link is external)
• Green Bay sideswipe truck accident attorney(link is external)

Related Resources

Local Courts:

• Wisconsin Circuit Courts (by county)
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin

Support Services:

• Wisconsin Department of Transportation Accident Reports
• Brain Injury Alliance of Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers
• Wisconsin Association for Justice

Regulatory Resources:

• Wisconsin Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (Trans 325)
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations
• Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual
• Wisconsin Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Section

Return to the Wisconsin trucking regulations information page