Truck accidents are among the most serious types of collisions on the road. Due to the size and weight of commercial vehicles, these accidents often result in severe injuries and complex legal claims.
If you’ve been involved in a collision with a commercial truck, working with an experienced truck accident attorney in Palm Beach Gardens can help you understand your rights and take the right steps forward.
At Hicks & Motto, we represent individuals who have been injured in truck-related accidents and need clear legal guidance. With over 30 years of experience, our firm focuses on helping clients navigate the legal process and pursue fair compensation.
📞 Call 561-683-2300 for a free consultation.
Truck accident cases are time-sensitive. Important evidence—such as driver logs, inspection reports, and electronic records—may only be retained for a limited period.
Acting quickly helps ensure:
Delays can make it harder to build a strong case.
A truck accident attorney in Palm Beach Gardens plays an important role in handling complex claims.
This includes:
Investigating the accident and identifying responsible parties
Securing key evidence such as maintenance records and driver logs
Understanding federal and state trucking regulations
Handling insurance company negotiations
Preparing your case for litigation if necessary
Truck accidents often result in more serious injuries compared to standard vehicle collisions.
Common factors include:
These factors contribute to more significant damage and longer recovery times.
Truck accidents in Palm Beach Gardens may occur due to:
Understanding the cause of the accident is key to determining liability.
Depending on your case, compensation may include:
Each case is unique, and the outcome depends on the specific circumstances involved.
Choosing the right legal representation matters in complex cases like truck accidents.
Clients choose Hicks & Motto because:
Every case is approached with care, preparation, and attention to detail.
Truck accident claims typically involve several steps:
These cases often require a more detailed approach due to their complexity.
Reach out to connect directly with a trial-tested attorney.
Let’s discuss your legal strategy and protect your interests.
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You may have a truck accident case if a commercial driver, trucking company, maintenance provider, cargo-loading company, vehicle manufacturer, or another party acted negligently and caused your injuries.
When evaluating a potential truck accident claim, we consider:
Truck accident cases may involve several potentially responsible parties. Driver logs, electronic logging device data, maintenance records, inspection reports, cargo documents, onboard system data, and company records may all be important.
The value of a truck accident case generally cannot be determined at the beginning. Commercial truck collisions can cause serious injuries, but the amount that may be recovered depends on the evidence, damages, liability, and available insurance coverage.
Factors that may affect the value include:
An early settlement offer may not reflect future medical treatment, permanent limitations, or the full amount of available insurance. A proper evaluation should consider all responsible parties and all recoverable losses.
Many Florida truck accident lawsuits based on negligence must generally be filed within two years of the collision. This deadline generally applies to negligence claims arising from accidents occurring on or after March 24, 2023. (Online Sunshine)
The deadline may differ depending on:
It is important to investigate a commercial truck accident promptly. Federal rules generally require motor carriers to retain drivers’ records of duty status and supporting documents for six months, meaning potentially important records may not be preserved indefinitely. (FMCSA)
An attorney can send preservation notices requesting that the trucking company retain relevant records, electronic data, vehicle information, and other evidence.
You may still be able to recover compensation if you were partially responsible for a Florida truck accident.
Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence system, compensation is generally reduced according to the injured person’s percentage of responsibility. However, a person found to be more than 50% at fault generally cannot recover damages in a negligence action governed by the statute. (Online Sunshine)
For example, if your damages total $200,000 and you are found 20% responsible, the potential recovery may be reduced to $160,000.
Trucking companies and their insurers may attempt to shift responsibility by claiming that another driver:
Photographs, video footage, witness statements, vehicle damage, truck data, driver logs, and accident reconstruction evidence may help establish how the collision occurred.
You should be cautious about speaking with the trucking company’s insurer or claims representative before obtaining legal advice.
The trucking company and its insurer may begin investigating immediately after the crash. Their representatives may ask you to:
The adverse insurer does not represent you. Statements made shortly after the accident may later be used to dispute liability, minimize your injuries, or argue that your medical condition existed before the collision.
You should report the accident to your own insurer as required by your policy. However, do not sign documents, authorize broad access to your medical history, or accept an offer from the trucking company’s insurer without understanding the consequences.
Many Florida truck accident cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis. This generally means the attorney receives a percentage of the compensation recovered through a settlement or verdict.
If there is no recovery, no attorney’s fee is generally owed under the contingency arrangement. The specific terms must be explained in the written fee agreement.
Truck accident cases may also involve costs for:
Attorney’s fees and case costs are different. The written agreement should explain the percentage charged, how costs are advanced or reimbursed, and whether the client could be responsible for any expenses if compensation is not recovered.
You should not accept a truck accident settlement or sign a release until the full extent of your injuries, future medical needs, financial losses, and available claims have been evaluated.
Before accepting an offer, consider:
A trucking company or insurer may make an early offer before all evidence has been collected. Accepting that offer and signing a release generally ends the covered claim, even if your condition later worsens.
The timeline depends on the severity of the injuries, the number of responsible parties, the complexity of the evidence, and whether litigation is required.
Factors affecting the timeline may include:
Commercial truck cases may require examination of driver qualification records, maintenance files, inspection reports, dispatch communications, cargo records, and electronic logging data.
Electronic logging devices automatically record driving time and other operational information for many regulated commercial drivers. (FMCSA)
Some truck accident claims resolve within months, while heavily disputed or litigated cases may take years. A claim should not be settled prematurely before the full extent of the injuries and damages is understood.
The damages available depend on the injuries, financial losses, available evidence, degree of fault, and insurance coverage.
A Florida truck accident claim may include compensation for:
Economic damages compensate for measurable financial losses, including medical expenses and lost income. Non-economic damages address the personal consequences of an injury, including physical pain, emotional suffering, and reduced quality of life.
The specific damages available must be supported by medical records, employment information, expert opinions, receipts, testimony, and other evidence.
Most truck accident claims are resolved before trial, but a fair settlement is not guaranteed.
A truck accident case may move toward trial when:
Commercial drivers are subject to federal hours-of-service restrictions intended to limit driving time and reduce fatigue. For example, property-carrying drivers are generally limited to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, subject to applicable rules and exceptions. (FMCSA)
Evidence of driver fatigue, inaccurate logs, inadequate maintenance, unsafe company practices, or regulatory violations may become important at trial.
Even when settlement is likely, the case should be prepared as though it may be tried. Thorough preparation can strengthen negotiations and ensure that the evidence is ready if the trucking company or insurer refuses to offer a fair resolution.
They often involve multiple parties, federal regulations, and more extensive evidence.
As soon as possible to preserve evidence and protect your claim.
Trucking companies may be liable depending on the circumstances of the accident.
Some cases settle, while others may proceed to litigation depending on the situation.
Hicks & Motto is a trusted Florida personal injury law firm helping accident victims recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain & suffering.
Hicks & Motto
3601 PGA Blvd., Suite 200,
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Phone: (561) 250-8213
Fax: (561) 697-3852
Email Us @ info@hmelawfirm.com
