Truck Accident Attorney in Coconut Creek, FL
Coconut Creek sits at a crossroads of significant commercial activity. Sample Road cuts east to west through the city’s busiest retail and industrial corridors, while Lyons Road channels local and regional traffic north and south. Proximity to I-95 draws heavy commercial truck traffic through Coconut Creek daily — delivery routes, warehouse runs, and long-haul freight all moving through streets never designed to bear the weight of an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer. When a truck driver or trucking company’s negligence causes a crash, the result is rarely minor. Victims suffer catastrophic injuries, and the fight to hold the responsible parties accountable is far more complex than a typical car accident case.
Eric A. Hernandez at HLM Injury Lawyers understands that complexity. A former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Eric spent years building and trying high-stakes federal cases — the same analytical rigor he now applies to truck accident claims in Coconut Creek. With 25-plus years of trial experience and recognition as both a Super Lawyer and Florida Trend Legal Elite, Eric and his firm pursue every responsible party, from the truck driver to the trucking company to freight brokers and maintenance contractors. He is bilingual in English and Spanish. Call (305) 842-2100 to speak with Eric directly at no cost.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Coconut Creek
- Driver fatigue: Federal Hours of Service regulations exist specifically because fatigued truck drivers cause crashes. Drivers on long hauls who push past legal limits to meet delivery deadlines create serious danger on Sample Road and surrounding corridors.
- Overloaded or improperly loaded cargo: Freight that exceeds weight limits or shifts during transit can cause a truck to roll over, jackknife, or lose cargo directly onto other vehicles — all scenarios that HLM has experience litigating.
- Distracted driving: Truck drivers spending extended hours behind the wheel frequently rely on phones, GPS devices, and dispatch communications in ways that divert attention from rapidly changing traffic conditions.
- Inadequate vehicle maintenance: Federal law requires commercial carriers to maintain their fleets. Brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering defects traced to deferred maintenance can expose both the driver and the company to significant liability.
- Wide-turn accidents: Tractor-trailers require extensive space to complete right turns. On retail-dense corridors like Sample Road, these turns bring trucks into contact with cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles in adjacent lanes.
- Speeding and aggressive driving: Delivery pressure and tight schedules push some commercial drivers to exceed safe speeds, particularly on Lyons Road where traffic thins and enforcement is less visible.
Injuries Common in Truck Accident Crashes
- Spinal cord injuries: The sheer force of a truck collision can fracture vertebrae or compress the spinal cord, resulting in partial or complete paralysis — injuries that require lifelong care and accommodation.
- Traumatic brain injury: Even with airbags deployed, the violent motion of a truck crash can cause severe head trauma, leading to cognitive impairment, behavioral changes, and loss of employment capacity.
- Internal organ damage: Blunt force trauma from a truck collision compresses the abdomen and chest, causing lacerations of the liver, spleen, or lungs that require emergency surgery and carry a high mortality risk.
- Crush injuries and amputations: When a smaller vehicle is caught beneath a truck’s underride, occupants face catastrophic crush injuries that can result in limb loss and permanent disability.
- Severe burns: Ruptured fuel tanks following a commercial truck crash can ignite fires that cause third-degree burns requiring multiple surgeries and extended hospitalization.
- Wrongful death: Truck accident fatalities are disproportionately common. If a family member was killed in a Coconut Creek truck crash, the firm can pursue a wrongful death claim on your behalf.
Florida Law and Your Coconut Creek Truck Accident Claim
Truck accident claims in Florida involve both state law and federal regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets binding rules on truck maintenance, driver qualifications, and Hours of Service — violations of these rules can establish negligence in your case.
Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule applies to truck accident claims. Your compensation is reduced proportionally by your percentage of fault. If you are found 51% or more responsible, you cannot recover damages.
Florida’s 2023 tort reform law, HB 837, gives you two years from the date of your crash to file a negligence claim. Truck accident cases require early action — electronic logging devices, black-box data, and maintenance records are frequently deleted or overwritten without prompt legal intervention to preserve them.
Why Hire Eric Hernandez
- Federal litigation background: As a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Eric regularly handled complex, multi-party cases against well-resourced defendants — exactly the kind of experience needed to take on national trucking companies and their insurers.
- Deep trial experience: Trucking companies retain experienced defense firms. Eric’s 25-plus years in courtrooms across South Florida means he is prepared to take your case to verdict if the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation.
- Multi-party claim strategy: Truck accident liability can extend to the trucking company, cargo loaders, maintenance contractors, and the truck manufacturer. Eric investigates all potential defendants to maximize your recovery.
- Bilingual advocacy: Eric serves Coconut Creek’s diverse community in both English and Spanish, ensuring every client has full access to the legal process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can be held liable for a truck accident in Coconut Creek? Liability can extend beyond the truck driver to the trucking company that employed them, the company that loaded the cargo, the entity responsible for vehicle maintenance, and in some cases the truck’s manufacturer. An attorney should investigate all possible defendants.
How is a truck accident claim different from a regular car accident claim? Truck cases involve federal regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and insurance policies with much higher coverage limits — which means the defense is typically more aggressive. Preserving evidence like electronic logs and black-box data is also time-sensitive.
What if the truck driver was an independent contractor? Trucking companies sometimes classify drivers as independent contractors to limit their own liability. Florida courts look at the actual control the company exercised over the driver, not just the label. A thorough investigation can often establish company liability regardless.
How long will my truck accident case take? Complex truck accident cases can take longer to resolve than standard car accident claims due to the volume of evidence, number of parties, and resistance from well-funded insurers. Eric will keep you informed throughout the process.
Contact HLM Injury Lawyers — Free Consultation
Truck accident injuries can alter the course of your life — and trucking companies move quickly to protect themselves. Contact HLM Injury Lawyers at (305) 842-2100 for a free consultation. Eric Hernandez serves clients throughout Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Parkland, Margate, Tamarac, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, and all of Broward County.