Injured in a Truck Accident Near Plantation?
A truck accident can turn an ordinary drive along University Drive or I-595 into a frightening situation within seconds, leaving you with a damaged vehicle, a pounding headache, and questions you never expected to face. A collision with an 18-wheeler or box truck is not like a routine fender-bender because the size difference can cause injuries that affect your daily life, rising medical bills, and pressure from an insurance adjuster who may seem more focused on closing the claim than listening to what you and your family are going through.
At Cohen & Juda, P.A., we have represented Plantation families since 1999, and we know how disorienting the days after a truck crash can feel. You could be dealing with medical appointments, missed work, transportation problems, and calls from an insurance company while still trying to process what happened. Our team provides direct, personal support, explains each step in clear language, and helps you pursue a claim against the people or companies whose negligence contributed to the collision.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a truck wreck near Plantation, call us today at (954) 424-1440 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Our truck accident lawyers can listen to what you are facing, answer your questions, and provide personal representation throughout your case.
Key Takeaways
A few things to keep in mind about truck accident cases are:
- Truck crashes can cause serious injuries. Because tractor-trailers and delivery vehicles weigh far more than passenger cars, crashes involving them can cause severe harm. Common causes include driver fatigue, distracted driving, speeding, and hours-of-service violations.
- Compensation can be reduced based on fault, and a person found more than 50 percent responsible for their own harm generally may not recover damages in a negligence action covered by Florida law.
- Florida generally provides two years to file a negligence lawsuit arising from a truck accident, although different deadlines or notice requirements can apply.
- The driver, trucking company, cargo loader, maintenance provider, or parts manufacturer could share responsibility.
- The process often includes evidence gathering, medical documentation, negotiation, and litigation when a fair settlement cannot be reached.
- Cohen & Juda, P.A. can help investigate the crash, gather trucking company records, identify the parties who could share responsibility, communicate with insurers, document your injuries and financial losses, and prepare the case for litigation when needed.
What Is a Truck Accident Claim?
A truck accident claim is a legal action that allows an injured person to pursue compensation after a collision caused by the negligence of a truck driver, trucking company, or another responsible party. These claims commonly involve commercial vehicles operating for business purposes, such as a tractor-trailer hauling freight along I-595, a delivery truck making stops through a Plantation neighborhood, or a bobtail tractor traveling without an attached trailer.
Because commercial trucking operations often involve several people and businesses, responsibility may extend beyond the driver. Parties that could share liability include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company or motor carrier
- The truck or trailer owner
- The cargo loading company
- A maintenance or repair provider
- The manufacturer of a defective truck part
A truck accident claim often requires a broader investigation than a standard car accident case because it can involve commercial records, federal trucking rules, several insurance policies, and multiple potentially responsible parties.
A Plantation truck accident lawyer can review police reports, witness statements, electronic data, maintenance records, and driver files to determine how the crash happened and who could be responsible.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck crashes around Plantation happen for many of the same reasons they occur elsewhere, but local traffic conditions can add to the risk. Vehicles converge near I-595, Florida’s Turnpike, and University Drive, while delivery and freight trucks regularly travel Broward Boulevard during busy commuting hours.
Frequent contributing factors include:
- Driver fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Following too closely
- Speeding
- Poorly secured or overloaded cargo
Federal hours-of-service rules limit how long certain truck drivers can remain behind the wheel without rest, but fatigue-related crashes can still occur. Federal regulations also prohibit a commercial motor vehicle driver from using alcohol within four hours before going on duty or operating the vehicle. Fatigue, impairment, and other unsafe conduct can make collisions involving large trucks especially dangerous for people in passenger vehicles.
Common Injuries From Truck Accidents
Truck accident victims can suffer injuries that affect their ability to work, care for family members, drive, sleep, or complete daily tasks. Traumatic brain injuries can cause problems with memory, concentration, mood, and judgment, while spinal cord and back injuries can lead to herniated discs, fractures, nerve damage, paralysis, or chronic pain after a serious motor vehicle accident.
Depending on the severity, treatment can include emergency surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medication, mobility equipment, or long-term assistance. Truck collisions may also cause:
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Crush injuries
- Burns
- Amputations
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Neck and shoulder injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Anxiety, depression, and sleep problems
Medical bills may continue long after the first hospital visit. A truck accident attorney can review past treatment, projected care, rehabilitation, medication, assistive equipment, lost wages, lost income, and reduced earning capacity.
Truck accident victims can pursue economic damages for documented losses such as medical expenses, lost income, and property damage. Non-economic damages can include pain, suffering, disability, and loss of enjoyment of life when Florida law permits. A claim should account for the full effect of the injuries rather than only the initial emergency expenses. Medical documentation and testimony from qualified professionals can help explain how the truck accident affected the injured person’s health, employment, and daily life.
Who May Share Liability After a Plantation Truck Accident
Because a commercial truck rarely operates in isolation, more than one party can share fault after a crash. The driver could have been fatigued, distracted, or speeding, while the trucking company could bear responsibility for unsafe hiring, training, supervision, maintenance, or scheduling practices that pressured the driver to skip required rest periods.
A cargo loading company could also share liability if improperly secured freight shifted and caused the driver to lose control or the truck to roll over. A maintenance contractor or parts manufacturer could be responsible if brake trouble, tire failure, or another mechanical problem contributed to the collision. Identifying each responsible party can also help determine which commercial insurance policies could apply to the claim.
Benefits of Choosing Cohen & Juda for a Truck Accident Claim
Choosing a Plantation-based truck accident lawyer offers practical advantages that go beyond convenience. Cohen & Juda, P.A. provides personal representation, clear communication, and support throughout each stage of the claim.
Benefits of working with our firm include:
- Familiarity with local courts: Our team knows the Broward County court system and how a truck accident case can move from filing through negotiation, litigation, and resolution.
- Knowledge of federal trucking rules: We review hours-of-service limits, driver qualification standards, maintenance duties, and commercial insurance requirements to build a fuller picture of what happened.
- Ability to identify available coverage: Truck crashes can involve several responsible parties and insurance policies. We examine each source of coverage that could apply to your claim.
- No upfront attorney fee: Qualifying cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis. Attorney fees depend on a monetary recovery under the written representation agreement.
- Support when dealing with insurers: Trucking companies and their insurance carriers often begin defending a claim soon after a crash. Our attorneys gather evidence, respond to disputed allegations, and communicate with the insurers on your behalf.
- Direct, personal representation: Our team explains the process in clear language, answers your questions, and remains involved in your case. We will represent you personally.
How a Truck Accident Claim Moves Forward in Florida With Cohen & Juda
While no two truck accident claims unfold the same way, these cases often follow a similar process. Cohen & Juda, P.A. provides personal support at each stage and keeps clients informed as the claim moves forward.
The process can include:
- Initial consultation and case review: We listen to what happened, review available police reports and other documents, and explain your legal options at no cost.
- Evidence gathering: We can request electronic logging data, maintenance records, driver files, photographs, witness statements, and other evidence before it is lost or overwritten.
- Medical documentation: Treatment records can connect your injuries to the crash and show how the collision affected your health, work, and daily life.
- Negotiation: We communicate with the trucking company’s insurer, present supporting evidence, and respond to offers that do not fully reflect the claim.
- Filing suit, if needed: When the parties cannot reach a fair resolution, we can file a lawsuit before the applicable legal deadline and continue preparing the case for court.
- Resolution: Many claims resolve through negotiation or mediation, but we prepare each case with the possibility that it could proceed before a judge or jury.
Truck Accident Matters We Handle in Plantation
Cohen & Juda, P.A. handles a range of truck accident matters throughout Plantation and the surrounding areas. Our attorneys review the vehicle involved, the cause of the crash, the parties who could share responsibility, and the injuries or losses connected to the collision.
The matters we handle include:
- Tractor-trailer and semi-truck collisions
- Delivery van and box truck crashes
- Bobtail tractor accidents involving trucks without an attached trailer
- Underride and rear-impact truck collisions
- Jackknife and rollover accidents
- Cargo spill and improperly restrained load accidents
- Wrongful death claims arising from fatal truck collisions
Each truck accident case involves different facts, evidence, and insurance issues. A semi-truck accident lawyer can examine the driver’s conduct, trucking company records, equipment, cargo, and insurance coverage while providing direct, personal representation throughout the claim.
Why Work With Cohen & Juda, P.A.
Cohen & Juda, P.A. has represented Plantation accident victims since 1999. Our local presence allows our attorneys to review crash locations, meet with witnesses, and handle court appearances without unnecessary delay.
We treat each client as a person facing a difficult chapter, not as a case number. Our attorneys explain each step in plain language, respond to your questions, and handle communications with insurers so you can focus on your health and family. We will represent you personally.
Cohen & Juda, P.A. Will Represent You Personally in Your South Florida Truck Accident Case
If a truck accident has turned your life upside down, you do not have to manage the legal process while also dealing with medical care, missed work, and insurance calls. Cohen & Juda, P.A. can explain the next steps, gather evidence, and help you pursue a claim against the responsible parties.
Call us today at (954) 424-1440 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We will listen to what happened, answer your questions in plain language, and explain the options available to you, all with no upfront attorney fee.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents in Plantation, Florida
How much does hiring a Plantation truck accident lawyer cost upfront?
Cohen & Juda, P.A. handles accepted Plantation truck accident cases on a contingency-fee basis under a written agreement. Clients do not pay an upfront attorney fee, and attorney fees depend on a monetary recovery under that agreement.
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Florida?
Florida generally provides two years to file a negligence lawsuit arising from a truck accident. Different deadlines or notice requirements can apply based on the accident date, defendant, and legal theory, so speaking with an attorney early can help confirm the filing period for your case.
What if I was partly responsible for the truck accident?
Florida follows a modified comparative-fault rule. You can still pursue compensation if you are found 50 percent or less at fault, although the amount is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. A person found more than 50 percent at fault generally cannot pursue damages under this rule.
How long does a truck accident claim typically take?
The timeline depends on the severity of the injuries, length of medical treatment, number of responsible parties, disputed liability, and the insurance company’s response. Some claims resolve through negotiation, while cases involving serious injuries or litigation can take longer.
What should I do immediately after a truck accident in Plantation?
Call 911, seek medical attention, and photograph the vehicles, road conditions, truck markings, and visible damage when your condition permits. Florida law generally requires an injured person to seek initial medical services and care within 14 days of a motor vehicle accident to qualify for PIP medical benefits. Collect witness contact information, preserve documents related to the crash, and consider speaking with a lawyer before providing a recorded statement to an insurer.
Does a truck accident case have to go to trial?
Many truck accident claims resolve through negotiation or mediation before trial. When the trucking company or insurer disputes responsibility or does not offer a fair settlement, filing a lawsuit can allow the parties to gather additional evidence and present the case in court. Cohen & Juda, P.A. prepares each case with the possibility that it could proceed before a judge or jury.
What if the trucking company or its insurer disputes my claim?
Trucking companies and their insurers often begin investigating a crash soon after it happens. Cohen & Juda, P.A. can gather evidence, request company records, respond to disputed allegations, and communicate with adjusters while you focus on your health and family.
Will my personal information remain private during my case?
Cohen & Juda, P.A. treats the information you share with care and uses it to evaluate and pursue your claim. Some information can become part of a public court record if the case proceeds through litigation, subject to applicable privacy and court-filing rules.
What if new medical problems appear after I file my claim?
Tell your attorney promptly if you experience new symptoms. Updated medical records can help document how your condition has developed and whether the new problems relate to the truck accident. Avoid resolving the claim before you and your attorney have a clearer picture of your medical condition and future care needs.
Do I need a lawyer based in Plantation?
A Florida-licensed attorney can handle a truck accident claim from elsewhere in the state. However, working with a Plantation firm can provide convenient access to your legal team and local familiarity with Broward County courts, nearby crash locations, and the agencies that investigate South Florida collisions. Cohen & Juda, P.A. has represented Plantation families since 1999 and provides direct, personal representation.
Legal Disclaimer
This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Cohen & Juda, P.A. Each truck accident case depends on its own facts, and a prior case does not predict how a similar case will resolve. Please contact our office directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.