1. Colling Gilbert Wright
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, tractor-trailer collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, semi-truck accidents, 18-wheeler crashes, wrongful death from trucking accidents, catastrophic injuries from truck collisions, auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, premises liability, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, product liability
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on truck collisions, blind spot accidents, wide turn accidents, cargo spill accidents, brake failure accidents, tire blowout accidents, driver fatigue accidents, overloaded truck accidents, defective truck part accidents, seatbelt failure accidents, tanker truck accidents
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) violation investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, hours of service violation investigation, electronic logging device (ELD) data analysis, black box data retrieval, truck maintenance record review, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense documentation, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, punitive damage claims, wrongful death claims, product liability investigation, multiple party liability determination
Background: Colling Gilbert Wright has served Florida residents since its founding. The firm has attorneys including Melvin B. Wright, Ronald S. Gilbert, Jonathan T. Gilbert, and multiple board-certified trial lawyers. The firm has recovered documented truck accident settlements including $860,000 for a family injured in a trucking accident, $750,000 for a bicyclist struck by a truck requiring hip surgery and knee replacement, $750,000 for a client requiring carpal tunnel and shoulder surgery following a tractor-trailer accident, $650,000 for mild traumatic brain injury from a truck accident, and $500,000 for a fatal truck collision with a police vehicle. Attorneys are members of the Florida Bar.
Location: 801 N Orange Avenue, Suite 830, Orlando, Florida 32801
Contact: (407) 712-7300 | https://www.thefloridafirm.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless case is successful)
2. Farah & Farah
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck accidents, tractor-trailer collisions, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, delivery truck accidents, wrongful death from trucking accidents, catastrophic injuries, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, workers’ compensation, slip and fall accidents, medical malpractice, construction accidents
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on truck collisions, wide turn accidents, tire blowout accidents, driver fatigue accidents, drunk driving truck accidents, distracted driving accidents, overloaded truck accidents, cargo shift accidents, brake failure accidents, multi-vehicle truck crashes
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, hours of service violation investigation, electronic logging device (ELD) data analysis, black box data retrieval, driver qualification file review, accident reconstruction, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense documentation, lost wage recovery, future earning capacity calculation, pain and suffering claims, punitive damage claims, wrongful death claims, drug and alcohol testing record review, maintenance log investigation
Background: Farah & Farah has protected families since 1979 with over 45 years of personal injury experience. The firm has recovered over $2 billion in settlements and verdicts for clients. Orlando attorney Ricky Favors has been recognized by National Trial Lawyers as a Top 40 Under 40 attorney and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Attorney Matthew McKie brings experience as a former financial advisor. Attorney Alec Weber has decades of personal injury experience. Documented truck accident results include $3,400,000 verdict for herniated discs from rear-end collision with moving truck, $2,000,000 verdict for shoulder, neck, and back injuries from tractor-trailer rear-end collision, $1,300,000 settlement for fatal truck driver incident on loading dock, and $1,000,000 recovery for postal truck collision. Attorneys are members of the Florida Bar.
Location: 800 N Magnolia Avenue, Suite 105, Orlando, Florida 32803
Contact: (407) 329-5054 | https://farahandfarah.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation, no out-of-pocket costs, contingency fee arrangement, available around the clock, hospital visits available
3. Bogin, Munns & Munns
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, commercial truck collisions, semi-truck accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, delivery truck accidents (UPS, FedEx, Amazon, USPS), fatal truck accidents, I-4 truck accidents, out-of-state truck accidents, U.S. Route 441 truck accidents, wrongful death, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, premises liability, medical malpractice
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, T-bone accidents, tire blowout accidents, underride accidents, driver fatigue accidents, aggressive driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving truck accidents, poor maintenance accidents, inexperienced driver accidents, overloaded truck accidents, wide turn collisions
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, vicarious liability claims, hours of service violation investigation, electronic logging device (ELD) data analysis, black box data retrieval, accident reconstruction with expert witnesses, driver qualification review, vehicle inspection record analysis, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense documentation, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, punitive damage claims, wrongful death claims, evidence preservation
Background: Bogin, Munns & Munns maintains more than 40 attorneys on staff serving Central Florida. The firm maintains 11 office locations throughout the Orlando region including Clermont, Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Kissimmee, Leesburg, Melbourne, Ocala, Orange City, The Villages, and Titusville. The firm has documented results including $3 million slip and fall settlement, $2.9 million wrongful death settlement, $2.5 million pedestrian accident settlement, and $2.25 million car accident settlement. The firm is BBB accredited and attorneys have received recognition including Avvo Top Attorney and Super Lawyers selection. Attorneys are members of the Florida Bar.
Location: 1000 Legion Place, Suite 1000, Orlando, Florida 32801
Contact: (855) 780-9986 | https://www.boginmunns.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no payment unless case is successful)
4. Wooten, Kimbrough, Damaso & Dennis, P.A.
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck accidents, tractor-trailer collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, delivery truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, wrongful death from trucking accidents, catastrophic injuries, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, tourist injuries, slip and fall accidents, premises liability, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, construction accidents
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, wide turn collisions, T-bone accidents, tire blowout accidents, underride accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, runaway truck accidents, driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving truck accidents, impaired driving accidents, speeding accidents, overloaded truck accidents, defective truck part accidents
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) violation investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, hours of service violation investigation, electronic logging device (ELD) data analysis, black box data retrieval, driver qualification file review, vehicle inspection record analysis, maintenance log review, accident reconstruction, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense documentation, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, punitive damage claims, wrongful death claims, out-of-state victim representation, evidence preservation letters
Background: Wooten, Kimbrough, Damaso & Dennis, P.A. has served Florida injury victims since 1966 with nearly 60 years of continuous operation. The firm’s founding attorneys include Butch Wooten, Orman Kimbrough, Mike Damaso, and Tom Dennis. Multiple attorneys are board certified by the Florida Bar in civil trial litigation. The firm has documented recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars for clients over its history. The firm handles cases for both Florida residents and out-of-state tourists injured in Orlando. Attorneys are members of the Florida Bar.
Location: 500 Delaney Avenue, Suite 404, Orlando, Florida 32801
Contact: (407) 843-7060 | https://whkpa.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless case is successful)
5. Shiner Law Group
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck accidents, tractor-trailer collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, delivery truck accidents, wrongful death from trucking accidents, catastrophic injuries, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and fall accidents, premises liability, medical malpractice, product liability, boat accidents, Uber accidents
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, runaway truck accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on truck collisions, wide turn accidents, tire blowout accidents, driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving truck accidents, impaired driving accidents, overloaded truck accidents, cargo shift accidents, brake failure accidents, defective truck part accidents
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, hours of service violation investigation, electronic logging device (ELD) data analysis, black box data retrieval, driver qualification file review, medical fitness screening review, vehicle maintenance record analysis, drug and alcohol testing record review, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense documentation, lost wage recovery, future earning capacity calculation, pain and suffering claims, punitive damage claims, wrongful death claims, spoliation of evidence prevention
Background: Shiner Law Group attorneys bring decades of experience serving personal injury clients throughout Florida. The firm maintains multiple offices across Florida including Boca Raton (main office), Fort Lauderdale, Melbourne, West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Belle Glade in addition to Orlando. Firm founder David Shiner established the practice with a focus on personal injury representation. The firm has been featured on Fox, CBS, ESPN, and Forbes. Attorneys are members of the Florida Bar and handle cases on a contingency fee basis.
Location: 2480 E. Michigan Street, Suite 206, Orlando, Florida 32806
Contact: (407) 305-0566 | https://shinerlawgroup.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation, available around the clock, contingency fee arrangement (no payment unless case is successful)
Truck Accident Laws and Regulations in Florida
Statute of Limitations for Truck Accident Personal Injury Claims: Florida Statutes Section 95.11 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from truck accidents. The limitation period begins on the date of the accident or the date the injury was discovered. Claims filed after the two-year deadline are generally barred from court consideration.
Statute of Limitations for Property Damage Claims: Property damage claims from truck accidents in Florida must be filed within four years from the date of the accident under Florida Statutes Section 95.11(3)(g).
Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Claims: Florida law provides a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims under Florida Statutes Section 95.11(4)(d). The limitation period runs from the date of death, which may differ from the accident date.
No-Fault Insurance State Status: Florida operates as a no-fault insurance state requiring all vehicle owners to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. Under Florida Statutes Section 627.736, injured parties must first seek compensation through their own PIP insurance regardless of fault before pursuing claims against at-fault parties.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Requirements: Florida law mandates $10,000 in PIP coverage for all registered motor vehicles. PIP claims must be filed within 14 days of the accident to receive full coverage benefits. PIP covers 80% of reasonable medical expenses and 60% of lost wages up to the policy limit.
Serious Injury Threshold: To pursue a tort claim against an at-fault truck driver or trucking company in Florida, the injured party must demonstrate a “serious injury” including permanent injury, significant permanent scarring or disfigurement, permanent loss of a bodily function, or death as defined in Florida Statutes Section 627.737.
Comparative Negligence Rules: Florida adopted modified comparative negligence under Florida Statutes Section 768.81(6) effective March 2023. Under this system, an injured party can recover damages only if their percentage of fault is 50% or less. If the injured party is found 51% or more at fault, they are barred from recovery. Damages are reduced by the plaintiff’s percentage of fault.
Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements: Florida requires minimum liability coverage of $10,000 bodily injury per person, $20,000 bodily injury per accident, and $10,000 property damage per accident (10/20/10). Property damage liability (PDL) of $10,000 is mandatory for all vehicles. Bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage becomes mandatory after certain traffic violations or at-fault accidents.
Commercial Truck Insurance Requirements: Commercial motor vehicles operating in Florida must carry insurance meeting federal minimums established by the FMCSA. General freight carriers require $750,000 minimum coverage. Carriers transporting hazardous materials require $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 minimum coverage depending on the cargo type. Florida Statutes Section 627.7415 requires commercial vehicles to carry combined property damage and bodily injury liability ranging from $50,000 to $300,000 per occurrence.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is not mandatory in Florida but must be offered by insurers. Vehicle owners may reject UM coverage in writing. When purchased, UM coverage protects against accidents with uninsured or underinsured drivers.
Damage Caps: Florida does not impose statutory caps on economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages) in truck accident cases. Florida does not cap non-economic damages (pain and suffering) in most personal injury cases. Punitive damages are capped at three times compensatory damages or $500,000, whichever is greater, under Florida Statutes Section 768.73.
Punitive Damages Availability: Punitive damages may be awarded in Florida truck accident cases when the plaintiff proves by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant was guilty of intentional misconduct or gross negligence. Common grounds for punitive damages in trucking cases include drunk driving, extreme hours of service violations, and knowingly operating defective vehicles.
Vicarious Liability and Respondeat Superior: Trucking companies in Florida may be held vicariously liable for the negligent acts of their employee drivers under the doctrine of respondeat superior when the driver was acting within the scope of employment. Florida courts have also applied the dangerous instrumentality doctrine to vehicle owners.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations Applicability: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations apply to interstate commercial motor vehicles operating in Florida and are admissible as evidence of the standard of care in state court proceedings. Violations of federal hours of service regulations, maintenance requirements, and driver qualification standards may constitute negligence per se.
Electronic Logging Device Requirements: Federal ELD mandates require most commercial motor vehicle operators to use electronic logging devices to record hours of service. ELD data must be preserved following accidents and is discoverable in litigation. Florida courts recognize ELD data as relevant evidence in truck accident cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the statute of limitations for filing a truck accident lawsuit in Florida?
Florida law provides a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from truck accidents under Florida Statutes Section 95.11. The limitation period begins on the date of the accident or the date the injury was reasonably discovered. Wrongful death claims must also be filed within two years, but the clock starts from the date of death rather than the accident date. Property damage claims have a longer four-year limitations period. Missing these deadlines generally results in permanent loss of the right to pursue compensation through the court system.
How does Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule affect truck accident compensation?
Florida’s modified comparative negligence system under Florida Statutes Section 768.81(6), effective March 2023, bars recovery if the injured party is found 51% or more at fault for the accident. If fault is 50% or less, the injured party may recover damages reduced by their percentage of responsibility. For example, if damages total $100,000 and the injured party is found 20% at fault, recovery would be limited to $80,000. This represents a significant change from Florida’s previous pure comparative negligence system which allowed recovery regardless of the plaintiff’s fault percentage.
What parties can be held liable in a Florida truck accident case?
Florida truck accident cases may involve multiple liable parties including the truck driver for direct negligence, the trucking company under vicarious liability or respondeat superior, cargo loading companies for improper securement, truck maintenance providers for negligent repairs, truck or parts manufacturers for defective components, and government entities responsible for road maintenance. Trucking companies may be directly liable for negligent hiring, inadequate training, unrealistic scheduling, failure to enforce hours of service compliance, and negligent vehicle maintenance. Florida’s dangerous instrumentality doctrine may also impose liability on vehicle owners.
What insurance requirements apply to commercial trucks operating in Florida?
Commercial motor vehicles operating in Florida must carry insurance meeting both federal and state requirements. The FMCSA requires general freight carriers to maintain minimum coverage of $750,000, while hazardous materials carriers must carry $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 depending on cargo classification. Florida Statutes Section 627.7415 requires commercial vehicles to carry combined property damage and bodily injury liability ranging from $50,000 to $300,000 per occurrence. These higher coverage limits typically provide greater recovery potential for truck accident victims compared to standard passenger vehicle accidents.
How do Florida’s no-fault insurance rules apply to truck accident claims?
Florida’s no-fault system requires injured parties to first seek compensation through their own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance regardless of fault. PIP claims must be filed within 14 days of the accident to access full benefits. PIP covers 80% of reasonable medical expenses and 60% of lost wages up to the $10,000 policy limit. However, truck accident victims meeting Florida’s serious injury threshold (permanent injury, significant permanent scarring, permanent loss of bodily function, or death) may pursue tort claims directly against at-fault parties for damages exceeding PIP coverage, including pain and suffering, full economic losses, and punitive damages where applicable.