Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Lawyer

Hurt in a Fort Lauderdale truck accident?  Truck accidents hit harder than most crashes, and the insurance companies know it.

When a massive truck turns your life upside down, you deserve a Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorney team that knows Broward’s roads, trucking laws, and insurance tactics inside out. We step in fast to protect your health, your income, and your future.

• No Fees Unless We Win
• Available 24/7
• Billions Recovered for Injured Clients

Why Truck Accidents Are More Complex Than Car Accidents

Truck accidents don’t play by the same rules as ordinary car crashes. When a fully loaded 40-ton vehicle hits you, the damage, the investigation, and the legal fight escalate instantly. Everything is bigger, including the impact, the injuries, and the opposition. And because trucking companies mobilize fast to protect their interests, victims are often left overwhelmed before they even leave the hospital. Here’s what makes truck crashes uniquely complicated:

• Multiple parties may be at fault — the driver, trucking company, broker, shipper, maintenance crew, or even the truck manufacturer.
• Critical evidence is controlled by the trucking company — black box data, logbooks, GPS records, and inspection reports that may disappear without immediate action.
• Federal regulations add layers of complexity — FMCSA hours-of-service rules, weight limits, maintenance standards, and safety requirements.
• Commercial insurers fight aggressively — seven-figure policy limits mean insurance companies bring in defense teams quickly.
• Injuries are far more severe — traumatic brain injuries, spinal trauma, internal damage, and long-term disability are common.
• Companies respond within hours — many send investigators to the crash scene long before victims can gather evidence or get legal help.

These challenges create an uneven playing field, unless you have someone on your side who understands how these cases really work.

Why You Need an Experienced Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Lawyer

After a truck crash, victims face corporations, insurers, and legal teams trained to minimize payouts. You shouldn’t have to fight that battle while recovering from serious injuries. A truck accident lawyer levels the field, protects crucial evidence, and ensures your rights aren’t steamrolled by companies with more resources and experience. Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury law firm solves the problems truck accident victims face:

• We secure critical evidence immediately — black box data, dashcam footage, electronic driver logs, inspection records, and dispatch communications.
• We identify every liable party — holding all responsible entities accountable, not just the driver.
• We counter corporate insurance strategies — pushing back against blame-shifting and lowball offers.
• We work with top experts — accident reconstructionists, trucking safety specialists, and medical experts who strengthen your case.
• We handle all communication for you — no more calls, pressure, or manipulation from adjusters.
• We build long-term, future-focused claims — covering medical bills, lost wages, ongoing care, disability, and the impact on your life.

With the right legal team, you can focus on healing while we focus on winning.

Before we dive deeper into your case, let’s go through what you can do right now to give yourself the strongest footing possible.

Steps to Take After a Truck Accident

Once you understand how high the stakes are and how fast trucking companies move,  taking the right steps becomes even more important. These actions protect your health, preserve key evidence, and strengthen your claim from day one:

1. Call 911 and get medical care — truck-impact injuries often surface later, and early medical records anchor your claim.
2. Document the scene thoroughly — record vehicle damage, cargo spills, road conditions, skid marks, injuries, and witness statements.
3. Capture truck-specific details — the truck’s DOT number, trailer markings, license plates, and any signs of driver fatigue or distraction.
4. Preserve evidence as early as possible — black box data, electronic logs, maintenance records, and surveillance footage can vanish quickly.
5. Avoid admitting fault or posting on social media — insurers look for anything they can use against you.
6. Contact a truck accident lawyer immediately — securing evidence early prevents companies from burying or destroying what you need to win.

Once you’ve taken those first protective steps, it’s helpful to know why these crashes happen so often and how those causes impact your claim.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents often lead to disproportionately severe outcomes. While large trucks make up only 4% of registered vehicles, they account for 9% of all fatal crashes nationwide (NHTSA). In Florida, 9,139 truck accidents occurred in 2023, leading to 273 fatal crashes and 4,511 injuries—meaning nearly half of all truck collisions caused harm. Broward County consistently reports high truck-crash numbers due to its busy freight corridors and dense traffic.

These crashes happen for many reasons, but certain industry pressures and mechanical demands make trucks especially risky on Fort Lauderdale roads. Common causes include:

• Driver fatigue — Tight delivery schedules push drivers past safe limits despite federal rest rules.
• Distracted driving — Long, repetitive hours on the road increase the likelihood of texting, device use, or mental drift.
• Impaired driving — Stimulants, prescription medications, or illicit substances used to stay awake can impair judgment and reaction time.
• Equipment failures — Poor maintenance or defective parts (tires, brakes, lights) can lead to catastrophic mechanical breakdowns.
• Speeding and reckless driving — A speeding truck needs significantly more distance to stop, making sudden hazards nearly impossible to avoid.
• Hazardous weather — Rain, fog, and slick roads reduce traction and visibility, especially for heavy vehicles operating at high speeds.

Types of Truck Accidents

With decades of experience handling trucking cases, Steinger, Greene & Feiner has seen nearly every type of crash. Some of the most common include:

Rear-End Collisions

Often caused by factors such as distracted driving, fatigue, or brake system issues, rear-end collisions are typically intensified by the size and weight of commercial trucks.

Jackknife Accidents

Because they resemble a folding knife, jackknife accidents occur when a trailer folds towards the truck cab, typically due to loss of traction. These can be triggered by adverse weather, improper braking, or sudden maneuvers, posing significant risks on busy highways.

T-Bone, or Side Collision

Side collisions can be caused by a truck driver blowing a stop light or running an intersection because they’re behind schedule. Depending on the speed, an impact on the side of your vehicle can cause devastating injury to the lower back or lower limbs.

Rollover Incident

When a truck rolls over, it’s usually due to factors like excessive speed, overloading, or abrupt steering maneuvers. These types of accidents can be potentially catastrophic.

Underride Collisions

Underride collisions occur when smaller vehicles become wedged beneath a truck’s rear or side. Often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities, these accidents can be exacerbated by inadequate truck safety features.

Blind Spot Accidents

Because of their size, trucks have substantial blind spots in which smaller vehicles may not be visible. Blind spot accidents frequently occur during lane changes or turns, particularly when vehicles linger in these areas.

Cargo Spills

A heavy payload that hasn’t been properly secured to its trailer can spill out on the road, having catastrophic consequences for traffic following behind a commercial truck.

Knowing how these accidents happen is only part of the picture. The laws governing truck crashes add another layer of complexity.

Truck Accident Laws and Regulations

After a truck accident in Fort Lauderdale, understanding the legal framework becomes essential to protect your rights and secure fair compensation. Recent changes in Florida’s laws have made it even more critical to be informed and act promptly.

Statute of Limitations

Florida now imposes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from vehicle accidents. This means you have exactly two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit against the responsible parties. Time moves quickly, especially when dealing with recovery and financial pressures, so initiating legal action as soon as possible is crucial. Waiting too long could forfeit your right to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.

Modified Comparative Negligence

Florida follows a modified comparative negligence system. If you’re found to be more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover any damages from the other parties involved. However, if you’re 50% or less at fault, you can still receive compensation, but it will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if you are deemed 30% responsible for the accident and your total damages amount to $100,000, you would be eligible to receive $70,000. Establishing the other party’s greater fault is therefore essential to maximizing your compensation.

Federal and State Regulations

Truck drivers and trucking companies must comply with strict federal and state regulations designed to promote safety on the roads:

• Hours of Service: To combat driver fatigue—a leading cause of truck accidents—federal laws limit the number of hours a trucker can drive without rest. Violations of these regulations can be pivotal in proving negligence.
• Vehicle Maintenance: Regular inspections and maintenance are mandatory. Neglecting these duties can lead to equipment failures like brake malfunctions or tire blowouts, increasing the risk of accidents.
• Cargo Securement: Proper loading and securing of cargo prevent dangerous spills, rollovers, or shifting loads that can cause collisions. Failure to adhere to these standards can hold the trucking company liable.

Understanding these regulations can uncover violations that contributed to your accident, strengthening your case against negligent parties.

Vicarious Liability

Under the principle of vicarious liability, trucking companies can be held responsible for the actions of their drivers. Employers are obligated to hire qualified personnel, provide adequate training, and enforce all safety regulations. If a company’s negligence in these areas led to your accident, they could be held accountable alongside the driver.

Insurance Complexities

Trucking companies are required to carry substantial insurance policies due to the potential severity of accidents. This often involves multiple insurers and complex policies, including:

• Primary Liability Insurance: Covers damages if the truck driver is at fault.
• Excess Liability Insurance: Provides additional coverage beyond the primary policy limits.
• Cargo Insurance: Covers loss or damage to the cargo being transported.

Navigating these layers of insurance can be daunting. Insurers may attempt to minimize payouts or deflect blame, making experienced legal guidance invaluable. That’s why hiring a trucking crash attorney with local legal expertise ensures you will be able to successfully navigate complex insurance claims where insurers subvert your best interests for theirs.

And once the insurance landscape is clear, the next step is identifying every party that may be liable for your injuries.

Establishing Liability in Truck Accident Cases

Determining who is at fault in a truck accident can be a complex and challenging process, especially when it’s an accident involving multiple parties who might share responsibility. Identifying all liable parties is crucial to maximizing your compensation and holding the right people accountable.

Potentially Liable Parties:

1. Truck Driver: May be directly responsible due to negligence, reckless driving, or violations of federal and state regulations—such as exceeding allowed driving hours or ignoring safety protocols.
2. Trucking Company: Could be liable for negligent hiring practices, insufficient training, or failure to maintain their fleet properly. If the company pressures drivers to meet unrealistic deadlines, leading to unsafe driving conditions, they share in the responsibility.
3. Shipping or Loading Company: If improperly loaded or secured cargo caused the accident, the company responsible for loading the truck might be at fault. Overloaded trucks or uneven weight distribution can make vehicles difficult to control.
4. Broker: Entities that connect shippers with carriers must comply with federal regulations. They might be held accountable if they hire an unqualified carrier or neglect to verify safety records.
5. Truck Manufacturer or Parts Supplier: Defective parts, such as faulty brakes or tires, can lead to catastrophic failures. Manufacturers and suppliers might be liable if a mechanical defect contributed to the accident.
6. Maintenance Providers: Companies or individuals responsible for the upkeep of the truck can be held liable if poor truck maintenance practices lead to mechanical failures.
7. Third-Party Drivers: Other motorists on the road may share responsibility if their actions trigger a chain reaction leading to your accident.
8. Government Entities or Contractors: Poor road design, inadequate signage, or lack of proper maintenance (like potholes or faulty traffic signals) can contribute to accidents. In such cases, the entities responsible for road upkeep might be held accountable.
9. Other potentially liable parties include the Truck Owner (responsible for maintenance) and Highway Designers.

Each party will have its own insurance and legal teams aiming to deflect blame, so having experienced legal representation can make a significant difference in your path to fair compensation. 

Compensation for Truck Accident Victims

Truck accident injuries are often severe and long-term, such as broken bones, spinal damage, TBIs, and internal injuries. Because the impact is greater, the compensation you receive must reflect the true extent of your losses.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in Florida

Florida requires all drivers to carry $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP). This no-fault coverage helps pay for a portion of your medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash.
However, in serious truck accidents, PIP is rarely enough. Victims almost always need to pursue additional compensation from the at-fault parties to cover extensive medical care, long-term treatment, and the full impact of their injuries.

You may be entitled to:

• Economic damages (your financial losses):
• Medical bills, hospital stays, surgeries, and future care
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Property damage and out-of-pocket expenses
• Non-economic damages (the human impact):
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and trauma
• Permanent disability, scarring, or loss of enjoyment of life

Punitive Damages in Florida

In cases involving reckless or intentional misconduct — such as drunk driving or blatant safety violations — punitive damages may be available. These are designed to punish wrongdoing and deter future harm. In Florida, punitive damages can reach up to $500,000 or 3× compensatory damages, whichever is greater.

How Fault Affects Compensation

Florida’s comparative fault system reduces compensation based on your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re assigned 20% fault, your recovery is reduced by 20%. Our attorneys work aggressively to prevent insurers from unfairly shifting blame onto you.

Insurance companies fight especially hard in truck accident cases. Our personal injury lawyers team knows their tactics, from minimizing injuries to disputing liability, and we counter them with evidence, experts, and relentless advocacy. If negotiations fail, we’re ready to take your case to court and fight for full and fair compensation.

Your Truck Accident Claim Process With Us

Getting legal help shouldn’t add stress. It should remove it. Here’s how the process works when you choose Steinger, Greene & Feiner:

1. Free Consultation
   We listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your options — all at no cost.
2. Case Investigation
   Our team gathers crash reports, medical records, black box data, driver logs, video, and expert opinions to build a strong foundation.
3. Liability & Damage Calculation
   We identify every responsible party and calculate the full value of your losses — both financial and emotional.
4. Negotiation With Insurers
   We handle all communication and push back against lowball offers, blame-shifting, and delay tactics.
5. Litigation If Needed
   If insurers refuse to do the right thing, we take your case to court and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
6. You Focus on Healing
   We handle the legal battle so you can focus on your recovery, your family, and getting your life back.

Why Clients Choose Steinger, Greene & Feiner

When your world is turned upside down by a truck accident, you deserve a legal team that shows up with real power, compassion, and results. At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, you get more than representation. You get a partner who fights for your future as fiercely as you would. Our clients choose us because we offer:

• No upfront costs and no fees unless we win — top-tier legal help, accessible to every family.
• A proven track record of over $2 billion recovered by our personal injury lawyers` team for victims across Florida.
• A team-based approach — attorneys, investigators, and experts working together on your case from day one.
• Decades of truck accident experience, including complex, multi-party commercial cases.
• Client-first communication — updates, transparency, and a dedicated team that treats you like a human being, not a case number.

This is why thousands of Florida families trust us , and why so many recommend us after their lives finally feel whole again.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Fort Lauderdale, you don’t have to face corporations, insurance companies, or the legal system alone. We’ll handle the pressure so you can focus on healing, starting with a free, no-risk consultation.

Or Meet our truck accident attorney in Fort Lauderdale in our Office at the address: 2727 NW 62nd St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309.

We’re here, we’re local, and we’re ready to help you rebuild your life with the compensation you deserve.