Aventura Truck Accident Lawyer

If a truck hit you in Aventura or on I-95 nearby, the claim works differently from an ordinary car crash. The trucking company has to follow federal safety rules, larger trucks must carry more liability insurance than Florida requires of most car drivers, and some of the most important records only have to be kept for months. Lavent Law, P.A. handles truck accident claims for Aventura residents and visitors from our office in North Miami Beach, a short drive south. The consultation is free, and you pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.

Call (305) 257-9464.

Truck Crashes In and Around Aventura

I-95 near Ives Dairy Road. Late on the night of August 28, 2025, a southbound tractor-trailer on I-95 near Ives Dairy Road failed to stop in congested traffic and set off a chain-reaction crash involving 18 vehicles, according to the Florida Highway Patrol as reported by NBC 6 and CBS News Miami. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said 29 people were hurt and 13 were taken to hospitals.

Who writes the report. That crash was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol. Inside city limits, crash reports generally come from the Aventura Police Department. Florida keeps crash reports confidential for 60 days after they are filed, except for the people involved, their lawyers, their insurers and a few others, so we request the report for you as your representative.

Where you may be treated. HCA Florida Aventura Hospital, at 20900 Biscayne Boulevard, is a state-designated Level II trauma center. Keep every record and bill from the emergency room and any follow-up care.

Why a Truck Case Is Different

Commercial trucks operate under federal safety rules that Florida law applies on its roads. A driver hauling property across state lines may drive no more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, may not drive after the 14th hour since coming on duty, and generally may not drive more than 8 hours without a break from driving of at least 30 minutes. Florida applies most of the same federal rules to heavier trucks (generally 26,001 pounds or more) that never leave the state, with its own hours limits for drivers not hauling placarded hazardous materials: no more than 12 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, and no driving after the 16th hour after coming on duty.

Drivers who must hold a commercial driver’s license are also subject to post-crash testing. The company must test the driver for alcohol and drugs after a crash that kills someone, and after a crash in which the driver is cited for a moving violation soon after the crash (within 8 hours for the alcohol test, 32 hours for the drug test) and someone is taken away from the scene for medical treatment or a vehicle has to be towed. If the alcohol test is not done within eight hours, or the drug test within 32 hours, the company stops trying and only has to record why.

The paper trail does not last long. A trucking company only has to keep a driver’s hours-of-service records and supporting documents for six months. That is one reason we send written demands early in the case asking the company to preserve the driver’s logs, any dashcam video and the truck’s electronic data.

Truck Insurance and Who Pays

If you have Florida PIP coverage, it pays first, no matter who caused the crash: 80 percent of reasonable medical bills and 60 percent of lost income, up to $10,000, as long as you get initial treatment within 14 days. Medical benefits are limited to $2,500 unless a qualifying provider finds an emergency medical condition. Our Aventura car accident page explains PIP in more detail.

Beyond PIP, larger commercial trucks must carry more liability insurance than Florida requires of most car drivers, who are not required to carry bodily injury liability coverage at all. Florida requires commercial motor vehicles weighing 26,000 pounds or more to carry combined bodily injury and property damage liability coverage of at least $50,000, $100,000 or $300,000 per occurrence, depending on weight. Federal rules require for-hire carriers that haul ordinary freight across state lines in vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more to carry at least $750,000, with higher minimums for oil and hazardous materials. These are minimums, not limits, so we find out what coverage actually applies to your crash.

If the truck belonged to a city, the county or another government agency, different rules apply: written notice of the claim generally must be given within three years (two years for a wrongful death claim), a lawsuit generally cannot be filed until the claim is denied or six months pass (90 days for a death claim), and damages are generally capped at $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident.

Who May Be Responsible

A truck crash can involve more than one company. We look at who employed the driver, who owned the truck and the trailer, who loaded the cargo, and who maintained the brakes and tires. If a defective part played a role, the manufacturer may also be involved.

For particular kinds of trucks, see our pages on tow truck crashes, Amazon van crashes and delivery driver crashes. Our Miami truck accident page covers truck claims across Miami-Dade.

Fault and Deadlines

Florida reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault and bars recovery entirely if you are found more than 50 percent at fault. The trucking company’s insurer may argue that you share the blame, which is why photos, witness names and any nearby video matter.

For crashes after March 24, 2023, you generally have two years to file a lawsuit. Crashes on or before that date fall under the older four-year deadline, so some of those claims are still open until early 2027. A wrongful death claim generally has two years. Some situations change these deadlines, so get advice early. If you lost a family member, see our wrongful death page.

What to Do After a Truck Crash

1. Call 911 and get medical care.
2. If you can, photograph the truck and trailer, the company name and any numbers on the cab doors, the vehicles and the scene.
3. Get the names and phone numbers of witnesses.
4. See a doctor within 14 days, or you can lose your PIP benefits.
5. Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer, and do not sign anything it sends you, before talking to a lawyer.
6. Keep your medical records, bills and any letters from insurers.

How We Handle Aventura Truck Cases

We get the crash report, identify the trucking company and its insurance, and send preservation demands for the driver’s logs, the truck’s data and any video. We open your PIP claim and take over the calls from every insurer. While you treat, we explain your options for getting care. When your treatment is complete, we document the full claim and negotiate. If the insurer will not pay fairly, we talk with you about filing a lawsuit.

For other kinds of injuries in the city, see our main Aventura personal injury page.

Frequently Asked Questions

The truck driver says the crash was my fault. Can I still recover?

If you are found 50 percent at fault or less, yes, but your recovery is reduced by your share. If you are found more than 50 percent at fault, you recover nothing. The driver’s logs, the truck’s data and any video can help show what really happened.

Do I have a claim against the trucking company or only the driver?

We look at both. Who is responsible depends on whether the driver was an employee or an independent contractor, who owned the truck and trailer, and what caused the crash.

How much insurance does a truck carry?

It depends on the truck and what it hauls. Florida sets minimums of $50,000 to $300,000 per occurrence for commercial trucks of 26,000 pounds or more, and federal rules require at least $750,000 for for-hire carriers hauling ordinary freight across state lines in trucks rated 10,001 pounds or more. The actual coverage can be higher.

How long do I have to file?

Generally two years from the date of the crash for crashes after March 24, 2023. Claims against a government agency and wrongful death claims have their own rules, so get the dates reviewed soon.

What will it cost?

Nothing up front. The consultation is free, and you pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. Read more about how personal injury lawyers are paid.

Talk to an Aventura Truck Accident Lawyer

I have represented injured people in South Florida since 2014. If a truck hit you or a family member in or near Aventura, call (305) 257-9464 or contact our North Miami Beach office for a free consultation.