Hit by a big rig? Get an Orlando truck accident lawyer who moves as fast as the trucking company.
An Orlando truck accident lawyer protects the evidence a trucking company controls, from the truck’s black box to the driver’s logs, before it’s lost. We find every company responsible for a Florida truck crash, handle their insurers and push for a recovery that covers the whole injury. The case review is free, and there’s no fee unless we recover.
The trucking company’s team is already at work
We’re sorry this happened. A loaded semi can weigh 80,000 pounds, more than 20 times a family car, so truck crashes rarely end with a bent fender. And while you’re in the hospital, the carrier’s insurer may already have investigators looking at the scene.
Evidence that disappears
The truck’s engine data, the driver’s electronic logs and dashcam video can be overwritten or discarded if no one demands they be kept.
Everyone points at someone else
The driver, the carrier, the trailer owner and the company that loaded the cargo all blame each other, and no one pays while they argue.
Insurers with lawyers on call
Commercial policies are large, and carriers defend them with adjusters and attorneys who handle truck claims every day.
What waiting can cost you
Data on a timer
Some truck records only have to be kept for months. Without a preservation letter, they can be gone.
The two-year deadline
Most Florida crash claims must be filed within two years, or the claim can be lost.
Over 50% at fault
If the carrier pins most of the blame on you, Florida law bars your recovery.
Injuries that grow
Back, neck and head injuries can worsen for weeks. An early offer won’t cover what comes later.
The insurance company has a team. Now you do too.
Get my free case reviewFederal rules and Florida law
Why commercial truck cases are different
Commercial trucks that cross state lines follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules on top of Florida law, and Florida applies many of the same rules to trucks that stay in state. When a driver or carrier breaks them, that can be the center of your case.
Hours of service
Truck drivers can drive at most 11 hours after 10 hours off duty, inside a 14-hour window, with a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving. Electronic logging devices show whether they did.
Hiring, training and drug testing
Carriers must check a driver’s commercial license and record, and test for drugs and alcohol. Hiring a driver who should never have been behind the wheel can make the company responsible.
Maintenance and inspections
Brakes, tires and lights have to be inspected and repaired. Maintenance records can show the carrier knew about a problem and kept driving.
Cargo and weight
Overloaded or badly secured cargo can cause rollovers, jackknifes and spills. The company that loaded the trailer may share the blame.
Your own PIP still pays first
If you were in a car, your PIP covers the first $10,000 of benefits when you get care within 14 days. Everything beyond it is claimed from the truck’s insurers.
Federal minimum coverage
$750,000
Most interstate carriers hauling general freight must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, and more for hazardous loads. That’s why the carrier fights so hard, and why every policy matters.
Central Florida freight routes
Where truck crashes happen around Orlando
Orlando is a distribution hub for the whole state. Freight, delivery and construction trucks share the same roads as commuters and millions of visitors, and some corridors see far more truck crashes than others.
The I-4 corridor
I-4’s stop-and-go stretches through downtown and the attractions area put heavy trucks behind cars that brake suddenly. Rear-end and lane-change truck crashes are common.
The Turnpike, the 408 and the 528
Long-haul trucks run Florida’s Turnpike north and south, and the Beachline (528) carries freight between the airport and Port Canaveral at highway speed.
Warehouses and distribution centers
Distribution centers near Orlando International, in south Orange County and along the 429 and US 27 in Lake County keep trucks on the road day and night.
Delivery, dump and construction trucks
Box trucks on tight delivery schedules and dump trucks feeding new construction across Osceola and Lake counties. Unsecured loads and rushed drivers cause crashes.
What you can recover after a truck crash
Truck crash injuries often mean months of treatment, or changes that last a lifetime. We look for every policy that applies, and we don’t settle until your doctors can tell us what your recovery will really cost.
- Medical bills, surgery and rehab, now and in the future
- Lost wages, and lost earning power if you can’t return to the same work
- Pain, suffering and the life you couldn’t live while healing
- Home care, medical equipment and changes to your home if you need them
- Your vehicle repaired or replaced, plus a rental while you wait
- For families after a fatal truck crash: funeral costs, lost support and lost companionship
18-wheeler and semi-truck crashes
Semi truck and 18-wheeler accidents need a different playbook
A semi truck accident lawyer starts where a car crash case never has to: with the tractor, the trailer and every company behind them. An 18-wheeler crash can involve a driver, a motor carrier, a freight broker and a separate trailer owner, each with its own insurer. When a crash is fatal, we help the family bring a wrongful death claim.
Jackknifes and rollovers
Hard braking, speed on curves and shifting cargo can fold a tractor-trailer across lanes or tip it over, often involving several cars.
Underride and blind-spot crashes
Cars can slide under a trailer’s side or rear, and big rigs have large blind spots. Lane changes on I-4 and the Turnpike cause many of these crashes.
Driver fatigue
Long hauls and tight delivery windows push drivers past their hours. Electronic logs, fuel receipts and toll records show how long they’d been driving.
The truck’s black box
The engine control module records speed, braking and throttle in the seconds before a crash. We send a preservation letter right away so it’s kept.
Who can be responsible
- The truck driver
- The motor carrier that employed or hired the driver
- The owner of the tractor or the trailer
- The company that loaded or secured the cargo
- A maintenance shop that skipped a repair
- The maker of a defective part, like brakes or tires
Free checklist
After a Florida crash: the first 14 days
Not ready to call? That’s okay. This checklist covers what to do now so you don’t lose benefits you’re owed.
- The doctor visit that protects your PIP benefits (the 14-day window)
- The photos and records to collect right away
- What not to say to the other driver’s insurer
No sign-up. Check it off on your phone, or print it for your glovebox.
Proof, not promises
Real people, real results
Sunshine by the numbers
- Recovered in auto accident cases
- $3M+
- 255+ Google reviews
- 5.0
- Florida offices
- 3
Every case is different. Past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome.
“Had the unfortunate necessity for legal council. The skill and tenacity provided by this firm was exemplar. If you are in central Florida this team is who you want working for you. Was truly impressed with the results achieved by Darius and Magdiel.”
Three simple steps
Your truck accident case, in three steps
- 1
Tell us what happened
A free call with an attorney, in English or Spanish. We’ll explain your deadlines and which companies may be responsible.
- 2
We lock down the evidence
We send preservation letters for the truck’s data, the driver’s logs and video, notify every insurer and take the calls, so no one pressures you for a statement.
- 3
You heal, we push for a fair recovery
When your treatment is clear, we demand what your injuries are worth and negotiate hard. If the carrier won’t be fair, we’re ready for trial.
Where you end up: your life back in motion
Before
- Overwhelmed and in pain
- Alone against the insurance company
- Treated like a claim number
With Sunshine
- Informed at every step
- Protected by a team that fights for you
- Back on your feet
The care you need
Specialists and therapy that help you heal, without worrying who will pay.
Your income protected
The paychecks you missed made up, and your future earnings counted.
Every company held to account
The driver, the carrier and anyone else whose choices caused the crash.
Peace of mind
You focus on your family. We handle the trucking company.
Every case is different. Past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome.
Our promise
We treat your case as if it were our own.
What it costs, and why Sunshine
Truck accident attorneys who level the field
Trucking companies have lawyers from day one, and you should too. Sunshine State Law Firm takes on the carriers and their insurers, and keeps you informed every step of the way, so you can heal. Attorney Darius Biddings focuses on commercial motor vehicle cases. No fee unless we recover for you.
- No fee unless we recover for you. The percentage is in writing before you sign, along with the Statement of Client’s Rights Florida requires.
- You’ll always know who’s handling your case, with updates by text, email and phone.
- Hablamos español, from the first call to the final check.
- No question is a dumb question. We explain every step in plain words.
Guides for people hurt in a truck crash
Your insurance company is not your friend. It's a business
Your insurance company is a business, not your friend. How adjusters work, what to say on a recorded statement, and how Florida homeowners protect a claim.
Read the guide
Florida's modified comparative negligence law, explained
Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule bars recovery if you’re more than 50% at fault. How the 2023 law works, with examples of what it means.
Read the guide
Florida personal injury statute of limitations, explained
Florida’s personal injury statute of limitations is now generally 2 years. See deadlines by claim type, key exceptions and why waiting can hurt your case.
Read the guide
Statewide
Serving clients across all of Florida
Our offices are in Winter Park, Tampa and Jacksonville, and we take cases from the Panhandle to Miami. Most clients never need to visit: we meet by phone or video, or come to your home or hospital bed.
- Orlando631 S Orlando Ave., Suite 400
Winter Park, FL 32789 - Tampa2502 N Rocky Point Dr., Suite 920
Tampa, FL 33607 - Jacksonville1534 Oak St., Suite 302
Jacksonville, FL 32204
Also serving
- Kissimmee
- Daytona Beach
- St. Petersburg
- Sarasota
- Fort Myers
- Naples
- Tallahassee
- Miami
- Fort Lauderdale
- West Palm Beach
Truck accident questions we hear every day
No question is a dumb question. Here are the ones we hear most.
A truck accident lawyer preserves the evidence the trucking company controls, like the black box, driver logs and maintenance records, identifies every company that may be responsible, deals with their insurers and builds the case for what your injuries are worth. If the carrier won’t settle fairly, they take the case to trial.
Be polite, but don’t give a recorded statement or sign anything. Tell them your attorney will be in touch. Once we’re involved, every call goes through us, and we send preservation letters so the company has to keep the truck’s data and the driver’s records.
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee: our fee is a percentage of what we recover, and you owe no attorney’s fee if we don’t recover. The percentage and how case costs are handled are in a written agreement you see before you sign.
Most truck cases start with an investigation and a claim to the insurers. If they won’t pay fairly, we file a lawsuit, usually in the county where the crash happened, or in federal court when the parties are from different states. Both sides then exchange evidence, take depositions and often mediate. Many cases settle, but we prepare each one for trial.
Yes. There are usually more defendants, larger insurance policies, federal safety rules and evidence like electronic logs and engine data that a car crash doesn’t have. The insurers also start defending the claim sooner, so it pays to act in days, not months.
For crashes since March 24, 2023, Florida generally gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. A wrongful death claim also has a two-year deadline. The truck’s records can be lost much sooner, so call early.
Florida injury deadlines, explainedTell us your story. We’ll take it from here.
A free, personal conversation with an attorney. No pressure, no fee unless we recover for you.
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