Accident types
Florida Truck Accidents
Commercial truck crashes involve federal rules, corporate defendants, and electronic evidence that disappears fast. A quick preservation letter is often the difference between a strong case and a dead one.
Last reviewed: January 2026
Why truck cases are different
A loaded semi weighs up to 80,000 lbs — 20+ times a passenger car. Injuries are catastrophic, insurance stakes are higher, and defendants show up with lawyers and investigators within hours. Treating a truck case like a normal car case leaves money — and evidence — on the table.
Federal FMCSA rules that matter
Interstate carriers are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Violations of these rules are often central to fault:
- Hours-of-Service: 11-hour driving limit, 14-hour on-duty limit, mandatory rest breaks;
- Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs): tamper-resistant driving-time records;
- Drug and alcohol testing post-accident;
- Maintenance and inspection records the carrier must retain;
- Cargo securement standards under 49 CFR Part 393.
Who may be liable
A truck crash is rarely just "the driver's fault." Potential defendants include:
- The driver;
- The motor carrier (trucking company) — often on a negligent hiring or supervision theory;
- The truck owner, if different from the carrier;
- The shipper or broker, for overweight or improperly loaded cargo;
- A maintenance contractor;
- The manufacturer of a defective part (brakes, tires, coupling).
Critical evidence to preserve — fast
Truck evidence disappears on a schedule. Some ELD data is only required to be kept for six months. Send a spoliation / preservation letter within days, demanding retention of:
- ELD and dashcam data;
- Event data recorder ("black box") readings;
- Driver qualification file and training records;
- Pre- and post-trip inspection reports;
- Maintenance logs;
- Bills of lading, load manifests, and dispatch communications;
- Post-accident drug and alcohol test results.
Higher insurance limits
Federal law requires interstate carriers to carry minimum liability coverage of $750,000 — often $1,000,000 or more in practice, and up to $5,000,000 for hazardous cargo. That means catastrophic cases can be fully paid, but it also means insurers fight hard. Expect a defense team on scene the same day.