After an accident, there are many options available to you to claim compensation for your losses. Sometimes, you may have to file a lawsuit in civil court to claim the full damages you are entitled to. In the vast majority of cases, though, accident victims are able to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company that provides coverage to the truck driver or trucking company. Doing this is never easy. A Fort Lauderdale truck accident insurance lawyer can negotiate on your behalf and help you claim the fair settlement you need.
Our Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Insurance Lawyer Understands Policy Limits
Under Florida’s no-fault auto insurance laws, you will likely have to try and claim compensation from your own insurance company first. The minimum amount of personal injury protection (PIP) coverage that drivers are required to carry in the state is only $10,000, and most motorists do not purchase more than this. A Fort Lauderdale truck accident, though, will result in much greater losses than this amount. As a result, you will likely have to also file a claim with the truck driver’s insurance company or with the insurer that covers the trucking company.
Truck drivers and trucking companies are also required to carry minimum amounts of auto insurance. Due to the serious nature of the injuries caused by commercial vehicles, the minimum policy limits for truckers and the companies they work for are much greater than those for drivers of passenger vehicles. As a result, by filing this type of claim, accident victims can recover the full amount of compensation they need.
Our Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Insurance Lawyer Will Overcome the Challenges of These Claims
The insurance companies that represent truckers and trucking companies are much more concerned with their own profits than they are with your own safety and well-being. Additionally, there are other challenges you will face when filing these claims. These include:
- Multiple insurers: It is not uncommon for multiple parties to be at fault for a truck accident and when that is the case, you will have to deal with multiple insurance companies, including those that cover the trucker and the company they work for.
- Disappearing evidence: Insurance companies will send an adjuster out to the accident scene in the hours following the crash. While they are conducting their investigation, they will also erase evidence that shows the trucker or trucking company was at fault.
- Low settlement offers: Insurance companies will almost always offer a settlement that is far too low to fully cover the cost of your injuries and other losses. If you accept, you cannot go back in the future to claim further damages.
A skilled Fort Lauderdale accident lawyer will know how to overcome the challenges presented by the insurance company so you can recover the fair settlement you are entitled to.
Trucking Insurance Carriers Often Use Delay Tactics to Devalue Claims
Some of the biggest insurance carriers know that time is on their side. The longer they delay your claim, the more pressure you may feel to settle for less than you need. These strategies are not just frustrating. They are designed to save the insurer money, not help you recover.
Withholding Key Policy Documents and Claim Info
One of the first tactics we often see is an insurer refusing to send you the full policy information or liability decision, as required under Florida Statutes § 627.4137. Without that, you are left guessing about the limits, coverage terms, and whether the company plans to take responsibility at all. That missing information slows everything down and makes it harder for you to plan your next steps.
This delay is not an accident. It keeps you in the dark and puts you in a weaker position. Our firm pushes back immediately to request every document you are entitled to see.
Prolonged Medical Record Requests and Claim “Reviews”
Another common delay tactic is the repeated request for medical records that have already been sent. Some carriers ask for the same paperwork multiple times or schedule unnecessary file reviews just to stretch things out. While this is happening, you may still be waiting for care or wondering if your bills will be covered.
This kind of delay puts pressure on you to accept a lower offer just to get closure. It is a strategy that works on people who are tired, hurt, and trying to move forward. We know how to spot these patterns and challenge them early so your claim keeps moving and your recovery stays the priority.
Information to Gather Before Speaking With the Trucking Company’s Insurer
You do not have to handle everything on your own, but it helps to be ready when the insurance company calls. Getting a few key details together early on can make a big difference in how your claim is handled. Here are a few things our firm recommends you keep track of from the start:
- Insurance cards for all vehicles involved
- Copy of your PIP declaration page
- Names and contact information for all drivers and witnesses
- Police report number and responding officer details
- Initial treatment records or ER discharge paperwork
- Photos of vehicle damage and the crash scene
- Contact info for the tow yard or repair facility your vehicle was brought to
- Any communication received from insurance adjusters
Having this information upfront helps us push back when insurers delay, deflect, or deny coverage. Our firm works closely with you to organize these details and present your claim clearly from day one. This kind of early preparation helps reduce confusion, prevent mistakes, and keep your claim moving forward.
What Happens When Insurance Coverage Is Split Across Multiple Policies
Some trucking cases are more complicated than they seem. When more than one insurance policy is involved, coverage can be split between different companies, each with its own limits and rules. The two examples below show how this can affect your claim and why it helps to know how these layers work.
Layered Commercial Policies With Separate Bodily Injury Limits
Many trucking companies carry both primary and excess insurance policies, which means your claim may need to go through more than one carrier. Primary coverage may max out quickly, especially in crashes involving serious or catastrophic injuries. If there is a self-insured retention or a delay in moving from one layer to the next, it can create confusion and slow everything down.
Dual-Driver or Cargo-Linked Policies in Multi-Contract Hauls
In some cases, the truck and trailer are insured under separate contracts. If a driver was hauling goods for multiple parties, each one may have its own policy that only applies under certain terms.
Our Truck Accident Insurance Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale Will Review Your Case for Free
Do not deal with any insurance company on your own. At Rosen Injury Law, P.A., our Fort Lauderdale truck accident insurance lawyer can help you file your claim so you receive full compensation. Call us today at 954-787-1500 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.