Car vs Cow: Recovery Secured for Okeechobee Teen Driver Injured in a Car Collision with Livestock

A quiet evening drive home turned dangerous for one of our clients, a high school student who had just finished trying on prom dresses with friends. On a rural Okeechobee roadway in 2020, her prom plans came to a sudden stop when she suddenly encountered something no driver expects, a large black cow standing directly in her lane. 

With little to no lighting on that stretch of road, the cow was nearly impossible to see until it was too late. The collision left her with painful spinal injuries and deep lacerations from shattered glass. The physical injuries were significant, but the emotional impact of such a frightening crash was just as real. Her focus quickly shifted from school activities and prom preparations to medical appointments, recovery time, and trying to make sense of how something like this could happen. That’s when Attorney Taylor Hoskins and her legal team stepped in to get answers.

Uncovering How the Cow Reached the Road 

Although cow versus car crashes sound uncommon, they occur more often than people realize in agricultural areas, like interior Okeechobee, St Lucie, and Highlands counties. What becomes challenging in cases like this is determining how the animal ended up on the roadway and who was responsible for its containment. 

Managing Personal Injury Attorney, Taylor Hoskins, and her team quickly launched a full investigation into the property where the cow originated. This involved: 

• Identifying the owner of the animal 

• Inspecting fencing and containment areas for signs of neglect or disrepair 

• Analyzing the location of the crash to determine how long the cow may have been loose 

• Reviewing prior incidents or complaints involving the same property 

The investigation confirmed that the animal should have been securely enclosed and that proper precautions had not been taken to prevent livestock from wandering onto the roadway. These findings allowed the legal team to hold the responsible party accountable for the harm caused to the young driver. 

A Meaningful Result for a Young Client’s Recovery 

Based on the evidence and the seriousness of her injuries, Taylor and her team secured a $325,000 settlement for the client. The compensation helps support her medical care, ongoing recovery, and the lasting effects of the crash. 

While the settlement amount is important, the significance of this case reaches beyond the number. Agricultural roadway cases require a very specific investigative approach, and Taylor Hoskins has successfully handled multiple of these unique livestock related cases to date. This track record demonstrates her ability to navigate uncommon situations as well as everyday cases like auto accidents and slip and falls. When clients face something unexpected, they can count on a legal team with the experience to handle both the routine and the highly unusual. 

Expertise That Extends to the Everyday Case 

This case highlights a simple truth. When an attorney like Taylor Hoskins can win uncommon, challenging cases like this that involve livestock, property investigations, and agricultural liability, she is more than prepared to handle the standard range of motor vehicle and premises injury cases most people experience. The same attention to detail that goes into a niche case is applied to every client, no matter how common or uncommon the circumstances may be. For this young driver, the outcome brings closure, support for her healing, and reassurance that someone stepped in to make things right after a frightening and unexpected accident. 

When you need someone to fight for you, trust the expertise of Taylor Hoskins and her team.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an unusual roadway crash or any type of personal injury incident, the attorneys at Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd are here to help. Contact our team today for a free consultation by calling 866-930-6435.