Truck Accident Guide

Florida Truck Accidents: The Complete Guide

Shiner Law Group — Accident & Injury Lawyers • Updated July 2026

Key Takeaways

Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds — 20 times a typical car — so crashes cause far more severe injuries.
Multiple parties can share fault: the driver, the trucking company, a broker, a cargo loader, or a maintenance contractor.
Trucking is governed by federal (FMCSA / 49 CFR) rules on top of Florida law, which opens up more evidence and more insurance.
Florida gives you two years from the crash to file a lawsuit — and critical data like the ELD and black box can be erased in days.

A collision with an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer is not just a bigger car accident — it is a different kind of case entirely. Truck crashes involve federal safety regulations, multiple potentially liable companies, layers of insurance, and evidence that can disappear within days. This guide walks Florida drivers through how truck accident claims work, who can be held responsible, how the insurance is structured, and what to do to protect your rights.

How Truck Accidents Differ From Car Accidents

The single biggest factor is mass. A fully loaded semi can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while the average passenger car weighs around 4,000. That disparity means longer stopping distances, larger blind spots, and catastrophic forces in a collision. Truck cases also involve commercial insurance policies and federal oversight that ordinary car crashes do not.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Florida

Driver fatigue and hours-of-service violations — federal rules limit driving time, but violations are common.
Overloaded or unsecured cargo that shifts, spills, or makes the truck impossible to control.
Brake failure and poor maintenance on vehicles that need far more stopping distance than a car.
Speeding, distraction, and impairment — the same human errors, but with 40 tons of consequences.
Dangerous maneuvers leading to jackknife and underride crashes.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

Unlike a typical two-car crash, a truck accident often has several responsible parties — the driver, the motor carrier that employed them, a freight broker, the company that loaded the cargo, or a maintenance provider. Identifying every liable party is often the difference between a policy that covers your damages and one that falls short.

The Insurance Picture: FMCSA Minimums and the MCS-90

Interstate trucking companies must carry federally mandated liability coverage — currently a minimum of $750,000 for general freight under 49 CFR Part 387, and up to $5 million for hazardous materials. A special federal endorsement called the MCS-90 can require an insurer to pay an injured member of the public even when it would otherwise deny coverage.

Types of Truck Accidents We Handle

What to Do After a Truck Crash

Get medical care, report the crash, and — critically — act fast to preserve evidence. A truck’s electronic logging device (ELD) and engine control module (“black box”) hold data that can prove fault, but carriers may overwrite it unless a lawyer sends a preservation letter quickly.

Florida’s Filing Deadline

Under Florida’s 2023 tort reform, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a truck accident lawsuit (down from four). Because truck evidence disappears quickly and multiple insurers get involved early, the practical deadline to act is far sooner.

Injured in a Florida Truck Accident?

Shiner Law Group has recovered over $500 million for injured Floridians. Get a free, no-obligation case review with our truck accident team.

Free Case Review Call (561) 777-7700

Talk to a Florida Truck Accident Lawyer

Shiner Law Group represents truck accident victims across the state. Find your local team: Florida, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Pierce, Melbourne, Wellington, and Boca Raton.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a truck accident case different from a car accident?

Truck cases involve far greater force, federal FMCSA regulations, multiple potentially liable companies, and larger commercial insurance policies. That makes them more complex — but it also means more sources of evidence and more coverage available to compensate victims.

How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Florida?

Generally two years from the date of the crash under Florida’s 2023 tort reform, with a separate two-year window for wrongful death. Truck evidence disappears quickly, so it is important to act well before the deadline.

Who pays for a truck accident?

Depending on the facts, the truck driver, the trucking company, a freight broker, a cargo loader, or a maintenance contractor may be liable, each with its own insurance. A federal MCS-90 endorsement can also require an insurer to pay even after a coverage denial.

What evidence matters most in a truck accident?

The truck’s ELD (electronic logging device) and engine control module data, driver logs, dispatch and maintenance records, and the carrier’s federal safety filings. Much of it is controlled by the trucking company and can be lost without a prompt legal preservation demand.

This article is provided by Shiner Law Group for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice; reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Florida and federal trucking law is fact-specific and changes over time — consult a licensed Florida attorney about your situation. Attorneys at Shiner Law Group are Members of The Florida Bar. This is attorney advertising.