Florida Truck Accident Lawyer | Broward County & South Florida

Commercial Truck Cases Move Fast on Evidence and Slow on Settlement. We Move Fast Either Way.

Florida Advocates represents victims of commercial truck and 18-wheeler accidents throughout Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, and South Florida. When you have been injured by a commercial truck on I-95, I-595, the Florida Turnpike, or any Broward County roadway, you face an opponent with very different resources and very different defenses than an ordinary driver — and you need an Lawyer who knows how to dismantle them.

Susan Brown spent years as a bodily injury insurance adjuster before becoming a trial Lawyer. She knows from the inside exactly how trucking companies and their insurers defend these cases — and she begins building the counter-evidence the same day you retain her. Including spoliation letters, ECM preservation demands, and driver log requests within hours of being engaged.

A Finger Amputation, Disputed Liability, and a Defendant Who Said “Not Our Employee”

This is exactly the kind of case commercial trucking and delivery defendants count on never paying out. The “not our employee” defense is one of the most common — and one of the most defeatable — positions in commercial vehicle litigation. The label the company puts on the relationship is not what determines liability. Florida law is.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its individual facts.

Florida Truck Accident Statistics

Florida is one of the most dangerous states in the country for commercial truck crashes. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) data:

The reason for the high fatality rates: physics. A loaded 18-wheeler weighs 80,000 pounds. A passenger vehicle weighs roughly 4,000 pounds. In a collision, the energy transfer is 20-to-1. What is a moderate impact for the truck is often catastrophic for the occupants of the passenger vehicle.

Beyond the size disparity, commercial truck crashes are made worse by:

• Long stopping distances — a fully loaded semi requires 40% more stopping distance than a passenger vehicle
• Larger blind spots — the “no-zones” around a commercial truck are far larger than most drivers realize
• Driver fatigue — federal hours of service rules exist because tired truckers cause crashes
• Aggressive scheduling pressure — drivers paid by the mile have economic incentives to violate safety rules
• Cargo issues — improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can cause rollovers, jackknifes, and load-shift crashes

Why Susan Brown Handles Truck Accident Cases Differently

Most personal injury Lawyers have only ever worked one side of a claim. Susan Brown worked on both sides before she ever set foot in a courtroom as a trial Lawyer.

Before law school, Susan worked as a bodily injury insurance adjuster. She evaluated claims, reviewed evidence, and developed the valuation arguments that insurers use to justify low offers — including commercial vehicle claims. She was selected as the designated adjuster for her company’s largest insured, managing complex claims under specialized handling procedures. She was then recruited by the state’s largest personal injury firm — which is where she decided to pursue her law degree to do that work herself.

When Susan takes on your truck accident case, she is not guessing what the trucking company and its insurers will argue. She already knows. “Independent contractor.” “Not our employee.” “The other driver caused it.” “Your client cut him off.” She has heard them all — because she used to make them.

Now she defeats them. The $100,000 recovery for a finger amputation in a disputed-liability FedEx case proves it.

Learn more about Susan Brown →

Why Truck Accident Cases Are Different — And Why That Matters to Your Recovery

Truck accident cases are not just bigger car accident cases. They are governed by a different body of law, involve more potential defendants, and require evidence that does not exist in passenger vehicle crashes. Most importantly, they involve evidence that disappears quickly if you do not act fast.

Federal Regulations Apply

Commercial trucking is regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). These federal rules govern:

• Hours of service — how many hours a driver can drive without rest
• Driver qualifications — CDL requirements, medical certifications, training
• Vehicle inspection and maintenance — pre-trip inspection requirements, maintenance records
• Drug and alcohol testing — pre-employment, random, post-accident
• Cargo securement — how cargo must be loaded, secured, and weight-distributed
• Electronic logging devices (ELDs) — mandatory for most commercial trucks since 2017

Violations of these federal rules can establish negligence per se under Florida law — meaning the violation itself is sufficient to prove the trucking company or driver was negligent. We obtain driver logs, ELD data, and FMCSA violation records as part of our standard investigation.

Multiple Liable Parties

Unlike a typical car accident with one at-fault driver, a commercial truck case typically involves three to seven potentially liable parties:

• The truck driver — for negligent driving, fatigue, distraction, impairment, or training violations
• The trucking company — vicariously liable for the driver’s negligence; directly liable for negligent hiring, supervision, training, or retention
• The cargo loader / shipper — liable if improper loading or unsecured cargo caused or worsened the crash
• The truck manufacturer — products liability if a defective part contributed (brake failure, steering defect, tire blowout)
• The component manufacturer — products liability for defective tires, brakes, or other parts
• The maintenance provider — liable if inadequate or negligent maintenance contributed
• The broker or shipper — liable in some circumstances for negligent selection of an unsafe carrier

Identifying every liable party means identifying every available insurance policy. Trucking companies are required to carry minimum federal liability coverage of $750,000 for general freight, $1,000,000 for hazardous materials, and $5,000,000 for certain hazardous cargo. Many carry far more. Multiple defendants often means stacked policies — and significantly larger total recoveries.

Critical Evidence Disappears Fast

This is the single most important difference between truck accidents and car accidents. Trucking evidence has a short shelf life:

• Black box / ECM data — can be overwritten when the truck returns to service, sometimes within hours
• Driver logs and ELD data — federal regulations require only 6 months of retention
• Pre-trip inspection reports — typically retained 12 months or less
• Drug and alcohol test results — retention periods vary
• Maintenance records — typically retained 12-18 months
• Surveillance footage — most highway and business cameras overwrite within 30 days
• Witness recollections — degrade quickly

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Florida

Driver Fatigue

Federal hours of service rules limit how long a commercial driver can drive without rest. Drivers paid by the mile face economic pressure to exceed these limits. Driver fatigue is a leading cause of fatal truck crashes nationwide.

Distracted Driving

Texting, phone use, dispatcher communication, GPS interaction, and eating while driving. Federal rules prohibit handheld phone use by commercial drivers. Phone records and ELD data often reveal distracted driving.

Impaired Driving

DUI by commercial drivers is rare but devastating. Federal rules require post-accident drug and alcohol testing. We obtain those test results as part of our investigation.

Speeding and Aggressive Driving

Commercial trucks at highway speed take significantly longer to stop than passenger vehicles. Speeding is particularly dangerous when combined with heavy cargo, downhill grades, or wet pavement.

Improper Cargo Loading

Overloaded trucks, unsecured cargo, and improperly distributed weight can cause rollovers, jackknifes, brake failures, and load-shift crashes.

Inadequate Driver Training

Many trucking companies provide minimal training before putting new drivers behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound vehicle. Negligent training claims target the company directly.

Negligent Hiring and Retention

Trucking companies that hire drivers with poor driving records, prior DUI convictions, or expired CDLs can be held directly liable for negligent hiring. Companies that fail to terminate drivers after repeated safety violations can be liable for negligent retention.

Defective Equipment

Brake failures, tire blowouts, steering defects, and other equipment failures cause catastrophic crashes. Products liability claims against the manufacturer or component supplier add additional layers of recovery.

Inadequate Maintenance

Trucks are required to undergo regular inspections and maintenance. Inadequate maintenance — bald tires, worn brakes, broken lights — can establish liability for the trucking company or maintenance provider.

Unsafe Routing

Trucking companies that route drivers through areas where commercial trucks are prohibited, or assign routes that require unsafe maneuvers, can face direct liability.

Types of Commercial Truck Cases We Handle

18-Wheelers and Semi-Trucks

The largest commercial vehicles on Florida highways. Crashes involving fully loaded tractor-trailers produce some of the most severe injuries we see.

Delivery Vehicles

FedEx, UPS, Amazon, and other delivery vehicles operate in Broward County by the thousands. Liability questions involve employment status, contractor relationships, and parent company supervision.

Dump Trucks

Construction-related dump truck accidents involve loose cargo, blind spots, and operator training issues.

Garbage Trucks

Frequent stops, blind spots, and pedestrian/cyclist conflicts create unique hazards.

Tow Trucks

Roadside operations create high-risk conflicts with passing vehicles. Improper towing practices can also cause secondary crashes.

Tanker Trucks

Hazardous materials, fuel tankers, and chemical transport trucks face heightened federal scrutiny — and create catastrophic risks when crashes occur.

Box Trucks and Commercial Vans

Smaller commercial vehicles still operate under FMCSA rules in many circumstances, particularly when crossing state lines or carrying commercial cargo.

Construction and Utility Trucks

Bucket trucks, cement mixers, and utility vehicles operate under unique safety standards and often near pedestrian and worker traffic.

Catastrophic Injuries from Truck Crashes

Because of the size disparity between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles, truck crash injuries are often catastrophic and life-altering:

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Severe brain injuries are common in truck crashes. Symptoms can include cognitive impairment, personality changes, memory loss, and permanent disability.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Herniated discs, nerve damage, partial paralysis, and complete paralysis. Spinal injuries from truck crashes often require lifetime medical care, adaptive equipment, and home modifications.

Amputations

Crush injuries can result in amputations — at the scene or surgically afterward. The $100,000 recovery in our FedEx case involved a finger amputation while assisting a delivery employee.

Severe Burns

Fuel tank ruptures, fires, and rollover crashes can cause severe burns requiring multiple surgeries and skin grafts.

Multiple Fractures

Broken pelvis, femur, ribs, sternum, wrists, arms — complex fractures often requiring surgery with plates, screws, or rods, and resulting in permanent limitation of movement.

Internal Organ Damage

The blunt force of a truck collision can damage organs including the liver, spleen, kidneys, and intestines. Internal bleeding may not be immediately apparent.

Wrongful Death

The most devastating outcome. The size and weight differential between trucks and passenger vehicles means truck crashes produce a disproportionate share of fatal injury cases.

Learn more about wrongful death claims →

Psychological Injuries

Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and fear of driving — particularly fear of driving near commercial trucks — are real injuries with real economic consequences.

Dangerous Roads for Commercial Truck Crashes in South Florida

Interstate 95

The most dangerous highway in Florida for all vehicle types. The stretch between I-595 and Marina Mile Boulevard — “America’s Deadliest Mile” — sees frequent commercial truck crashes.

Interstate 595

Heavy commercial truck traffic between I-95 and I-75. Complex interchanges and aggressive driving create unique hazards.

Interstate 75 (Alligator Alley)

Major east-west commercial corridor. Long stretches of monotonous highway contribute to driver fatigue.

Florida’s Turnpike

High-speed commercial truck traffic with heavy passenger vehicle volume. Wet pavement and afternoon storms create rollover and jackknife conditions.

US-27

Major commercial route from South Florida to the Lake Okeechobee region. Two-lane sections with passing zones create head-on collision risks.

State Road 84

Commercial truck access road with construction zones and uneven pavement.

Major Broward County Distribution Corridors

• Powerline Road — major commercial trucking corridor with frequent loading/unloading operations
• State Road 7 / US-441 — high-speed commercial traffic mixed with frequent business entrances
• NW 12th Avenue — heavy truck traffic to and from Port Everglades
• Eller Drive / Port Everglades — port traffic with frequent commercial vehicle movements

Florida Truck Accident Law — What You Need to Know

Modified Comparative Negligence

Florida follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Florida Statute § 768.81, revised in March 2023:

• If you are found partially at fault below 50%, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault
• If you are found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover any damages

Trucking companies aggressively assign fault to passenger vehicle drivers — often without basis. Building the evidence that defeats or minimizes your fault percentage is a core part of how we build truck accident cases.

Statute of Limitations — Two Years

Special deadlines apply when:

• A government entity is the defendant (state-owned trucks, garbage trucks, snow plows) — pre-suit notice within 3 years under Fla. Stat. § 768.28, with damage caps applicable
• The crash caused a death — wrongful death claim must be filed within 2 years of the date of death
• A defective truck component contributed — products liability claim has a 4-year statute of limitations

Spoliation of Evidence

Florida law recognizes a duty to preserve evidence relevant to anticipated litigation. When a trucking company knows or should know that a crash may result in litigation, they have a legal obligation to preserve relevant records. When they don’t, sanctions can include adverse jury instructions, exclusion of evidence, or default judgment.

We send formal spoliation preservation letters to trucking companies, their insurers, and any other potential defendants the same day we are retained — putting them on notice and creating the legal foundation for spoliation sanctions if evidence is destroyed.

What to Do After a Truck Accident in Florida

At the Scene

1. Call 911 immediately — request medical assistance and law enforcement (Florida Highway Patrol typically investigates commercial truck crashes)
2. Do not move the vehicles unless required for safety — preserve the crash scene
3. Photograph everything:
   • The truck — including DOT number, company name, and license plate
   • Trailer information — DOT number on the trailer (often different from the truck)
   • Vehicle positions and damage from multiple angles
   • Skid marks and debris field (often extends much farther than in car crashes)
   • Traffic signals, signs, and weather conditions
   • The truck driver and yourself (visible injuries)
4. Get witness contact information — names and phone numbers
5. Get the truck driver’s information — driver’s license, CDL, insurance card, employer name, and dispatch contact
6. Accept emergency medical treatment — adrenaline masks injury and symptoms may not appear for hours
7. Do NOT discuss fault at the scene — and do not apologize

Within 24-72 Hours

8. See a doctor as soon as possible — even if injuries seem minor (preserves PIP benefits for related vehicle damage)
9. Contact an Lawyer — truck accident evidence is the most time-sensitive of any personal injury case. Do not wait days or weeks.
10. Do NOT give recorded statements to the trucking company’s insurance representative
11. Do NOT accept a quick settlement offer — trucking companies often offer fast lowball settlements specifically to avoid the discovery process

Protect Your Claim

12. Preserve your vehicle — do not authorize repairs until it has been documented
13. Keep all medical records, bills, and receipts
14. Document all symptoms in a daily journal
15. Do NOT post on social media about the accident
16. Forward all trucking company / insurance correspondence to your Lawyer unread

Damages You Can Pursue in a Florida Truck Accident Case

Economic Damages

• Medical expenses — emergency care, trauma surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, future treatment, lifetime care for catastrophic injuries
• Lost wages — past and future
• Reduced earning capacity from permanent disability
• Property damage — vehicle repair or replacement, personal belongings
• Home modifications — wheelchair accessibility, adaptive bathroom, ramps
• Adaptive equipment — prosthetics, mobility devices, modified vehicles

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and suffering — physical pain from injuries and recovery
• Emotional distress — anxiety, depression, PTSD, fear of driving
• Permanent disability or disfigurement — including amputation
• Loss of enjoyment of life — inability to participate in activities you previously enjoyed
• Loss of consortium — impact on your relationship with your spouse

Wrongful Death Damages

If a loved one was killed in a truck crash:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Lost financial support
• Loss of companionship, guidance, and protection
• Mental pain and suffering of survivors

Learn more about wrongful death damages →

Punitive Damages

Available in cases involving egregious conduct under Florida Statute § 768.72. Truck cases are more likely to support punitive damages than typical car accident cases — particularly when:

• The driver was impaired
• Hours of service rules were knowingly violated
• The trucking company knew the driver was unsafe and continued to dispatch him
• Maintenance records were falsified
• Drug and alcohol testing was not performed when required

Frequently Asked Questions — Florida Truck Accidents

About Lawyer Susan Brown

Susan Brown oversees the Personal Injury Department at Florida Advocates. Before becoming an Lawyer, Susan worked as a bodily injury and workers’ compensation insurance adjuster — including handling commercial vehicle claims. She was then recruited by the state’s largest personal injury firm — which is where she decided to pursue her law degree. That inside knowledge of how insurance companies and corporate defendants evaluate, delay, and undervalue claims is what sets her apart from Lawyers who have only ever worked one side of a case.

Susan earned her J.D. with Honors from the University of Florida College of Law (1999), receiving the Book Award in Legal Drafting and a Trial Advocacy Scholarship. She is admitted to all three U.S. District Courts in Florida — Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts — and has argued and won cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Susan is a member of the Broward County Trial Lawyers Association and has more than 25 years of insurance litigation experience.

Education

• J.D. with Honors — University of Florida College of Law (1999)
• Book Award in Legal Drafting
• Trial Advocacy Scholarship (won written competition)
• Teaching Assistant — Appellate Advocacy and Legal Research & Writing
• B.S. — Florida State University

Court Admissions

• Florida
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Appellate Experience

• Argued and won cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• Argued and won cases before the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Susan’s federal court admissions matter in commercial trucking cases. Many trucking cases end up in federal court — either because diversity jurisdiction applies (out-of-state trucking company) or because federal regulation questions create federal subject-matter jurisdiction. You need an Lawyer admitted to federal court to litigate at that level. Susan is.

Professional Memberships

• Broward County Trial Lawyers Association

Learn more about Susan Brown →

Local Resources

Hospitals & Trauma Centers

Broward Health Medical Center
(Level I Trauma Center — Adult & Pediatric) 1600 S Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Phone: (954) 355-4400
Website

Memorial Regional Hospital
(Level I Trauma Center) 3501 Johnson Street, Hollywood, FL 33021
Phone: (954) 987-2000

Law Enforcement / Crash Investigation

Florida Highway Patrol (commercial truck crashes are typically investigated by FHP)
Phone: (850) 847-2500

Broward County Sheriff’s Office
Phone: (954) 831-8900

Federal Agencies

• FMCSA — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — federal trucking regulations and crash data.
• FMCSA Safer System — public database of trucking company safety records.

Why Choose Florida Advocates for Your Truck Accident Case

You may have seen billboards, TV commercials, and online ads promising fast settlements. Many of these are “settlement mills” — high-volume firms that push for quick settlements rather than maximum recovery. Truck accident victims are particularly poorly served by this approach because the complexity of commercial trucking cases, the speed at which evidence disappears, and the magnitude of the available recovery require methodical case-building, not assembly-line claims handling.

At Florida Advocates, we take a different approach:

• Direct Lawyer involvement — Susan Brown personally oversees your case
• Insurance insider knowledge — we know how trucking insurers value and defend cases because Susan used to do that work
• Same-day spoliation letters — preservation demands sent to trucking companies and insurers the day you retain us
• Federal court experience — Susan is admitted to all three Florida federal districts and the Eleventh Circuit
• Resources for complex cases — accident reconstruction experts, ECM data analysts, trucking industry consultants, economists for lifetime care projections
• Experience with disputed-liability cases — the $100,000 FedEx recovery shows we win cases other firms might decline
• No rushed settlements — we build cases for maximum value, not quick turnover

You deserve more than a billboard. You deserve an advocate who understands commercial trucking and knows exactly how to defeat the standard defenses.

No Fee Unless We Win

We work on a contingency fee basis. That means:

• Free consultation — no cost to speak with us about your case
• No upfront fees — we advance all case costs (filing fees, expert witnesses, accident reconstruction, ECM data extraction, medical records, economic experts)
• No Lawyer fees unless we recover for you

Truck accident cases require substantial expert witness costs — accident reconstruction, ECM analysis, trucking industry experts, medical experts, economic experts. We cover all of these costs. You will never receive a bill from us while your case is active. We only get paid when you do.

About Florida Advocates

Florida Advocates is a personal injury law firm headquartered in Dania Beach, Florida — in the heart of Broward County. We represent truck accident victims throughout Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, and all of Florida.

Office Locations:

Dania Beach (Broward County) — Headquarters
45 E Sheridan Street Dania Beach, FL 33004

North Miami (Miami-Dade County)
13499 Biscayne Blvd #107 North Miami, FL 33181

Tampa (Hillsborough County)
238 E Davis Blvd #210 Tampa, FL 33606

Phone: 754-290-3803
Email: info@fladvocates.com
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Available by phone 24/7 for emergencies

Serving Truck Accident Victims Throughout South Florida

Florida Advocates Personal Injury Lawyers represents truck accident victims throughout Broward County, Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County, Hillsborough County, and across Florida, including:

• Fort Lauderdale
• Dania Beach — Office Location
• Hollywood
• Pembroke Pines
• Coral Springs
• Plantation
• Hallandale Beach
• Miramar
• Weston
• Pompano Beach
• Boca Raton
• Miami
• Miami Beach
• Hialeah
• North Miami
• Tampa

If you were injured in a truck accident anywhere in Florida, we can help.

Contact a Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident anywhere in Florida, contact Florida Advocates today. Time matters — surveillance footage, witness recollections, and physical evidence all deteriorate quickly. Your motorcycle, helmet, and gear must be preserved as evidence. Call now to protect your case.

Call: 754-290-3803
Email: info@fladvocates.com

Call us for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we recover for you. After all, isn’t that what family would do?

Related Practice Areas

If your accident involved:

• A car
• A motorcycle
• A death in the family
• A defective truck component
• A denied insurance claim