Commercial truck accidents pose catastrophic risks to passenger vehicle occupants throughout Jefferson County, Wisconsin, due to the extreme disparity in vehicle size, weight, and structural integrity. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds—approximately 20 times heavier than the average passenger car—creating devastating force during collisions that often result in severe injuries or fatalities for smaller vehicle occupants. The dangers are amplified by several critical factors: extended stopping distances that can exceed 300 feet at highway speeds, blind spots that span multiple lanes, jackknifing and rollover risks, underride collisions where smaller vehicles become trapped beneath trailers, and the potential for hazardous cargo spills. In Jefferson County, where Interstate 94 and U.S. Highway 18 carry significant commercial traffic through cities like Watertown, Fort Atkinson, and Jefferson, these accidents frequently involve complex liability issues including driver fatigue, improper load securing, inadequate vehicle maintenance, and violations of federal trucking regulations. Victims of commercial truck accidents in Jefferson County may pursue personal injury claims against multiple parties—including trucking companies, drivers, cargo loaders, and maintenance providers—to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term rehabilitation needs that often accompany these life-altering collisions.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Wisconsin operates under comparative negligence laws (Wisconsin Statutes § 895.045), meaning accident victims can recover damages even if partially at fault, provided their fault doesn't exceed 50%. Commercial truck accidents fall under both state traffic regulations and federal Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), which govern hours of service, vehicle maintenance, and driver qualifications. Wisconsin requires minimum insurance coverage of $1 million for interstate commercial carriers, though catastrophic injuries often exceed these limits. Victims must file personal injury claims within three years under Wisconsin's statute of limitations (Wis. Stat. § 893.54), while wrongful death claims must be filed within three years from the date of death. Available compensation may include economic damages (medical bills, lost income, future care costs), non-economic damages (pain and suffering, loss of quality of life), and in cases of gross negligence, punitive damages. Given the complexity of federal regulations, multiple liable parties, and sophisticated insurance defense strategies employed by trucking companies, detailed accident reconstruction and regulatory compliance analysis prove essential in establishing liability. 

Related Resources

Local Courts:

• Jefferson County Circuit Court: 311 S. Center Avenue, Jefferson, WI 53549 | (920) 674-7220
• Wisconsin Court System: https://www.wicourts.gov

Support Services:

• Jefferson County Department of Human Services: (920) 674-7270
• Wisconsin Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicle Crash Reports: https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/license-drvs/susp-or-rvk/accidnt-rpt.aspx
• Wisconsin Office of Victim Services: https://ocvs.ojp.gov/program/victim-compensation/wisconsin

State Traffic Laws and Regulations:

• Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 346 (Rules of the Road): https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/346
• Wisconsin Commercial Motor Vehicle Regulations: https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/com-drv-vehs/mtr-car-trkr/default.aspx
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA): https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov
• Wisconsin State Patrol - Commercial Vehicle Enforcement: https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/about-wisdot/who-we-are/dtsd/dsp/default.aspx

Return to the Jefferson accident information page