If you were injured due to someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Contact one of our experienced lawyers at (561) 293-2600 for legal advice and representation.
Table of Contents
Legally Reviewed By
Joseph Osborne
On I-95 near Atlantic Avenue, heavy truck traffic mixes with daily commuter congestion. A single lapse by a truck driver, such as drifting between lanes, failing to slow in rain, or taking a turn too wide, can result in catastrophic injuries for Delray Beach drivers in smaller cars.
For the person in the passenger vehicle, this can mean an ambulance ride to Delray Medical Center, missed work, and a household suddenly rearranging schedules around surgeries and medical care.
While families are adjusting, the trucking company’s insurer is already at work. Their priority is protecting the company’s bottom line.
At Osborne & Francis, our focus is on you. We move quickly to secure evidence, push back against the insurance adjusters, and position your case for the strongest possible recovery.
As client Jolinda Williams shared:
“Osborne & Francis really worked hard on my case. The staff was welcoming and helpful every time I spoke with them. My lawyer, Ben Garcia, was diligent and careful, and he kept me informed with important details throughout the process. He fought aggressively, and we won. Thank you, Ben, and the Osborne & Francis staff.”
— Jolinda Williams, Osborne & Francis Client
Call (561) 293-2600today or reach out online to speak with a Delray Beach truck accident attorney in a free consultation.
Video Transcript
So you've been in a car accident. What happens next? There are many things that you should do but here are the three most important:
Number One: See a doctor immediately.
A broken bone is easy to see, but some injuries are not. The most common injuries from car accidents happen in the neck, back, or head. The only way to diagnose and treat them is by seeing a doctor. A doctor can help ease the pain, provide medication, reassure you of how your injury may impact your daily life, and tell you what not to do to make it worse.
A visit to the doctor can also give you legally protected time off to recover and rest your body after an accident, and it documents and provides the evidence you may need for your case. Even a five-mile-per-hour car accident can cause a serious injury. So whether you've had a severe accident or a minor collision, see a doctor. And if you don't have medical insurance, let us know and we'll make sure that you receive the proper care.
Number Two: Write everything down.
Even if it seems small, during times of stress or injury it is common to forget the little details. Make sure you keep note of the pain that you're in. With neck, back, and head injuries, sometimes simple activities such as walking up the stairs or picking up a toddler may cause severe pain.
You may not be sleeping well at night. Documenting how much you sleep and how often you wake up due to pain is also very important. And lastly, if you have any cuts or bruises, take daily photos as you heal. This will provide visual evidence of the injuries that you've suffered.
Number Three: Do not speak to an insurance company until you've spoken to a lawyer.
Please understand that the insurance adjuster works for a billion-dollar corporation and not for you. Their interests are solely for their insurance company, and their goal is to provide you with the least amount of financial settlement as quickly as possible. When you do speak with them, remember they will record the conversation. Why do they do this? Because they've been trained to ask questions that may confuse you. So talk to us before you talk to them.
So remember: See a doctor, document everything, and call us before calling the insurance company for your free private consultation. We are here for you. Real tough lawyers fighting real tough issues.
Delray Beach drivers share I-95, Atlantic Avenue, and Congress Avenue with tractor-trailers carrying freight across South Florida.
When a crash happens, the cause is usually tied to something specific, like a driver working past the point of exhaustion, a company skipping maintenance, or cargo loaded in a way that made the truck unstable.
Driver Issues
Fatigue: Long overnight runs from the Port of Palm Beach or extended shifts on I-95 leave drivers drowsy, slowing their reactions in stop-and-go traffic.
Wide turns: At intersections like Congress Avenue or Linton Boulevard, trucks swing too far into adjacent lanes, striking vehicles with little warning.
Blind spots: Cars traveling beside a semi on I-95 merges or Federal Highway lanes can vanish from a driver’s view until the impact happens.
Weather and speed: Heavy Florida rain demands slower speeds. A loaded truck that fails to adjust can skid, jackknife, or plow through stopped traffic.
Distraction: Cell phones, GPS units, and logging devices distract truck drivers at critical moments. A glance down can mean missing a red light.
Company Practices
Poor training: Some companies hire drivers who are not fully prepared to handle South Florida’s crowded roads.
Cargo problems: Freight that shifts or spills mid-route can topple a trailer or scatter hazards across Delray Beach streets.
Skipped maintenance: Brake failures and tire blowouts show up again and again in post-crash inspections, pointing to companies cutting corners.
Our Delray Beach truck crash lawyers review black box data, electronic logs, inspection files, and driver records to see where these breakdowns occurred and how they connect to the crash.
Avoid Recorded Statements to Insurance Companies
After a truck accident, insurance adjusters often call quickly to ask for a recorded statement. It may sound routine, but agreeing to one puts your claim at risk.
Your words can be twisted: A simple phrase like “I’m fine” may later be used to argue that you weren’t seriously injured.
Injuries take time to show: Adrenaline and shock mask pain. If you downplay your injuries on a call, it may harm future claims for treatment.
You’re not obligated: The trucking company’s insurer cannot force you to provide a recorded statement.
Instead, keep responses short and direct them to your Delray Beach semi-truck accident attorney. Examples include:
“I’m not ready to answer questions right now.”
“Please speak with my lawyer.”
“I’ll provide information once I’ve spoken with legal counsel.”
These replies keep the insurance company from shaping your claim before you even know the full scope of your injuries.
Have you already spoken with the trucking company's insurance? Worried your statement will be twisted? Contact us today or call (561) 293-2600 or to speak with a Delray Beach truck accident attorney who can protect your case before it goes any further.
Injuries From Truck Accidents in Delray Beach
A semi-truck impact delivers crushing force. Victims often leave Delray Medical Center with injuries that change daily life, from basic mobility to how they work or sleep.
In addition to physical injuries, it’s common for truck accident victims to experience PTSD, panic attacks, or flashbacks surface long after the crash.
Many survivors avoid I-95 or Atlantic Avenue altogether, unable to drive without reliving the collision. Depression, withdrawal, and sleepless nights can impact healing and daily life.
How Do Truck Accidents Change Family Life?
Truck accident injuries reach past hospital walls and into homes across Delray Beach. Families must rework routines around doctor visits, therapy schedules, and income loss.
A spouse may leave work early to drive to appointments. Children may take on more responsibilities around the house. Savings may be spent on medical bills instead of school or retirement.
These are real, measurable impacts. When Osborne & Francis builds a claim, we look at how the crash has altered household life:
Has a primary income disappeared?
Has a family member had to stop working to provide care?
Has the home required costly changes, like ramps or stair lifts?
Acknowledging these realities makes the case stronger. It also ensures the outcome reflects what families in Delray Beach truly need to move forward.
Steps to Take After a Truck Accident in Delray Beach
The hours after a crash are hectic. Paramedics, police, and tow trucks fill the scene while you’re left wondering what comes next. The steps you take now will help both your recovery and your case later.
Seek medical care: Even if you walk away, unseen injuries like internal bleeding or brain trauma can worsen fast. Paramedics can transport you to Delray Medical Center or another nearby hospital where doctors run the scans needed to rule out serious damage.
Collect what you can: If it’s safe, photograph the truck’s DOT number, company name, skid marks, and road conditions. These details disappear quickly once the roadway clears.
Exchange information: Get the driver’s name, employer, and insurance details, along with the police crash report number. This information helps your Delray Beach semi-truck accident lawyer obtain the official records faster.
Be careful with your words: Insurance adjusters may reach out immediately. Keep your replies brief and redirect them to your Delray Beach truck accident lawyer. Also, avoid posting about the crash or your injuries on social media.
Contact a truck accident attorney: Electronic driving logs and black box data may only be saved for weeks. By calling Osborne & Francis early, you put someone on your side to preserve that evidence before it’s erased.
Greg Francis Explains What to Do Next
In this short video, founding partner Greg Francis explains the three steps he urges after a truck crash: seek immediate medical care, preserve evidence, and talk to a lawyer before speaking with the insurance company.
Watch the video here.
Federal and State Trucking Rules That Impact Your Claim
Truck drivers and the companies that employ them must follow federal and Florida safety regulations. When those rules are ignored, families in Delray Beach are the ones who pay the price.
Hours of service: Drivers must take rest breaks. Skipping them leads to fatigue and slowed reactions, especially on long I-95 routes.
Maintenance requirements: Trucks must undergo routine inspections. Missing brake or tire repairs puts every car around them at risk.
Cargo securement: Freight must be balanced and tied down. A poorly secured load can spill into lanes or cause a trailer to tip.
Training and licensing: Commercial drivers must be properly trained for the size and weight of their vehicles. Companies that skip training cut safety corners.
Drug and alcohol testing: Random testing is mandatory. A company that neglects testing puts impaired drivers on the road.
When Osborne & Francis investigates a Delray Beach truck crash, we examine these records closely. Proving that rules were broken strengthens your claim and broadens accountability beyond just the driver.
Compensation Available After a Truck Accident
The financial damage from truck crashes goes on for years. Families deal with lost income, stretched budgets, and having to rebuild their daily lives around new realities. A truck accident lawsuit can cover:
Medical expenses: ER visits, surgeries, therapy, medication, and follow-up care.
Lost income: Paychecks missed during recovery and reduced earning capacity if you can’t return to the same job.
Home adjustments: Modifications such as ramps, lifts, or in-home nursing support.
Emotional distress: Anxiety, depression, and the loss of enjoyment in normal activities.
Wrongful death: Funeral expenses and financial support for surviving family members.
Every case is different, but the goal is always the same: connect the compensation to the real changes you’re facing at home, at work, and in your health.
Truck Accident Settlements We’ve Handled
Osborne & Francis has represented Floridians in life-changing truck accident cases. These results show what resolution can look like when the right evidence is secured and the case is built fully:
Rear-End Crash at a Red Light—$7.5 Million: A commercial truck hit a pickup stopped in traffic. The driver sustained multiple fractures and a traumatic brain injury. The settlement provided funds for long-term rehabilitation and family stability.
Cement Truck Lane Change—$985,000: A cement truck sideswiped a smaller car, leaving the driver with spinal injuries that required fusion surgery. The recovery supported treatment and income replacement.
Fatal Semi-Truck Crash in a Storm—$1 Million: A semi-truck driver failed to slow during a storm, leading to a fatal collision. Black box data confirmed speeding. The settlement helped the family secure financial support.
A Martindale-Nolo study found that people injured in accidents who hired a lawyer recovered nearly three times more compensation than those who handled claims on their own. In truck accident cases, that difference comes from securing critical records quickly and presenting medical needs in ways insurance companies cannot dismiss.
Why Choose Osborne & Francis for a Delray Beach Truck Accident Claim
Trucking companies and their insurers jump into action after a crash, but we’re ready for them. Osborne & Francis has spent decades fighting for Floridians hurt by commercial vehicles, and we bring all that experience to your Delray Beach case.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
How We Build Your Case
We request driver logs, black box data, inspection reports, and safety records before the companies controlling them can restrict access. These materials show patterns like drivers skipping rest breaks, companies ignoring brake problems, or trailers being overloaded. Connecting your crash to these failures makes the claim stronger.
Staying Connected With Clients
No phone tag, no wondering if anyone is paying attention. You’ll get answers from staff who know your case and can explain the next step. Clear communication means less stress while you deal with medical care and family responsibilities.
Preparing for Court From the Start
We prepare every case as if it’s going in front of a jury. That preparation means we’re not negotiating from a weak position. If the insurer refuses to treat you fairly, we’re ready to put your story in front of twelve people from your community.
Knowledge of Local Trucking Hazards
We know Delray Beach traffic. That nightmare stretch of I-95 during rush hour? The way trucks struggle with that Atlantic Avenue turn? We use these details to show exactly how your crash happened and why the trucking company should have seen it coming.
The trucking company’s attorneys are already working to limit what they owe. Waiting to act gives them an advantage.
“When trucking companies cut corners, innocent people suffer. Every case we take is about holding them accountable and preventing the next tragedy.”
— Greg Francis, Osborne & Francis
What makes a truck accident case different from a car accident case?
Why People Trust Osborne & Francis
J. Davis
“I couldn’t have asked for a better lawyer/ firm — everything was done professionally exactly how I wanted. Due to COVID my personal attorney Mr. Garcia was still able to make things work in a timely manner and he never made me feel like he wasn’t working. Overall I’m happy with how my case turned out and I would recommend him and this law firm to anyone. 100% satisfied.”
C. Smith
“I am so thankful for EVERYONE, the entire staff at Osborne & Francis Law, for mentoring me through the mediation process with my hip replacement failures. I didn't realize how MUCH pressure they relieved me of by helping me deal with the reality of this traumatic time in my life, as it was OVER so quickly with a positive result. My family is grateful to have their mom HAPPY & FOCUSED on the future, rather than worrying over what happened in the past! FAST FORWARD, we are LIVING LIFE to the fullest once again!”
T. Andrews
“Attorneys Greg Francis and Ryan Fletcher at Osborne & Francis Law Firm represented me in my personal injury case. The defendant drew a line in the sand and was adamant on a settlement amount I was almost willing to accept. After the dust settled and the smoke cleared, we settled for 3 times that amount!!! When they say ‘Real Tough Lawyers,’ they mean it.”
E. Holland
Dennis and the other Osborne & Francis staff were amazing! Our case was HUGE and required tender loving care. Everyone on our case did their part by putting all the puzzle pieces together. We were given step by step updates and put at ease when our nerves got the best of us. For every inquiry we made we received a timely response...You are appreciated!
Alfred
Quick and fair resolution to a unique case. On advice of my own attorney, I engaged Joseph Osborne of Osborne & Francis of Boca Raton, FL. Mr. Osborne had considerable experience in cases such as mine and the results showed that. Mr. Osborne and his staff were very helpful, kept me up to date, and listened to my input. The settlement was very fair as far as I am concerned.
Erica F.
"Best personal injury attorney around, I could not be happier! I was seriously injured in a car accident and Osborne and Francis helped me through the entire process. I was blown away by how knowledgeable the staff and attorneys are at this incredible law firm. I would not hesitate to recommend this law firm to friends and family!"
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Speak With a Delray Beach Tractor Trailer Accident Lawyer
At Osborne & Francis, we represent people in Delray Beach injured in crashes involving tractor-trailers on I-95, Atlantic Avenue, Congress Avenue, and other busy local routes. Our Delray Beach truck crash lawyers understand how trucking companies respond after a collision, and we push back when they try to minimize their role.
A serious crash can bring hospital stays at Delray Medical Center, missed weeks or months of work, and pressure from insurance adjusters before you’ve had time to recover. Our firm handles those battles for you, building a case that reflects both the care you need now and the changes your family will face going forward.
What makes a truck accident case different from a car accident case?
Truck cases usually involve multiple parties. The driver, their employer, the company that loaded the cargo, and even the manufacturer of faulty parts may share responsibility. This makes the process more complex and requires a law firm experienced in handling federal trucking regulations.
What if I didn’t feel hurt right after the crash but symptoms showed up later?
That happens frequently. Head injuries, internal bleeding, and spine damage aren’t always obvious at the scene. Seeing a doctor right away creates a record of your injuries and protects your health. If you wait, the trucking company’s insurer may argue your injuries weren’t related to the crash.
Do I have to go to court for a truck accident claim?
Not always. Many cases settle before trial, but preparing every case as if it will go to court gives you leverage. When insurers know your lawyers are ready to take the case in front of a jury, they are less likely to push low settlement offers.
What should I bring to my first meeting with a truck accident lawyer?
Bring any paperwork you have, like the police report number, insurance letters, medical records, photos, or witness contact information. Even if you don’t have everything, starting the conversation early lets your Delray Beach 18-wheeler accident lawyer begin gathering the records that matter.
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