What should you do after a truck accident in Florida? A Florida truck accident case can involve much more than the negligence of one driver. The investigation may include the motor carrier, vehicle owner, maintenance providers, cargo companies, freight brokers, commercial insurance policies, federal safety rules, and electronic records controlled by the trucking company.
Reviewed for legal accuracy by Ryan C. Hasanbasic, Florida Bar No. 44119 | Updated August 20, 2026
Fowkes & Hasanbasic represents people injured in tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler, delivery-truck, dump-truck, tanker, box-truck, and other commercial-vehicle crashes throughout Tampa Bay and Florida. Our lawyers personally evaluate and handle each case. We investigate how the collision happened, identify potentially responsible parties, preserve important evidence, evaluate available insurance coverage, and document the full effect of the injuries.
Explore our Florida Personal Injury practice, including truck, car, and motorcycle accident cases.
Contents
Why Truck Accident Cases Are Different
A passenger-vehicle crash may involve two drivers and their insurers. A commercial truck collision can involve several individuals and businesses, each with different records, duties, insurance policies, and defenses. The trucking company may also begin investigating the accident immediately through its insurer, investigators, attorneys, and safety personnel.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations may govern driver qualifications, hours of service, inspection, maintenance, cargo securement, drug and alcohol testing, and other safety obligations. State traffic and negligence law also applies. The relevant rules depend on the vehicle, carrier, route, cargo, and circumstances of the collision.
Who May Be Responsible for a Commercial Truck Crash?
The evidence—not the logo displayed on the truck—determines who may be legally responsible. Depending on the facts, responsible parties may include:
- The truck driver for speeding, distraction, fatigue, impairment, unsafe lane changes, following too closely, or other negligent conduct.
- The motor carrier or trucking company for its own safety failures or for conduct legally attributable to the driver.
- The vehicle or trailer owner when ownership, leasing, inspection, or maintenance responsibilities contributed to the crash.
- A maintenance contractor that failed to inspect or repair brakes, tires, lights, steering components, or other equipment.
- A cargo-loading company when an overloaded, unbalanced, or unsecured load contributed to loss of control.
- A freight broker or other contracting entity when its conduct is legally relevant under the specific facts and governing law.
- A component manufacturer when a defective tire, brake, coupling system, or other product contributed to the collision.
Identifying these relationships can require reviewing contracts, shipping records, lease documents, dispatch records, corporate filings, insurance information, and testimony from the people involved.
Evidence That Should Be Investigated and Preserved
Important evidence may be stored by the trucking company or another commercial entity for only a limited period. A preservation demand can identify materials that should not be altered or destroyed. Depending on the case, the investigation may include:
- Electronic logging-device and hours-of-service data
- Engine-control-module or event-data-recorder information
- Dash-camera, surveillance, traffic-camera, and nearby vehicle footage
- Driver qualification, licensing, training, and disciplinary records
- Cellphone, messaging, dispatch, and route information
- Vehicle inspection, repair, and maintenance records
- Post-accident drug and alcohol testing information
- Bills of lading, cargo records, weight tickets, and loading instructions
- Photographs, measurements, physical evidence, and witness statements
- Police reports, emergency-response records, and medical documentation
Common Causes of Florida Truck Accidents
Truck crashes can result from driver conduct, company practices, mechanical problems, unsafe cargo, roadway conditions, or several contributing causes. Our investigation may consider:
- Hours-of-service and fatigued-driving violations
- Texting and distracted truck driving
- Speeding or driving too fast for traffic, weather, or road conditions
- Unsafe hiring, inadequate training, or negligent supervision
- Improper inspections or deferred maintenance
- Brake, tire, steering, lighting, or coupling-system failures
- Overloaded, unbalanced, or improperly secured cargo
- Following too closely, unsafe passing, or dangerous lane changes
- Drug or alcohol impairment
- Pressure to meet unrealistic delivery schedules
Types of Commercial Truck Collisions
The mechanics of the collision can help identify what went wrong and which evidence matters. Our existing truck-accident resources address:
- T-bone and intersection truck accidents
- Head-on truck collisions
- Jackknife truck accidents
- Truck rollovers
- Tire-blowout and maintenance-related crashes
Truck accidents may also involve underride events, wide turns, blind spots, lost cargo, rear impacts, multi-vehicle collisions, construction vehicles, buses, and delivery vehicles.
Injuries and Damages in a Truck Accident Claim
The size and weight of a commercial vehicle can cause catastrophic injuries. Claims may involve traumatic brain injuries, spinal-cord injuries, fractures, burns, internal injuries, amputations, chronic pain, permanent disability, disfigurement, psychological harm, or death.
Depending on the evidence and applicable law, recoverable damages may include past and future medical expenses, lost income, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, property damage, and other legally recoverable losses. A fatal crash may support a wrongful-death claim by the appropriate estate and survivors.
What to Do After a Serious Truck Accident
Obtain emergency help and appropriate medical care. If circumstances permit, preserve photographs, video, witness information, vehicle information, insurance information, and the crash-report number. Do not dispose of a damaged vehicle, electronic device, helmet, child seat, or other item that may be important evidence without first considering whether it should be inspected.
Be cautious about giving a recorded statement, signing a broad medical authorization, or accepting an early settlement before the injuries and available coverage are understood. The trucking company may begin building its defense immediately, so prompt legal review can help protect evidence and identify the correct parties.
Florida Deadlines and Comparative Fault
Florida deadlines depend on the date of the crash, the type of claim, the parties involved, and other circumstances. Many negligence claims arising from recent accidents are subject to a two-year limitations period, but shorter notice requirements or different deadlines may apply. No one should rely on a general deadline without reviewing the particular facts.
Florida applies a modified comparative-fault system to many negligence claims. A person’s assigned share of responsibility can reduce recovery, and recovery may be barred in some circumstances if the claimant is found more than 50 percent at fault. Evidence from the vehicles, roadway, witnesses, electronic systems, and commercial records may be important when fault is disputed.
How Fowkes & Hasanbasic Handles Truck Accident Cases
Our attorneys personally evaluate and handle cases rather than passing legal responsibility to a call center. Our prior insurance-defense experience helps us recognize how carriers and defendants may investigate, value, and defend injury claims. We communicate directly with clients, investigate available evidence, evaluate insurance coverage, consult appropriate experts when necessary, and prepare cases for negotiation and litigation.
Florida Truck Accident Questions
How is a truck accident case different from a car accident case?
A truck case may involve federal motor-carrier regulations, commercial insurance policies, multiple businesses, electronic driving and vehicle data, specialized maintenance records, and evidence controlled by the trucking company. These additional issues can make the investigation broader and more time-sensitive.
Can more than one company be responsible?
Yes. Depending on the evidence, responsibility may involve the driver, motor carrier, vehicle owner, maintenance contractor, cargo loader, broker, manufacturer, or another entity. Each party’s role must be evaluated under the applicable law.
What is a truck’s black box?
Commercial vehicles may contain electronic systems that record operational information. The available data varies by vehicle and system but may include speed, braking, throttle, engine events, or other information near the time of a crash. Electronic logging devices and onboard cameras may contain separate evidence.
How much does it cost to consult a Florida truck accident lawyer?
Fowkes & Hasanbasic offers a free case review. Personal injury cases are generally handled on a contingency-fee basis, meaning attorneys’ fees are tied to a recovery and governed by the written representation agreement.
How long does a truck accident claim take?
The timeline depends on the injuries, medical treatment, number of parties, disputed facts, insurance coverage, evidence, and whether litigation becomes necessary. A careful evaluation should not be rushed merely to meet an insurance company’s preferred timetable.
Request a Free Truck Accident Case Review
Fowkes & Hasanbasic represents people injured in commercial truck crashes throughout Tampa Bay and Florida. Contact the firm for a free review of the accident, injuries, available evidence, and potential claims.
Contact Fowkes & Hasanbasic or review our broader Florida Personal Injury practice.