Learn about Wisconsin’s truck accident filing deadline, evidence preservation, and how Natasha Misra Law can help protect your claim.
In Wisconsin, you generally have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit after a truck accident. But waiting anywhere close to three years can make your case harder to prove. Commercial trucking cases can involve electronic driving logs, vehicle data, inspection records, company documents, surveillance footage, and other evidence that may be lost or overwritten much sooner.
At Natasha Misra Law, we handle serious truck and motor vehicle accident claims throughout Milwaukee and Wisconsin. When you call us, we do not expect you to know what records to request or which company may ultimately be responsible. Our team investigates the crash, identifies the evidence that needs to be preserved, deals with the insurance companies, and keeps you informed while you focus on your medical treatment.
For most Wisconsin personal injury claims arising from a motor vehicle accident, a lawsuit must be commenced within three years.
That may sound like plenty of time. It is not a good reason to wait.
A truck accident on I-94, I-43, I-41, the Marquette Interchange, or another busy Milwaukee-area roadway can involve much more evidence than an ordinary two-car collision. The truck may be owned by one company, operated by another, carrying freight for another business, and insured through commercial policies you know nothing about when the crash happens.
Figuring out who may be responsible takes time.
The legal filing deadline is only one deadline we think about.
Commercial trucks may generate electronic information about driving time and vehicle operation. Trucking companies may also have driver qualification records, inspection and maintenance documents, dispatch information, and other records relevant to what happened.
Some federally required electronic logging records are retained for only six months.
That is one reason contacting a lawyer early can matter. Our team can determine what evidence may exist and take steps to preserve relevant records before they are routinely deleted, overwritten, or become harder to obtain.
“Three years can sound like a long time, but I would never tell someone with a serious truck accident case to wait. The earlier we can investigate, the better opportunity we have to preserve the evidence and understand exactly what happened.” - Natasha Misra
Truck accident cases can involve more than the person behind the wheel.
Depending on the facts, responsibility may involve the:
Part of our job is determining whose decisions contributed to the collision and what insurance coverage may be available.
You should not have to figure that out while recovering from an injury.
Some Wisconsin claims involving governmental entities, agencies, or employees have additional notice requirements. In certain cases, written notice of the circumstances of the claim may be required within 120 days.
These rules have exceptions and additional requirements, so this is not an area where you want to guess about the deadline.
If there is any possibility that a government vehicle or governmental entity was involved in your accident, tell your attorney right away.
Do not mistake a quick call from an insurance adjuster for a sign that your claim is straightforward.
A commercial insurer may already be gathering evidence, speaking with its insured, reviewing the driver’s records, and looking for ways to limit what it pays.
The insurance company has people protecting its interests. You should too.
Before giving a recorded statement, signing a release, or accepting a settlement, make sure someone has looked at the full picture: your injuries, future treatment, lost income, available insurance, and the evidence surrounding the crash.
Don’t Sign Until We Talk.
After a serious truck accident, our clients are often dealing with pain, medical appointments, missed work, and a vehicle they cannot drive. They should not also have to chase down a trucking company for records.
At Natasha Misra Law, we take that work off your plate. Natasha remains personally involved while an experienced personal injury team handles the investigation, insurance communications, medical documentation, and other details of the claim.
If your own vehicle was damaged, we can also help with the property damage portion when insurance coverage allows, including repairs, total loss issues, towing, storage, and rental vehicle concerns.
If you were injured in a truck accident in Milwaukee, West Allis, Wauwatosa, Greenfield, Waukesha, Racine, Madison, Appleton, Green Bay, or elsewhere in Wisconsin, the legal deadline may be years away while important evidence has a much shorter lifespan.
Call Natasha Misra Law for a free consultation. Tell us what happened, and let our team take it from there.
You do not pay unless we win.
