Cochran Firm Wisconsin Legal Blog

When “intra” precedes a word, it means “within”. When “inter” precedes a word, it means “between.” While similar in sound, the two words hold very different meanings and, when it comes to truck accidents, very different legal implications.

Interstate Trucking

Interstate transportation is heavily regulated by the federal government. Specific laws must be followed in each state. For example, in some states it is illegal for a truck to enter the left-hand lane. Even if this is not the law in the state the truck originated from, the driver must adhere to the regulations of each state he drives through. Additionally, each state a truck passes through will have rules regarding registration and fees. The company the trucker works for is responsible for making sure these technicalities are taken care of in every state their driver will pass through.

Intrastate Trucking

Intrastate transportation has fewer federal regulations. While the trucker must still hold a commercial driver’s license and pay regulatory fees, they only need to be aware of a single set of state laws, since they will not be leaving the state they originated from. Truckers who travel within their state may still be driving for a long distance, but accidents caused by intrastate truckers are often considered less complex.

Both interstate and intrastate truck accidents can result in severe penalties for trucking companies. In the state of Wisconsin, people who have been injured by either type of trucker can turn to the Cochran Firm to aggressively pursue negligent truck drivers and the companies that employ them.

If you have been injured by a commercial truck in Milwaukee or surrounding areas of Wisconsin, please contact the experienced truck accident attorneys at the Cochran Firm Wisconsin today to schedule a free initial consultation.