Fort Lauderdale, a bustling hub for both maritime and air freight, sees a constant flow of semi-truck traffic. With Port Everglades ranking as a top container port and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport handling substantial air cargo, tractor-trailers are a common sight on highways like I-95 and I-595. This heavy truck traffic, while vital for commerce, increases the risk of accidents, making the expertise of a Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer invaluable for those involved in such collisions.
All of this non-stop truck traffic day and night creates special dangers for passenger vehicles on the road. In 2019, Broward County saw 4,312 commercial motor vehicle accidents, yielding 1,083 injuries and 12 deaths. Broward ranks as the second-most two county in the state when it comes to truck accidents. Far and away, injuries and deaths in truck accidents fall to the occupants of the smaller and lighter passenger cars as opposed to the drivers of the big rigs.
Unfortunately, collisions with an 18-wheeler are highly likely to end in catastrophic injury or require a Fort Lauderdale wrongful death attorney. After a truck accident, it’s imperative to get help from an experienced and successful truck accident lawyer who knows what to do to make sure you get the appropriate level of care and compensation. Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer Eric Rosen is a Florida Board-Certified Specialist with a record of success taking on large corporations and winning significant verdicts. Let Rosen Injury Law, P.A. help you if you’ve been the victim of an 18-wheeler truck accident in Fort Lauderdale.
Why Choose Rosen Injury for Your Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Case?
We offer our clients several advantages, including:
- Complimentary Consultations: We offer free initial consultations to discuss your case and explore your legal options without any obligation.
- No Fees Unless We Win: Our services operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay us if we successfully secure compensation for you.
- Personal attention: We take the time to get to know each of our clients and their individual needs. We provide our clients with the best personal attention and support throughout the legal process.
- Aggressive advocacy: We are aggressive advocates for our clients. We will fight hard to get you the maximum compensation possible for your injuries and losses.
What Is A Contingency Fee In A Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident?
A contingency fee is a payment arrangement commonly used in personal injury cases, including truck accident claims. Under this agreement, you don’t pay any upfront legal fees. Instead, your attorney only gets paid if they successfully recover compensation on your behalf—either through a settlement or a court verdict.
This means your attorney’s fee is “contingent” upon winning your case. The fee is typically a percentage of the total amount recovered, which will be clearly explained before you agree to representation. If your case is not successful, you owe no attorney’s fees.
At our Fort Lauderdale firm, we offer contingency fee arrangements to ensure that every truck accident victim has access to skilled legal representation, regardless of their financial situation. This approach lets you focus on healing while we focus on holding the responsible parties accountable.
Client Testimonials
“There is no better legal team in the State of Florida than Eric Rosen’s Legal Team. They stand taller than the tallest building in Florida. They win because they are brilliant, and they know how to win.”
– Marc
“The level of expertise, work ethic, hospitality, tenacity for the pursuit of justice, and incredibly empathetic nature Eric puts forth for his clients and co-workers are second to none. Eric and his team took care of my family and me as if we were their own family. If you are looking for an honest and straightforward attorney that will represent you or your loved ones with pride and integrity, look no further than Eric Rosen and Rosen Injury Attorneys!”
– Mike G.
Types of Truck Accidents a Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You With
Fort Lauderdale’s bustling highways and intersections witness a range of truck accidents, each posing unique challenges for victims. Some of the most common types include:
- Jackknife Accidents: These happen when a truck’s trailer folds at an angle, usually from hard braking or slick roads. Jackknifes can block multiple lanes and cause devastating multi-vehicle collisions.
- Rollover Accidents: Trucks are prone to rollovers due to their high center of gravity. These accidents are often caused by sharp turns, overloading, or uneven cargo distribution. Rollovers can result in severe injuries to truck drivers and occupants of other vehicles.
- Rear-End Collisions: Due to their size and weight, trucks need a longer stopping distance. Rear-end collisions with trucks can be particularly dangerous for passenger vehicles, often leading to catastrophic injuries.
- Underride Accidents: These happen when a smaller vehicle goes under a truck’s trailer during a crash, often causing serious harm or death. Side underride accidents are especially concerning, as many trucks lack side guards.
- Head-On Collisions: While less frequent, head-on collisions with trucks are often devastating due to the immense force involved. These accidents can be caused by driver fatigue, distraction, or impairment.
Every truck accident has unique legal challenges. That’s why our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers always strive to be the best they can to help you navigate your specific situation and build a compelling case for compensation.
Causes of Fort Lauderdale Truck Accidents
Overworked Truck Drivers & Fatigue
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Fatigue among commercial truck drivers is a leading cause of accidents in Fort Lauderdale.
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Drowsy driving affects all drivers, but is especially dangerous for truckers due to:
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Long hours on the road.
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Repetitive, punishing driving schedules.
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Rule Violations and Dangers
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Despite the legal limits, truckers often exceed them, driving longer than allowed.
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Effects of drowsy driving include:
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Inattention and distraction.
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Slower reaction times and poor judgment.
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Risk of falling asleep at the wheel.
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Negligent driving significantly increases the risk of accidents.
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Holding drivers and trucking companies accountable is crucial for public safety.
Poor Truck Maintenance
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Truck maintenance issues are another major contributor to accidents.
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One in five trucks fails annual roadside inspections and is pulled from service for:
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Defective tires or brakes.
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Faulty coupling devices, mirrors, signal lights, or other key safety features.
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Improperly Loaded Trucks
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Unbalanced or overloaded trucks can cause:
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Loss of control.
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Dangerous situations like jackknife or rollover accidents.
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Underride Accidents
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Smaller vehicles face deadly risks in underride collisions, where:
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A car slides underneath the trailer of a truck.
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While most trucks have rear underride guards:
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Older models can’t withstand collisions with heavier modern vehicles.
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Side underride guards are not federally required, and few companies install them voluntarily.
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Injuries Commonly Seen in Fort Lauderdale Truck Accidents
The sheer size and weight of commercial trucks make accidents involving them particularly dangerous, often resulting in serious injuries. Victims often suffer severe and life-altering injuries, such as:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): TBIs can result in cognitive impairments, memory loss, and personality changes. Contact a brain injury attorney in Fort Lauderdale today.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: These injuries can lead to paralysis, loss of sensation, and chronic pain. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a Fort Lauderdale spinal cord injury lawyer to review your case.
- Broken Bones and Fractures: Truck accidents can cause multiple fractures, requiring extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
- Internal Injuries: Internal bleeding and organ damage can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
- Burns and Lacerations: Accidents involving fires or explosions can cause severe burns, while flying debris can lead to deep lacerations. Our Fort Lauderdale burn injury lawyers are here for you every step of the way.
These injuries often require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing care. A Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorney can help you pursue compensation for all your medical expenses, both current and future.
Liability in Fort Lauderdale Truck Accidents
Liability depends on the cause of your truck accident. At Rosen Injury Law, we leave no stone unturned when investigating your accident to determine all possible causes and all potentially liable parties.
Some potentially liable parties in a Fort Lauderdale truck accident claim may include:
- The truck driver.
- The trucking company.
- The owner of the truck.
- The persons responsible for loading and securing the cargo.
- A negligent employment screening company.
- A government entity responsible for negligently maintained or defectively designed roads or traffic signals.
- The driver or owner of another vehicle involved in your accident.
- The manufacturer of equipment that fails and contributes to the cause of your accident.
- A pedestrian.
- A bicyclist.
Proving Negligence in a Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Case
Most Fort Lauderdale truck accidents are based on the theory of negligence. To be successful in a negligence claim you must prove that four elements exist.
First, you must prove that the defendant owed you a duty of care. All motorists owe a duty of care to operate their vehicle safely and take reasonable steps to avoid harming others.
Then, you must prove that the defendant breached their duty of care by their negligent action or inaction. For example, a driver intentionally ran through a red light because they were impatient.
Next, you must prove that the defendant’s breach of duty action or inaction was the cause of your accident. In the above example, the defendant running through the red light and crashing into you must be the cause of your accident and injuries.
Finally, you must prove that you suffered actual damages because of the defendant’s negligent action or inaction These elements can be hotly contested in a trucking accident case. At Rosen Injury Law, our attorneys have the skills and experience to painstakingly prove each element of negligence and help recover the compensation you deserve.
To help prove cause, liability and damages in your trucking accident case, we use many types of evidence. Some of the common types of evidence used in a Fort Lauderdale trucking accident claim includes:
- Accident reports.
- Expert testimony of accident reconstructionists or others with specialized knowledge applicable in trucking accident cases.
- Photographs and video footage taken at the accident scene.
- Dashcam video footage.
- Surveillance video footage from nearby businesses and residences.
- Traffic camera video.
- The event data recorder from vehicles involved in the accident.
- Cell phone records.
- Eyewitness testimony.
- Medical records.
- Income tax returns and pay stubs.
- Testimony and reports from medical and economic experts.
- Driver logs.
- Maintenance records.
At Rosen Injury Law, we carefully consider and choose the best evidence to prove your claims and build your strongest case.
What Compensation Can I Recover For My Damages?
The type and amount of compensation you can recover for your damages is dependent on several factors. Two of the most significant factors are the severity of your injuries and the insurance coverage available to pay your compensation.
In most truck accident claims the available insurance coverage is sufficient to cover damages since commercial trucks are required to provide extensive liability coverage.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all semi trucks that travel across state lines for business to carry certain levels of liability coverage depending on the size of the vehicles and the cargo they haul.
In a successful Fort Lauderdale truck accident claim you should be able to recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and other financial costs incurred by your accident.
Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, mental and emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and other intangible losses incurred by your accident and injuries.
Florida law only allows for awarding punitive damages when a defendant is guilty of intentional misconduct or gross negligence. Our attorneys fight hard to recover all compensation available for our clients.
What Happens After a Trucking Accident In Fort Lauderdale?
When Rosen Injury Law, P.A. is informed of a trucking accident in Fort Lauderdale, our team of Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys goes to work right away investigating the accident and securing evidence that shows what happened. As a truck accident victim, it is crucial to gather evidence and build a strong case to advocate for your needs and rights. Trucking company insurance carriers are often quick on the scene with a check to make the matter go away, but their offers to unrepresented injury victims are far too low.
We use our knowledge and experience to identify all liable parties to a complex truck accident and build cases that prove each responsible party’s liability to the injury victim. When the time is right, we settle for an appropriate amount or take the case to court to secure a significant jury verdict that fully compensates our clients for the harm done to them.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Fort Lauderdale
The aftermath of a truck accident can be overwhelming. However, taking the right steps can protect your rights and help you secure the compensation you deserve. Here’s what to do:
- Prioritize Your Health: Seeking medical attention should be your first step, even if you feel okay. Some injuries may not show symptoms right away, so a medical professional’s evaluation is crucial.
- Document the Scene: If you’re able, take pictures of the accident, your injuries, and any damage to your car. Get contact details from people who saw what happened.
- Contact a Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Lawyer: An experienced attorney can guide you through the legal process, investigate the accident, and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. Proper legal representation is crucial for a successful truck accident claim.
- Avoid Talking to the Trucking Company’s Insurance Adjuster: They may try to get you to settle for less than you deserve. Let your lawyer handle all communication with the insurance company.
- Focus on Your Recovery: Your physical and emotional well-being is essential. Let your lawyer handle the legal complexities while you focus on healing.
How a Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
A Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer with the best intentions can provide invaluable assistance in the aftermath of a collision. Truck accident attorneys can:
- Investigate the Accident: Thoroughly investigate the accident to determine liability and gather evidence to support your claim.
- Identify Liable Parties: Truck accidents often involve multiple parties, such as the truck driver, trucking company, cargo loaders, and maintenance providers. A lawyer can identify all responsible parties and hold them accountable.
- Negotiate with Insurance Companies: Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts. A capable attorney will fight tirelessly to get you the best possible settlement.
- Fight for You in Court: If a fair agreement can’t be made, your lawyer is ready to take your case to trial and advocate for your rights.
- Provide Support and Guidance: Truck accident lawyers can offer emotional support and guidance throughout the legal process, answering your questions and addressing your concerns.
How to Choose the Right Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Attorney
Choosing the right truck accident attorney in Fort Lauderdale can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. Truck accidents often involve complex legal and insurance issues, so it’s crucial to work with an attorney who has the right experience and qualifications. Here are some key factors to consider:
Experience with Truck Accident Cases
Not all personal injury attorneys have experience handling truck accidents. Look for a lawyer who specifically focuses on trucking cases and understands federal trucking regulations, liability issues, and the tactics used by trucking companies and their insurers.
Track Record of Success
Ask about the attorney’s results in similar cases. A strong history of favorable verdicts and settlements can indicate their ability to negotiate effectively or win in court.
Resources and Network
Truck accident cases often require extensive investigation and expert testimony. Choose an attorney or firm that has access to accident reconstruction specialists, medical professionals, and investigators who can strengthen your case.
Client Reviews and Reputation
Read client testimonials and check independent reviews. Look for feedback regarding communication, professionalism, and results. A solid reputation in the legal community can also be a good indicator of the attorney’s reliability.
Personalized Attention
You want a lawyer who will treat your case with the attention it deserves. During your consultation, assess whether the attorney takes time to understand your situation and provides clear answers to your questions.
Contingency Fee Arrangement
Most reputable truck accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless they win your case. Make sure the fee structure is transparent and fair.
By taking the time to evaluate these factors, you can feel more confident in selecting a Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorney who will fight for your rights and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Get Help With Truck Accidents in Fort Lauderdale
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a Fort Lauderdale truck accident, call Rosen Injury Law, P.A. at 954-787-1500 for a free consultation, and find out how we can help you get the care and compensation you need after being injured in a truck accident through no fault of your own.