Truck accident
Truck Accident Attorneys in St. Petersburg, Florida
The firms in this guide
- Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA Call Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA: (727) 472-3909
- Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner Call Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner: (727) 321-4357
- Paul Knopf Bigger Call Paul Knopf Bigger: (407) 622-2111
- Marsalisi Law Call Marsalisi Law: (727) 800-5052
- Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group Call Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group: (772) 569-8155
1. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck collisions, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, tractor-trailer crashes, delivery truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions, wrongful death from truck accidents, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries.
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on truck collisions, brake failure accidents, tire blowout accidents, driver fatigue accidents, overloaded truck accidents, distracted driving accidents, cargo spill 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, insurance claim negotiation, litigation and trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims.
Background: Matthew Dolman is the founder and managing partner. Florida Bar Number 729221, admitted 2004. Stetson University College of Law, J.D. 2003; St. Thomas University School of Law, LL.M. in Taxation. Lifetime member of Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Florida Super Lawyer multiple years. Florida Legal Elite designation. 10.0 Avvo rating. Stanley Gipe is Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar. Firm has recovered over $250 million in compensation for clients. Notable truck accident results include $1.75 million verdict for traumatic brain injury from semi-truck collision and $3.2 million settlement for traumatic brain injury from semi-truck accident.
Location: 800 N Belcher Rd, Clearwater, FL 33765 (serves St. Petersburg)
Contact: (727) 472-3909 | https://www.dolmanlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis, available 24/7.
2. Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death, personal injury litigation.
Case Types Handled: Driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents, impaired driver accidents, defective truck accidents, improper loading accidents, overworked driver accidents, jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, rear-end collisions with commercial vehicles.
Legal Services: FMCSA compliance investigation, trucking regulations analysis, hours of service violation investigation, logbook review, maintenance record investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, manufacturer defect claims, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims.
Background: Brad Salter is a founding partner. Florida Bar Number 90123, admitted September 30, 1996. University of Texas School of Law, J.D. 1996. Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar (youngest board-certified civil trial lawyer in Florida at time of certification). AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Member of Million Dollar Advocates Forum. U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida admission 1998. Former insurance defense attorney who switched to plaintiff representation. Firm has over 60 years combined experience and has recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
Location: 2601 1st Avenue S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Contact: (727) 321-4357 | [email protected] | https://www.salterhealy.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis, home and hospital visits available.
3. Paul Knopf Bigger
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, trucking accidents, semi-truck collisions, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, traumatic brain injuries, medical malpractice.
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, brake failure accidents, tire blowout accidents, driver fatigue accidents, cargo spill accidents, overloaded truck accidents, wide turn accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks.
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, hours of service violation investigation, black box data retrieval, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims.
Background: David Paul is a founding partner. Florida Bar admitted 1994. Stetson University College of Law, J.D. 1994 with Honors. Board Certified Civil Trial Law by Florida Bar, National Board of Trial Advocacy, and American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (Medical Malpractice). Member of American College of Trial Lawyers (invitation only). Member of American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Past President of Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association. Over 50 cases resulting in verdicts or settlements exceeding $1 million, including multiple 8-figure recoveries. AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Florida Super Lawyers 2010-2025. Florida Trend Legal Elite. Best Lawyers in America selection.
Location: 840 South Denning Drive, Suite 200, Winter Park, FL 32789 (serves St. Petersburg)
Contact: (407) 622-2111 | https://www.pkblawfirm.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation, contingency fee basis, 24/7 availability.
4. Marsalisi Law
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, motorcycle accidents, automobile accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries.
Case Types Handled: Driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, intersection accidents, lane change accidents, blind spot accidents, brake failure accidents.
Legal Services: Trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, accident scene investigation, evidence preservation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, property damage claims.
Background: Frank P. Marsalisi is the founder and owner. Florida Bar admitted 2008. University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D.; University of Florida, B.A. in Criminology. Bilingual attorney (English and Spanish). 10.0 Avvo rating. Top 3 Personal Injury Lawyers in St. Petersburg (2019). Member of Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association. Member of American Bar Association. Member of St. Petersburg Bar Association. Member of National Association of Distinguished Counsel. American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Under 40 selection. Top 40 Under 40 by National Trial Lawyers. AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Firm has recovered millions of dollars for clients.
Location: 7035 Central Avenue, Suite A, St. Petersburg, FL 33710
Contact: (727) 800-5052 | https://www.marsalisilaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis, home visits available, virtual consultations offered.
5. Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck collisions, 18-wheeler accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, Amazon delivery truck accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, traumatic brain injuries.
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on truck collisions, driver fatigue accidents, brake failure accidents, overloaded truck accidents, cargo spill accidents, delivery truck accidents.
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, black box data retrieval, electronic logging device data analysis, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims.
Background: Joseph Graves is a founding partner. AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Member of Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Firm has over 50 years of combined experience. Firm has recovered over $250 million in settlements and verdicts for clients. Established in 2005. Handles cases throughout Florida with offices in St. Petersburg, Vero Beach, and Port St. Lucie.
Location: 200 Central Ave, Suite 304, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Contact: (772) 569-8155 | https://www.gravesthomas.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis, available 24/7.
Weekly Hours, Driver Records and Florida PIP Rules in St. Petersburg Truck Crashes
A St. Petersburg truck crash can involve both a driver’s hours over the past week and Florida’s no-fault system. The injured person’s own personal injury protection pays first, and a tort threshold governs pain and suffering claims against a motorist who has PIP security.
The 60- and 70-Hour Limits
Under 49 CFR 395.3(b), a property-carrying driver may not drive after 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days if the carrier does not operate every day, or after 70 hours in 8 consecutive days if it does; 395.3(c) allows a restart after 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.
Logs, Driver Files and the Accident Register
Under 49 CFR 395.8(a), the carrier must require electronic logging of duty status, with manual records in listed cases, and 395.8(k)(1) requires keeping records for at least 6 months. Except as provided in subpart G, 391.11(b) sets driver qualifications, and 390.15(b) requires an accident register kept for 3 years.
Personal Injury Protection Benefits
Florida Statutes 627.736(1) provides PIP benefits of $10,000 for medical and disability benefits and $5,000 in death benefits. Medical benefits pay 80 percent of reasonable expenses for services when initial care is received within 14 days after the crash, limited to $2,500 if a listed provider determines there was no emergency medical condition, and disability benefits pay 60 percent of lost gross income.
The Tort Threshold
Under Florida Statutes 627.737(2), damages for pain, suffering and similar losses against a motorist with PIP security are recoverable only if the injury includes significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability other than scarring or disfigurement, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death.
St. Petersburg Truck Accident Questions
Can I recover if I was partly at fault?
Yes, unless your share is greater than 50 percent under Florida Statutes 768.81(6). For example, imagine $200,000 in damages and 20 percent of the fault on the injured driver: the recovery would be $160,000.
How long do I have to sue?
Two years under Florida Statutes 95.11(5)(a) for an action founded on negligence, and two years under 95.11(5)(e) for wrongful death. A claim against a public entity follows 768.28 instead, with a written injury claim within 3 years after accrual and suit within 4 years under (14).
How much coverage must an interstate carrier have?
Under 49 CFR 387.9, a for-hire carrier hauling nonhazardous property in interstate commerce in a vehicle rated 10,001 pounds or more must carry at least $750,000, with $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 for listed oil and hazardous materials.