Fla. Bar No. 1048733 · Former judicial clerk, Fourth Judicial Circuit
Last reviewed October 2026
How is a truck accident case different from a car accident case?
Commercial trucks are governed by federal safety rules, usually carry far more insurance, and often involve a company that can be held responsible along with the driver.
Interstate carriers must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, which cover how long drivers can be on the road, who can be hired to drive, drug and alcohol testing, and inspection and maintenance. A violation of those rules can be powerful evidence of negligence.
Federal rules require interstate carriers hauling general freight to carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, and many carry more through excess policies. Trucking companies also move fast after a crash, often sending their own investigators and adjusters to the scene. You deserve someone working just as quickly for you.
Who can be held responsible for a truck crash?
The driver, the motor carrier, and sometimes the trailer owner, the company that loaded the cargo, or a maintenance contractor.
- The driver, for speeding, fatigue, distraction, impairment, or unsafe lane changes.
- The motor carrier, which is generally responsible for its drivers' conduct on the job, and may also be directly liable for negligent hiring, retention, supervision, or entrustment, such as putting a driver with a bad safety record behind the wheel.
- The vehicle's owner. Under Florida's dangerous instrumentality doctrine, owners can be responsible when they let someone else drive, with some limits for rental and leasing companies under federal law.
- Shippers and loaders, when overloaded or poorly secured cargo shifts or spills.
- Maintenance companies, when brakes, tires, or lights failed because of bad repair work.
What evidence matters in a truck case, and how fast can it disappear?
Electronic logging device data, engine control module data, dash camera video, driver qualification files, and inspection records. Some of it can be lawfully discarded on routine schedules, so a preservation letter should go out right away.
Federal rules only require carriers to keep some hours-of-service records for six months. Video and engine data can be overwritten even sooner. What I typically demand be preserved:
- Electronic logging device (ELD) records showing hours driven and rest breaks
- Engine control module data showing speed, braking, and throttle in the seconds before impact
- Forward-facing and driver-facing camera footage
- The driver qualification file, prior violations, and training records
- Post-crash drug and alcohol test results
- Inspection, maintenance, and repair records
- Dispatch records and messages between the driver and the company
- Bills of lading, load records, and scale tickets
Once a company has notice that evidence matters to a claim, destroying it can carry serious consequences in court.
Why are truck crashes so common around Jacksonville?
Jacksonville sits where I-95 and I-10 meet, next to a major Atlantic port, so heavy freight traffic shares the road with commuters every day.
Trucks run constantly between the JAXPORT terminals at Blount Island and Talleyrand, over the Dames Point Bridge, along Heckscher Drive, and out to the distribution centers along I-10 and the Westside. The crash types I see most often:
- Rear-end crashes when a loaded truck can't stop in time
- Blind-spot lane changes on I-95 and I-295
- Wide right turns that trap a car against the curb
- Underride crashes, where a car goes under the trailer
- Jackknifes and rollovers, often in rain
- Unsecured cargo falling onto the roadway
Do Florida's car accident rules still apply to truck crashes?
Yes. Florida's two-year deadline for negligence claims, the 14-day rule for PIP benefits, and modified comparative negligence all still apply, alongside the federal trucking rules.
For a full explanation of PIP, the filing deadline, and how fault is divided, see my car accident guide. If the truck driver was uninsured or underinsured, or fled the scene, your own uninsured motorist coverage may also apply.
Common questions
How much insurance do trucking companies carry?
Interstate carriers hauling general freight must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage under federal rules, and higher minimums apply to hazardous materials. Many carriers also have excess or umbrella policies. Trucks that only operate within Florida can be subject to lower state minimums.
Should I talk to the trucking company's adjuster?
Not before you speak with a lawyer. Their job is to protect the company. Don't give a recorded statement or sign a release until you understand your claim.
What if the truck driver was an independent contractor?
That doesn't automatically let the company off the hook. Under federal leasing rules, the motor carrier whose operating authority the truck was running under is often responsible, regardless of how the driver was classified.
Can I get the truck's "black box" data?
Yes, but it has to be preserved first. A preservation letter should go to the carrier right away, and the data is then obtained during the claim or lawsuit.
What if a city or government truck hit me?
Claims against government entities in Florida have special notice requirements and limits on damages. The rules are strict, so call as soon as possible.
This page is general information about Florida law, not legal advice for your situation.