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Commercial trucks play a vital role in transporting freight across Central Florida, but tractor-trailer accidents and collisions with other large commercial vehicles can leave injured victims with serious damage. The size, weight, and operating characteristics make these wrecks different from typical passenger car accidents. An Orlando truck accident lawyer can determine if a driver, truck motor carrier, or another company played a role in a catastrophic collision.
Orlando is located where several major transportation routes intersect, including roads used by out-of-state commercial carriers. Running through the metro area, I-4 is joined by Florida’s Turnpike, which offers another essential north-south connection in Central Florida. State Road 408 and State Road 528 further increase commuter and commercial traffic.
Spangenberg Shibley & Liber is a trial firm that has served injured individuals and families since 1946. The attorneys focus on significant personal injury, medical malpractice, and civil rights cases. Published verdicts and settlements exceed $1 billion on behalf of clients. However, past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.
Results include a $28.5 million brain injury verdict and a $2.1 million motor vehicle verdict awarded to five children whose parents died from injuries suffered in a head-on collision. At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we have secured 25% of all seven-figure-plus settlements in Ohio in the last two years.
When litigating a truck accident, there are special circumstances to address that usually are not a part of cases involving only cars. Commercial trucking is a heavily regulated industry. Both drivers and motor carriers can face federal safety regulations related to driving hours, vehicle maintenance and operation, recordkeeping, and other elements of interstate commerce.
Large trucks also create specific evidence that could prove valuable after a crash. Depending on the truck and carrier, records may reveal the driver’s hours of service, vehicle inspections, maintenance history, routing, or additional operational data.
Liability may also extend beyond the driver. The trucking company’s actions or other businesses involved in transporting the freight could require investigation. This is why it can be important to identify the true cause of a serious truck accident, due to the many factors involved.
Large truck crashes can occur because of driver negligence, equipment failures, careless business practices, or any combination of factors. Establishing the actual cause requires evidence from the collision. Some common causes of truck accidents include:
Certain aspects of Orlando’s road system can contribute to these causes. Congestion on I-4, for example, can force large trucks to react quickly to stopped traffic. Multiple interchanges connect all the major highways, creating numerous merging points and lane changes. Tourist traffic is another issue because commercial drivers must routinely travel alongside motorists who are unfamiliar with local roads.
In 2025 in Florida, there were 7,368 large trucks involved in crashes. This resulted in 234 fatalities and 3,569 injuries.
Most commercial motor carriers engaged in interstate commerce answer to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The FMCSA enforces safety regulations related to commercial motor carriers.
Hours of service rules at 49 C.F.R. § 395.3 may be especially important if driver fatigue was a possible cause of the accident. Property-carrying drivers who meet the definition and operate a commercial vehicle can drive for up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. The 11 hours of allowed driving must take place within a 14-hour window. Other requirements may also apply under federal law, such as mandatory breaks and limitations on on-duty hours.
Commercial driving can be dangerous because it requires drivers to maintain concentration for long periods. While a breach of regulations won’t automatically establish fault for an accident, driver logs and electronic data recorders can offer proof of driver fatigue.
Florida law may impact an Orlando truck accident claim, too. Florida’s comparative fault statute is Florida Statutes § 768.81. Damages can be reduced by a party’s portion of fault. In most negligence claims where the statute applies, a claimant cannot recover if the court assigns 51% or more of the fault.
Comparative fault can get very complicated in truck accident cases because multiple parties can be blamed for a single crash. Truck defendants may even allege that the injured person caused or partially caused the crash. The portion of fault can have a major impact on a substantial claim.
Assigning fault begins with identifying responsible parties. The driver may have caused or contributed to a crash with another motor vehicle, but the employer is another person or business that may bear legal responsibility. Additional companies or entities can be involved depending on who owned the truck, maintained it, or provided other services.
Maintenance records could become relevant if mechanical issues contributed to the crash. An accident caused by shifted freight might lead to questions about how the items were loaded and secured. Responsible parties can include:
There also could be multiple companies that employ the driver or own the truck. The contractual relationships in the trucking industry can be complex. Identifying who had the right to control the vehicle and driver may require research into business records.
An Orlando truck accident attorney can identify all parties whose conduct must be investigated before key evidence is lost or destroyed.
Injured individuals might want to hire a truck accident lawyer after a collision with a commercial vehicle. Serious injury or death is usually involved, and more than one company may be responsible.
Your attorney can send trucking companies preservation letters demanding they retain electronic records and other potential sources of evidence. Lawyers can research the business relationship between the driver and motor carrier, then use subpoenas to acquire the information once a legal claim is filed. Lawyers can also take statements from drivers and company representatives.
Attorneys can hire accident reconstruction professionals or medical consultants when their testimony is necessary for a high-value case. Economic and vocational witnesses can help prove substantial future damages.
In the event the defendants contest liability or refuse a reasonable settlement for your losses, your attorney can prepare the evidence to go to trial.
A: There is no average settlement that would explain how much most truck accident settlements are. Truck accident cases range dramatically in value depending on the facts. Serious injury or wrongful death claims can be worth many times more than claims involving only temporary injuries. For example, amounts can vary based on medical bills, future care needs, lost earning capacity, liability evidence, and long-term damages.
A: When speaking with an injury lawyer, don’t withhold information or give false answers regarding how the accident occurred, prior injuries, medical care, employment history, or discussions with insurance companies. What appears to be unfavorable information now could hold importance as the case moves forward. The attorney needs to know all of the facts about your case up front in order to pinpoint potential issues and assess your claim.
A: Yes, you may be able to file a claim if a truck driver hits you and negligence caused the crash. The driver, motor carrier, or another company involved with servicing or maintaining the truck may be responsible in some cases. Florida’s comparative fault rules may also come into play if more than one person contributed to the collision, including the injured driver.
A: The amount of time from making a truck accident claim to settling varies with the case details and the resolution methods. Some cases can settle out of court, while others may take months or even years if there are extensive injuries and medical care needed. If the case proceeds to trial, this generally takes longer than one that is settled out of court. The court’s schedule also plays a factor in the timeframe.
If you or a loved one was severely injured in a truck accident in Orlando, Spangenberg Shibley & Liber can help you seek compensation for your recovery. We know how serious these accidents can be, and we strive to get you the money you deserve while holding the responsible parties accountable. Contact us today to get started on your case.
We have been helping individuals since 1946 and have secured over a billion dollars on behalf of our clients.
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