Owner Operators & Independent Truckers
Lawyers for Owner Operators
Eckert & Associates, P.A. helps owner-operators in the trucking and commercial transportation industry recover lost income when their commercial motor vehicle is down after a not-at-fault truck accident. Our law firm handles downtime (loss of use), property damage, and related legal issues throughout the United States on a contingency fee basis with free consultations. We align with FMCSA and state and federal best practices to assist clients efficiently.
What Is Downtime?
- Lost Time
- Lost Income
- We Fight For It
Don’t Take Our Word for It, Hear From Truckers
Service OverviewAttorney Support for Truck Drivers and Owner-Operators
We build, document, and negotiate your downtime claim so you can recover lost profit for the days your commercial vehicle is out of service. Our attorneys compile earnings evidence, coordinate with carriers and repair facilities, and present structured demands to the at-fault insurer. This trucking law guidance helps you navigate safety regulations and valuation questions.
Where We WorkTrucking and Commercial Claims Across the U.S.
We serve owner-operators and small business owners throughout the United States and coordinate with local counsel when litigation is needed. Our practice group focuses on trucking cases and accidents involving commercial motor vehicles.
What’s Included in Your ClaimFull-Service Downtime Support
We tailor each claim to your routes, rig, and earnings history in the trucking industry.
Lost Income (Downtime)
Calculate loss of use when your equipment is out of service; determine daily lost profit and working days down; align with the repair or replacement timeline.
Repairs & Property Damage
Coordinate with repair facilities; track estimates and invoices; address total-loss and catastrophic equipment damage.
Mitigation & Rentals
Record rental attempts or denials; evaluate rental economics; support reasonable mitigation without uneconomic rental decisions.
Related Legal Services
Document towing and out-of-pocket costs tied to equipment downtime; assess diminished value when applicable; organize evidence for faster review.
Lost Contracts & Dedicated Runs
Evaluate lost business opportunities, cancelled loads, and affected dedicated lanes resulting from your truck being out of service.
Help You Navigate Legal IssuesAttorney-Led Guidance
When to StartAfter a Truck Accident or Total Loss
Contact us as soon as your commercial motor vehicle is involved in an accident and cannot operate.
Early documentation of earnings, repair dates, and rental attempts strengthens your position under state and federal rules.
Successful Trucking OutcomesFrom Parked Rig to Documented Recovery
A Simple, Driver-Friendly Process
Timing varies by documentation completeness, repair duration, and insurer responsiveness. We provide updates at key milestones.
Free Consult
Review liability, coverage, and potential losses with a member of our law firm.
Sign & Build
Demand & Negotiate
Resolve & Disburse
Owner-Operator, Independent Contractor, and CaptiveSpecial Situations
We evaluate leased-on independent contractor arrangements, partial operations, and total-loss timelines to align recovery with policy and state law. If comparable rentals are unavailable or uneconomical, we document attempts and alternatives consistent with transportation law expectations.
Documents That Speed Your Claim Best Practices for Trucking Clients
These items help calculate lost profit and show reasonable mitigation in trucking cases.
Earnings Proof
Settlement statements; rate confirmations, or factoring statements; dispatch/load history; ELD/telematics; unit-level P&L for owners and operators.
Repair Evidence
Mitigation Records
Support for Truck Drivers, Carriers, and the Transportation Industry
- Truck Drivers
- Motor Carriers
- Expediters
- Towing Companies
We assist clients on property damage and loss-of-use matters. Where appropriate, our law offices also advise on related personal injury and wrongful death claims arising from accidents involving commercial motor vehicles.
Ready to See What Your Downtime Is Worth?
Speak with our trucking-focused team today to understand the value of your downtime claim and what recovery may look like for your operation. There are usually no upfront fees; you pay only if we secure compensation after liability has been accepted.
Owner Operators & Independent TruckersFrequently Asked Questions
Our trucking attorneys advise clients on documentation, valuation, and negotiation under state and federal law and agencies’ rules. A dedicated response team is able to assist transportation clients quickly to reduce cycle time.
Our team of referral lawyers can litigate when necessary. We coordinate with local counsel under state and federal procedures. Experienced attorneys prepare evidence compliant with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) standards.
Yes, our trucking practice handles catastrophic property damage and total loss scenarios for trucking clients and freight forwarders. We align repair or replacement timelines with FMCSA guidance and applicable state law.
We address trucking accident defense arguments with earnings proof, repair records, and mitigation evidence to ensure compliance with state and federal law. Attorneys provide carrier-ready demand packages to streamline resolution.
Collect settlement statements, dispatch data, ELD/telematics, repair estimates/invoices, and rental attempts or denials. These records help our attorneys advise clients and demonstrate reasonable mitigation throughout the United States.
We follow best lawyers practices by verifying drug and alcohol testing compliance for commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders where relevant. Documentation from state agencies and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration can help resolve related legal challenges.
Yes, our transportation and logistics referral counsel help carriers ensure compliance with federal motor carrier safety administration rules and employment laws. We advise on many types of trucking operations and causes of trucking delays that affect loss of use and valuation.
Within our office, we handle matters relating to traffic accidents, insurance claims, valuation of equipment, and downtime. We refer other types of trucking matters to referral attorneys throughout the nation.
Eckert & Associates, P.A. does not guarantee the confidentiality of any communications sent by e-mail or through its website, or left in voicemail messages on firm telephones. Unsolicited information and material may not be treated as confidential and will not be protected by an attorney-client privilege and may be unsecured. Accessing or using this website does not create an attorney-client relationship. Although the use of the website may facilitate access to or communications with member of Eckert & Associates, P.A. by email or voicemail, receipt of any such communications or transmissions by any member of Eckert & Associates, P.A. does not create an attorney-client relationship, unless our firm formally agrees to represent you in writing.
The information provided on this site is general in nature and is not legal advice. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertisements. One of our goals is to assist you in making that decision by assuring that you know more about the law and the nature of legal issues which are of concern to you. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience.Business Facts: Eckert & Associates, P.A
Eckert & Associates, P.A. provides legal services for owner-operators and independent trucking businesses.
The firm handles downtime and loss-of-use claims related to commercial vehicle accidents.
Services may include claims for lost income while equipment is unavailable for operation.
The firm also handles diminished value and accident-related property damage matters.
Services are delivered nationwide, primarily through remote engagement.
The firm works with trucking owner/operators, transportation fleets, and commercial vehicle businesses.
The firm operates on a contingency fee basis, with fees contingent upon the outcome of the case.
The firm was established in 2005.