Trusted truck accident lawyers with over 20 years of experience.
If you were hit by a tractor-trailer on I-95, struck by a delivery truck on Glades Road, or injured in another commercial vehicle crash in Boca Raton, the situation is rarely simple. Trucking companies move quickly to protect themselves, which can leave injured people like you wondering how they can get treated fairly. We’re here to advocate for you.
At Warner & Fitzmartin Personal Injury Lawyers, our attorneys have spent more than 20 years pursuing claims against commercial carriers and their insurers across Florida. We understand how to preserve evidence quickly, dissect a trucking company’s records, and push past the standard playbook these defendants use. Schedule a free consultation with our Boca Raton, FL truck accident lawyer who can walk you through the next steps and start protecting your case today.
Truck Accident Lawyer Boca Raton, FL
What is a truck accident claim, and what makes it different from a typical car accident case? In Florida, a truck accident claim is a personal injury action arising from a crash involving a commercial vehicle, ranging from 18-wheelers and box trucks to delivery vans and tow trucks. The legal framework draws from both Florida traffic law and federal motor carrier safety regulations.
Commercial trucking cases also involve potential defendants well beyond the driver. The trucking company, cargo loader, maintenance contractor, and even the manufacturer of a defective component can all bear responsibility. Our Boca Raton truck accident attorneys handle the strategy, evidence preservation, and corporate-level negotiations that separate these claims from ordinary auto cases.
Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle in Boca Raton
Commercial vehicle crashes happen in many ways, and each scenario raises its own evidentiary and liability questions. Our firm represents drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians injured by commercial vehicles in Boca Raton and the surrounding Palm Beach County area.
- Tractor-trailer and 18-wheeler crashes. Heavy-truck collisions on I-95 and the Florida Turnpike often produce catastrophic injuries and require careful reconstruction work.
- Rear-end commercial truck collisions. Trucks that fail to slow for stopped traffic produce some of the most severe rear-impact crashes. Driver fatigue and following-too-closely violations are common factors.
- Jackknife and rollover accidents. Trailer jackknifes and rollovers can affect multiple lanes of traffic and injure drivers in vehicles that never made direct contact with the truck.
- Underride and override collisions. When a smaller vehicle slides beneath a trailer or a truck rides over a passenger car, the consequences are typically devastating.
- Delivery truck and box truck crashes. Local delivery vehicles, including Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and freight company trucks, generate frequent injury claims in commercial corridors throughout Boca Raton.
- Drunk and impaired truck driver crashes. When a commercial driver operates while impaired, the case may support claims for punitive damages on top of the standard compensatory amounts.
- Distracted driving truck accidents. Texting, phone use, and dispatch system distractions are responsible for an increasing share of commercial wrecks. Driver electronic logs and phone records are often pivotal.
- Cargo and load shift accidents. Improperly loaded or secured cargo can shift in transit, causing the truck to lose control or drop materials onto the roadway.
- Tow truck and emergency vehicle accidents. Crashes involving wreckers and service trucks raise distinct liability questions tied to the activity being performed at the time.
Why Choose Warner & Fitzmartin Personal Injury Lawyers for Truck Accidents in Boca Raton, FL?
The firm you select for a serious commercial vehicle case affects how quickly evidence is preserved, how aggressively the carrier responds, and what recovery is achievable. Trucking insurers track which lawyers actually litigate against them and adjust offers accordingly.
Trial Experience and Florida Recognition
Aaron Warner’s civil litigation practice has focused on injury cases for over two decades. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida. He has been admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida and is a Life Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an honor for trial attorneys with verdicts or settlements of $1 million or more. He has been included in Florida Trend’s Legal Elite and named a Super Lawyers Rising Star every year since 2019.
Elissa Fitzmartin graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Miami School of Law, where she received a merit scholarship and was selected for Law Review, Moot Court, and the Federal Appellate Clinic. Best Lawyers has recognized her as One to Watch in Plaintiff’s Personal Injury Litigation, and she has been named a Top Lawyer by the Boca Raton Observer. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the South Palm Beach County Bar Association.
Substantial Past Recoveries
Our firm has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of injured Floridians, including substantial recoveries in commercial vehicle and motor vehicle cases. Past results include a $1.5 million premises liability verdict, a $375,000 truck and auto accident settlement, a $388,000 car accident recovery, and a $300,000 vehicle collision recovery. Past results never guarantee future outcomes, but they reflect the kind of preparation we bring to every commercial vehicle case.
Contingency Fee Representation, No Fee Unless We Recover
We accept truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. Clients pay nothing upfront and owe no attorney fees to our personal injury lawyer in Boca Raton, FL unless we secure a recovery. Initial consultations are free of charge and confidential. Our office serves clients throughout Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and the surrounding region.
Understanding Truck Accident Cases
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Truck Accident Cases
Florida law allows injured victims to recover several types of damages from a negligent commercial driver and the trucking company. Liability is established when the responsible party owed a duty of reasonable care, breached that duty, and caused the injury through that breach. Florida applies a modified comparative negligence rule that can reduce or bar recovery if the injured person is found more than 50 percent at fault. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations also play a role, since violations can support negligence per se claims.
Recoverable damages may include:
- Past and future medical expenses, including hospitalization, surgery, and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity for time missed from work
- Vehicle repair or total loss valuation, plus loss of personal property
- Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages in cases involving gross negligence, including impaired or grossly reckless driving
Important Aspects in Your Truck Accident Case
Several aspects of commercial vehicle claims deserve attention from the very start. Each can shape how the case develops and what the eventual recovery looks like.
- Trucking companies have rapid response teams that arrive at crash scenes quickly to gather evidence favorable to the defense.
- Federal regulations require carriers to maintain hours-of-service logs, electronic logging device data, and maintenance records, and a preservation letter should be sent immediately.
- Commercial trucks often carry far higher insurance coverage than passenger vehicles, which can be critical in cases involving serious injuries.
- Multiple parties may share liability, including the driver, the carrier, the cargo loader, and the maintenance provider, and identifying every responsible party early is essential.
Truck Accident Case Timeline
Each case advances at its own pace, but most follow a recognizable course once an attorney is involved.
- Investigation and treatment. We send preservation letters to the trucking company, gather available evidence, and collect medical records while the client focuses on healing.
- Pre-suit demand. Once treatment plateaus, we prepare a documented demand and submit it to the responsible parties or their insurers.
- Negotiation. The carrier responds, and we engage in pointed back-and-forth discussions aimed at securing a fair offer.
- Litigation. If pre-suit efforts stall, we file a complaint and proceed through formal discovery, including depositions of the driver and corporate representatives.
- Mediation, settlement, or trial. The majority of cases resolve through negotiation, but we prepare every case for jury presentation when fair settlement is unavailable.
What to Bring to Your Truck Accident Consultation
Bringing the right materials to the first meeting helps us evaluate the claim quickly. Even partial documentation is helpful, and we can assist with collecting whatever is missing.
- A copy of the police or crash report
- Photographs of vehicle damage, the scene, and any visible injuries
- The name and DOT number of the trucking company, if available
- Medical records, prescriptions, and bills you have received so far
- Pay stubs or other documentation of lost income
The consultation itself is free and confidential. After reviewing what happened, we will provide a candid assessment, explain how Florida and federal law apply, and outline the available options. Most clients leave with a clear sense of direction.
Florida Legal Resources for Truck Accidents
Drivers and passengers who want to research the underlying law have several reliable starting points. The resources below cover the rules most directly relevant to commercial vehicle injury claims in Florida.
- Statute of limitations. Florida personal injury lawsuits arising from truck crashes must generally be filed within two years of the date of injury under Fla. Stat. § 95.11.
- Comparative negligence. Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule appears in Fla. Stat. § 768.81 and limits recovery for plaintiffs found more than 50 percent at fault.
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. The FMCSA hours-of-service regulations and other safety rules govern commercial driver conduct nationwide.
- Federal crash data. The NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System publishes national data on motor vehicle crashes, including those involving large trucks.
- State commercial vehicle data. The Florida DHSMV crash facts publication tracks injury and fatal crashes statewide each year, including commercial vehicle incidents.
Reach Out to Warner & Fitzmartin Personal Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation
If a truck crash left you injured or facing financial pressure, our Boca Raton truck accident lawyer wants to hear your story. Warner & Fitzmartin Personal Injury Lawyers offers free, confidential consultations to commercial vehicle crash victims throughout South Florida. Contact our office today.