Coral Springs Truck Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a truck accident in Coral Springs, you have rights under Florida law to seek financial recovery for the harm caused by someone else’s negligence.
The path to fair recovery, however, isn’t straightforward. Unlike your standard car accident claim, truck accident claims usually involve multiple potential defendants—the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, even the vehicle’s manufacturer. Each has a legal team focused on one incentive: minimizing their financial liability.
Our firm exists to level that playing field. As your Coral Springs truck accident lawyers, we handle the legal details so you can put all your energy into healing.
Call the Law Firm of Cindy Goldstein today at (954) 346-5420 for a direct conversation about your case.
Why Choose the Law Firm of Cindy Goldstein for Your Truck Accident Claim?
A Direct Partnership with Your Attorney
When you work with our firm, you work directly with Cindy Goldstein. This direct line means your story is heard by the person building your legal strategy, ensuring that every decision is made with a full understanding of your situation.
For over 20 years, we have served the Coral Springs community, gaining a deep, practical knowledge of the local court systems and the specific challenges of truck accident cases in South Florida.
Our Approach to Your Recovery
Our work with you begins with a no-cost, no-obligation case review. We operate on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney’s fees unless we secure compensation for you. This structure ensures that access to dedicated legal representation is not dependent on your financial situation.
Our office is conveniently located at 10100 W Sample Rd, Ste 200, Coral Springs, FL 33065, making us easily accessible for our neighbors. We are prepared to stand up to large insurance companies and their legal teams, whether in negotiation or in court, to pursue the maximum compensation available under the law.
How Much Is My Coral Springs Truck Accident Case Worth?
The Goal of Compensation: Restoring Your Life
The purpose of a truck accident claim is to secure financial recovery for every loss you have suffered.
Economic Damages: The Tangible Costs
These are the calculable, out-of-pocket expenses tied directly to the accident.
- Medical Bills: This covers everything from the ambulance ride and emergency room visit to surgeries, physical therapy, and any future medical care you may need.
- Lost Wages: Compensation for the income you lost while unable to work.
- Loss of Earning Capacity: If your injuries prevent you from returning to your former job or earning the same income, this compensates for that lifetime difference.
- Property Damage: The cost to repair or replace your vehicle and any other personal property destroyed in the crash.
Non-Economic Damages: The Human Impact
These damages address the losses that don’t have a clear price tag but have rewritten every aspect of your life.
- Pain and Suffering: For the physical pain and emotional distress your injuries have caused.
- Emotional Anguish: To address conditions like anxiety, depression, or PTSD that can develop after a traumatic event.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: For the inability to engage in the hobbies, activities, and daily routines that once brought you joy.
Punitive Damages: A Form of Punishment
In rare cases where the at-fault party’s actions were exceptionally reckless or intentionally harmful, Florida law allows for punitive damages. These are not meant to repay you for a loss but to punish the wrongdoer and discourage similar conduct. A court may only award them if there is clear and convincing evidence of “intentional misconduct” or “gross negligence.” This is a high bar to clear.
Where Do Truck Accidents Happen in Coral Springs?
Florida’s Heavy Truck Traffic
Florida is a central hub for commerce, which means our state sees a massive volume of commercial truck traffic. According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), this results in thousands of commercial truck accidents across the state each year. This volume of truck traffic means that intersections you drive through every day are higher-risk zones.
Broward County’s Dangerous Roads
As a key part of the South Florida metropolitan area, Broward County experiences a large share of these accidents. In a single recent year, the county had nearly 40,000 crashes, and is home to “America’s Deadliest Mile”: the roughly mile-long stretch of road on the I-95 between the I-595 interchange and Marina Mile Boulevard.
Coral Springs Accident Hotspots
Based on local crash data, we frequently see accidents occur at:
- Sample Road & University Drive: A major commercial intersection with constant, heavy traffic flow.
- The Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869): This high-speed artery for commuters and commercial trucks connects Sunrise to Deerfield Beach and is a frequent site for severe collisions.
- Intersections along Wiles Road, particularly where it meets University Drive, Coral Ridge Drive, and Riverside Drive.
- Atlantic Boulevard, especially at its intersections with major roads like University Drive and U.S. 1.
The Ins and Outs of Florida Truck Accident Claims
Common Types of Truck Accidents
- Jackknife Accidents: Occurs when a truck’s trailer swings out to a 90-degree angle from the cab, often from sudden braking or equipment failure.
- Underride Accidents: A catastrophic event where a passenger car slides underneath the high trailer of a semi-truck.
- Tire Blowouts: A sudden tire failure can cause a driver to lose control, sending the massive vehicle into adjacent lanes of traffic.
- Rollover Accidents: Because of their high center of gravity, large trucks are prone to tipping over, especially in sharp turns or high winds.
Common Injuries from Truck Accidents
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): A violent jolt to the head easily causes bruising, bleeding, or other physical damage to the brain.
- Spinal Cord Damage and Paralysis: These injuries, in many cases, permanently alter a person’s ability to move and function independently.
- Internal Organ Damage: The force of impact can cause severe harm to internal organs, often requiring emergency surgery.
- Multiple Bone Fractures: It is common for victims to suffer numerous broken bones, leading to long and painful recoveries.
Key Laws and Regulations in Play
A truck accident claim is shaped by a mix of federal and state laws that simply do not apply in a standard car accident case.
- Federal Hours-of-Service (HOS) Rules: To prevent driver fatigue, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets strict limits on driving time. For example, a truck driver carrying property is generally limited to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour duty window.
- Florida’s Statute of Limitations: A 2023 law made a significant change to the deadline for filing most negligence-based injury claims. You now have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit.
- Florida’s Modified Comparative Negligence: Under another recent change to the law, you can recover damages only if you are found to be 50% or less at fault for the accident. Your financial recovery is then reduced by your percentage of fault. This is governed by Florida Statutes § 768.81.
Dealing with Trucking and Insurance Companies
A Built-In Conflict of Interest
Trucking and insurance companies are for-profit businesses with a primary duty to their shareholders, not to you. This creates a direct conflict: their objective is to pay as little as possible on claims, while your goal is to be fully compensated for all your losses.
What to Watch Out For
- The Quick Settlement Offer: An insurer may offer a fast, lowball settlement before the full scope of your injuries is known. This offer seems like a lifeline when bills are piling up, but it almost never covers long-term medical needs or future lost income.
- Requests for a Recorded Statement: You are not obligated to give a recorded statement to the other party’s insurer. They may use seemingly harmless questions to coax you into saying something that damages your claim, like downplaying your injuries or unintentionally admitting partial fault. It is better to have them speak to your attorney.
- Disputing Your Injuries: The insurer will likely scrutinize your medical records, searching for any reason to argue your injuries were pre-existing or that your doctor’s treatment plan is unnecessary. They may hire their own medical experts to review your files and challenge your doctor’s professional opinion.
What Should You Be Doing to Protect Your Claim?
While your lawyer handles the legal work, here’s what you should do:
- Follow Your Doctor’s Treatment Plan: Attend every appointment, go to physical therapy, and take all prescribed medications. This not only supports your physical healing but also creates a clear, documented record of your injuries. Gaps in treatment are used by insurers to argue you weren’t seriously hurt.
- Keep a Pain and Recovery Journal: Each day, jot down notes about your pain levels, challenges with daily tasks, and how the injuries are affecting you emotionally. These personal accounts are evidence of your non-economic damages, telling a human story that medical bills cannot.
- Hold Onto All Receipts: Keep every bill and receipt related to the accident. This includes medical co-pays, prescription costs, and even mileage for trips to and from your doctor. These documents are the building blocks for your economic damage calculations.
- Obtain a Copy of the Police Report: The official crash report contains key initial details, including witness contact information, the officer’s first assessment of fault, and diagrams of the scene. We will analyze this report as part of our own investigation.
- Avoid Discussing the Accident on Social Media: Assume that the insurance company is monitoring your social media profiles. A single photo or comment, easily taken out of context, could be used to argue you aren’t as injured as you claim. A picture from a family event could be twisted to suggest you are not suffering. The safest choice is to stay offline until your case is resolved.
Common Questions After a Coral Springs Truck Accident
What if the truck driver who hit me is from another state?
This is very common and does not prevent you from filing a claim. The case will typically be handled in Florida, where the accident happened. We manage the process of dealing with out-of-state drivers and their national trucking companies, ensuring that jurisdiction is correctly established.
How long will my truck accident case take to resolve?
There is no set timeline. A case might settle in a few months if liability is clear and the damages are easy to calculate. However, if the case involves multiple at-fault parties or proceeds to trial, it could take a year or longer. Our focus is on achieving a fair result, not a fast one, and we will not be rushed into an inadequate settlement. That said, this is your case, not ours—the final decision always rests with you.
Can I still have a case if the police report says I was partially at fault for the crash?
Yes. A police report is an officer’s initial assessment at the scene; it is not the final word on legal liability. As mentioned, Florida’s comparative negligence law allows you to recover damages as long as you are not found to be more than 50% at fault. We conduct our own investigations that frequently uncover evidence missed in the initial report, such as truck maintenance logs or data from the truck’s “black box” recorder.
What is the difference between the trucking company and the shipping company? Can both be held responsible?
Yes, in some situations, multiple parties can share liability. The trucking company (the motor carrier) employs the driver and owns the truck. The shipping company (the shipper) owns the cargo. If the accident was caused because improperly loaded cargo shifted during transit, the shipping company might be held liable for helping to create a dangerous condition.
Let Us Handle the Details So You Can Heal
While you focus on your health and your family, our firm will focus on securing your future. We have the experience to stand up for your rights against powerful corporate and insurance interests. As your Coral Springs truck accident lawyer, Cindy Goldstein will be your direct advocate from start to finish.
For a free, confidential conversation about your case, call the Law Firm of Cindy Goldstein at (954) 346-5420 or visit our Coral Springs office. Let us help you take the first step toward getting your life back.