Florida Truck Accident Lawyer

Why Are Semi-Truck Accidents in Florida So Severe?

A fully loaded tractor trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and require roughly 525 feet to come to a complete stop at highway speeds, nearly the length of two football fields. When a commercial truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the occupants of the smaller vehicle often suffer the most serious injuries.

National crash data reflects that reality. In 2024, 5,218 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes nationwide, and 72% of those killed or injured were occupants of other vehicles.

Florida's busy highways only increase the risk. Interstate 4 connects Tampa's ports with Central Florida distribution centers, while I-95, Florida's Turnpike, and I-75 carry constant commercial traffic across the state. Hurricane season also brings additional fuel tankers, debris haulers, and emergency supply trucks onto already congested roads.

After a truck accident, the steps you take can have a major impact on your health and your legal claim. In this short video, our Florida truck accident lawyer explains the three most important things you need to know to protect your rights and what to expect next.

Continue reading to learn how a Florida truck accident lawyer can help protect your rights after a serious commercial vehicle crash.

Experienced Florida Truck Accident Attorneys Fighting for Injured Victims

A collision with a commercial truck can leave victims facing catastrophic injuries, months of medical treatment, and uncertainty about the future. At Osborne, Francis & Pettis, we investigate truck accidents thoroughly and pursue compensation from every party responsible for your injuries.

Truck accident claims are often more complex than ordinary car accident cases. In addition to the driver, liability may extend to the trucking company, cargo loaders, maintenance contractors, manufacturers, or other parties involved in the operation of the commercial vehicle. 

Our attorneys understand both Florida law and the federal regulations governing the trucking industry, allowing us to build strong claims supported by evidence.

"With Osborne & Francis, their team was with me every step of the way. They were thorough, understanding, and always easy to reach when I had questions about my case."

— Brandi H., Verified Client Testimonial

Here Are the Types of Commercial Vehicles Most Often Involved in Florida Truck Accidents

Truck accident cases involve far more than traditional 18-wheelers. Different commercial vehicles are subject to different regulations, insurance requirements, and operational risks, making it important to identify the type of truck involved as early as possible.

• Tractor trailers and 18-wheelers: Long-haul freight trucks operating on Florida's interstate highways.
• Tanker trucks: Fuel and hazardous material haulers subject to stricter federal safety and insurance requirements.
• Dump trucks: Construction vehicles that often carry heavy loads on local roads and highway work zones.
• Flatbeds and lowboys: Trucks transporting steel, lumber, heavy equipment, and oversized cargo that can shift if improperly secured.
• Refrigerated trailers: Commercial trucks transporting produce and other temperature-sensitive goods throughout Florida.
• Car haulers: Multi-level transport trucks delivering vehicles between ports, dealerships, and distribution centers.
• Box trucks and delivery vehicles: Commercial delivery fleets serving neighborhoods and businesses across the state.
• Garbage and refuse trucks: Vehicles that frequently stop, back up, and make wide turns in residential and commercial areas.
• Logging trucks: Heavy trucks hauling timber, primarily throughout North Florida.

Identifying the type of commercial vehicle involved helps determine which federal regulations apply, what insurance coverage may be available, and which parties may ultimately be responsible for the crash.

What Causes Most Semi-Truck Accidents in Florida?

Most truck accidents are preventable. Many occur because drivers, trucking companies, or other businesses fail to follow safety regulations or place profits ahead of public safety.

Common causes of Florida truck accidents include:

• Driver fatigue from violating federal hours-of-service rules.
• Distracted driving, including cell phone use, dispatch devices, and onboard technology.
• Speeding and following too closely, particularly in heavy traffic or poor weather.
• Improper cargo loading, causing loads to shift or trailers to jackknife.
• Poor vehicle maintenance, such as worn brakes, defective tires, or mechanical failures.
• Drug or alcohol impairment or prescription medications that affect alertness.
• Negligent hiring or training by trucking companies.
• Unsafe lane changes caused by large blind spots.
• Severe Florida weather, including heavy rain, hydroplaning, and reduced visibility.
• Unfamiliarity with Florida roads, especially among out-of-state commercial drivers.

"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

These Are the Most Common Injuries After a Florida Truck Accident

Truck accidents often cause catastrophic injuries because of the size and weight of commercial vehicles. Many victims require emergency surgery, lengthy rehabilitation, and ongoing medical care.

Common truck accident injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Head injuries can affect memory, concentration, speech, personality, and the ability to work or live independently.
• Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the spinal cord may result in chronic pain, partial paralysis, or permanent loss of mobility.
• Amputations and crush injuries: Victims trapped inside a vehicle may suffer devastating injuries that require limb amputation or multiple reconstructive surgeries.
• Multiple fractures: Broken bones, particularly to the pelvis, legs, ribs, and arms, often require surgery and months of rehabilitation.
• Internal injuries: Damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs, or other organs can become life-threatening without immediate medical treatment.
• Severe burns: Collisions involving tanker trucks or fuel spills can cause burns that require skin grafts and long-term reconstructive care.
• Wrongful death: Families who lose a loved one in a truck accident may have the right to pursue compensation under Florida's Wrongful Death Act.

Even if you believe your injuries are minor, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Some serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding, may not produce symptoms immediately. Florida law also generally requires medical treatment within 14 days to qualify for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits.

Truck Accident Settlements That Made a Difference for Our Clients

Truck accidents often leave victims facing years of medical treatment, lost income, and permanent disabilities. Osborne, Francis & Pettis has recovered significant compensation for clients injured in commercial vehicle crashes, including:

$7.5 Million: Secured for a client who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being rear-ended by a semi-truck while stopped in traffic.

$985,000: Recovered for a client who suffered spinal injuries requiring cervical and lumbar fusion surgeries after a cement truck sideswiped the client's vehicle while running a stop sign.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Speak with a Florida tractor trailer accident lawyer about what your case could be worth.

Here's What Compensation May Be Available After a Florida Truck Accident

If another party's negligence caused your injuries, you may be entitled to recover compensation for both your financial losses and the personal impact the accident has had on your life.

Depending on the circumstances of your case, compensation may include:

• Medical expenses, including future treatment
• Hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and home health care
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium
• Punitive damages in cases involving intentional misconduct or gross negligence

Trucking companies and their insurers often dispute the value of these damages. Our Florida truck accident lawyers work to document the full extent of your losses and pursue the compensation you deserve.

A Martindale-Nolo study found that accident victims who hired an attorney recovered significantly more compensation, on average, than those who handled claims on their own. 

Truck accident claims are often heavily defended, and experienced legal representation can help level the playing field by protecting evidence, handling negotiations, and pursuing every available source of compensation.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Florida Truck Accident?

The truck driver is not always the only party responsible for a crash. Depending on the circumstances, several individuals or companies may share liability.

Potentially liable parties include:

• The truck driver for speeding, distraction, fatigue, impairment, or other negligent driving.
• The trucking company for negligent hiring, inadequate training, poor supervision, unrealistic delivery schedules, or failing to maintain its fleet.
• The cargo loading company for overloaded or improperly secured cargo.
• A maintenance contractor for faulty inspections or repairs.
• The truck or parts manufacturer if defective brakes, tires, steering components, or other equipment contributed to the collision.
• The trailer owner or leasing company when ownership differs from the tractor.
• A freight broker that knowingly hired an unsafe carrier.
• A government entity if dangerous road conditions or negligent roadway maintenance contributed to the crash.

Identifying every responsible party is one of the most important steps in maximizing the compensation available after a truck accident.

How Do You Prove Fault in a Florida Truck Accident Claim?

Truck accident claims often involve evidence that is unavailable in ordinary car accident cases. In addition to police reports and witness statements, trucking companies maintain records that can reveal whether safety regulations were ignored before the crash.

Important evidence may include:

• Electronic logging device (ELD) records
• Engine control module (black box) data
• Driver qualification files
• Drug and alcohol testing results
• Maintenance and inspection records
• Dispatch communications
• GPS and telematics data
• Bills of lading and cargo records
• Dashcam footage
• The truck and trailer themselves before repairs are made

Because this evidence can be destroyed or overwritten, our attorneys send preservation, or spoliation, letters as soon as possible after being retained. We also work with accident reconstruction experts, trucking safety specialists, medical experts, and economists to build strong cases supported by evidence.

Trucking companies may only be required to keep certain records for a limited time. The sooner you contact a Florida truck accident attorney the sooner steps can be taken to preserve critical evidence.

Call Osborne, Francis & Pettis today at (561) 293-2600 for a free consultation.

How Do Insurance Companies Handle Florida Truck Accident Claims?

Florida truck accident claims are often more complex than ordinary car accident cases because multiple insurance policies may apply. 

Although your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage generally pays the first portion of your medical expenses regardless of fault, serious truck accident claims typically involve pursuing compensation from the trucking company and other responsible parties.

Here's how insurance claims typically work after a Florida truck accident:

• Your PIP coverage pays first. Florida's no-fault law generally provides up to $10,000 in PIP benefits for medical expenses and lost wages. To qualify, you must usually seek medical treatment within 14 days of the crash.
• Serious injuries may allow you to pursue additional compensation. If your injuries meet Florida's serious injury threshold, you may seek damages beyond PIP, including pain and suffering.
• Commercial trucks carry larger insurance policies. Depending on the type of truck and cargo involved, trucking companies may carry hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in liability coverage.
• Multiple insurance policies may apply. Coverage may exist through the trucking company, trailer owner, cargo company, maintenance contractor, or other responsible parties.

Trucking companies and their insurers often begin investigating a crash immediately. Their goal is to limit liability and protect their financial interests. Having a Florida truck accident attorney involved early helps protect your rights and preserve important evidence.

When Should You Speak With the Trucking Company's Insurance Adjuster?

In most cases, you should avoid giving a recorded statement to the trucking company's insurance company before speaking with a Florida semi-truck accident lawyer.

Adjusters may sound helpful, but they are trained to ask questions that can reduce or deny your claim. Even innocent statements made shortly after the crash can later be used to argue that your injuries were less serious or that you were partly responsible.

For example, an adjuster may ask:

• "How are you feeling today?"
• "How fast were you driving?"
• "Have you ever injured your back before?"
• "Did you see the truck before impact?"

The answers may seem harmless at the time, but they can later be taken out of context.

If an adjuster contacts you, obtain the person's name, company, and claim number, then politely explain that your Florida 18-wheeler accident lawyer will be handling future communications.