Orlando Truck Accident Attorneys
Personal Injury Representation for 18-Wheeler, Semi-Truck & Big Rig Crashes
Commercial trucks weighing up to 80,000 pounds don’t share the road on equal terms with passenger vehicles. When a tractor-trailer or big rig collides with a car, the results are often catastrophic: severe injuries, mounting medical costs, and lost income that pile up while the trucking company’s insurer works quickly to limit what they pay out. Truck accidents are among the most complex personal injury cases we handle, and we treat them that way.
At Legally Pink Law, we represent Orlando-area victims of commercial truck crashes exclusively in personal injury law, meaning your case won’t compete for attention with unrelated matters. We’re available 24/7, offer free confidential case evaluations, and work on a contingency fee basis: you pay nothing unless we win.
Our mission is to fill you with confidence about your case so that you can move forward. Call today for a free initial case evaluation and begin pursuing your truck accident claim.
Federal Trucking Regulations & How We Use Them to Build Your Case
Every commercial truck accident investigation starts with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the federal agency that sets the safety standards all commercial carriers must follow. FMCSA rules limit drivers to 11 hours of driving within any 14-hour window and require a 30-minute break after every 8 hours behind the wheel. Commercial drivers are held to a blood alcohol concentration limit of 0.04 percent, half the standard for non-commercial drivers. Weight limits, cargo securement requirements, hazardous materials training, and mandatory maintenance schedules all carry the force of federal law.
When these rules aren’t followed, crashes happen. Many truck accidents involve at least one safety violation, and identifying that violation is how liability gets established.
The FMCSA regulations we investigate in every case include:
- Hours-of-Service Limits: Drivers exceeding allowable driving hours face sharply elevated fatigue risk; we pull driver logs to verify compliance.
- Weight Restrictions: Overloaded trucks compromise braking distance and mechanical stability.
- Cargo Securement: Improperly balanced or unsecured freight can cause rollovers or road debris incidents.
- Hazardous Materials Training: Drivers carrying toxic or flammable cargo must meet additional certification requirements.
- Vehicle Maintenance: Deferred inspections and skipped maintenance create brake failures, tire blowouts, and other mechanical hazards.
Our founder, Carolyn Salzmann, holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, a credential that directly shapes how she approaches truck accident cases. She analyzes velocity, angles of impact, and the mechanical forces involved in how a crash unfolded in ways many personal injury attorneys can’t replicate. We collect driver logs, trucking company records, black box data (formally called event data recorder information), and witness statements to demonstrate how an FMCSA violation contributed to your crash and build the strongest possible claim.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Orlando
Orange County recorded 2,747 commercial vehicle crashes in 2022, resulting in 1,032 injuries and 15 deaths, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Behind those numbers are identifiable causes, and identifying the cause of your specific crash is the first step toward determining who is liable.
Leading causes of truck accidents include:
- Excessive speed
- Distracted or drowsy driving
- Drunk or drug-impaired driving
- Insufficient training or supervision by the trucking company
- Reckless driving by the truck driver or other motorists
- Brake failure or tire blowouts from deferred maintenance
- Improper cargo loading causing load shifts or rollovers
- Poor judgment or failure to observe traffic rules
- Unsafe passing practices
Driver error is the most common cause, but individual mistakes often reflect systemic failures by the trucking company: unrealistic delivery schedules, inadequate hiring standards, or pressure to skip required rest breaks. Identifying the root cause determines whether liability rests with the driver, the trucking company, a cargo loader, a parts manufacturer, or some combination of all of them.
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Contact our Orlando truck accident lawyers 24/7 for immediate legal assistance. Call (888) 979-4941 to get started on your claim.
Florida’s No-Fault System & Truck Accident Claims
Florida’s no-fault insurance system means your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage pays for your medical expenses and a portion of lost wages first, regardless of who caused the crash. For minor collisions, that’s manageable. Truck accidents are rarely minor. When injuries exceed PIP limits, which they often do in semi-truck and 18-wheeler crashes, victims must step outside the no-fault system and file a personal injury claim directly against the at-fault parties.
Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule, updated in 2023, adds another layer: if you’re found 51 percent or more at fault for the crash, you can’t recover damages. If your share of fault falls below that threshold, your recovery is reduced proportionally. Trucking companies know this, and their insurers routinely push to attribute partial fault to victims as a way to reduce payouts.
Trucking companies carry substantially higher insurance coverage than private drivers, which means more money on the table and more aggressive legal teams protecting it. Multiple parties, the driver, the trucking company, a leasing company, a cargo loader, and parts manufacturers, may carry separate policies. We investigate every policy, handle all insurer communications on your behalf, and make sure no avenue for compensation goes unexplored.
Orlando Highways Where Truck Accidents Concentrate
Orlando sits at the intersection of several major freight corridors. I-4 through the metro area has been identified as one of the most dangerous highway corridors in Florida, with commercial truck traffic contributing significantly to its collision rate. The Florida Turnpike and SR 528 (the Beachline Expressway) serve as critical Central Florida freight routes and are common sites for big rig and tractor-trailer crashes.
Within Orlando’s city limits, the designated downtown trucking network runs along State Road 50, State Road 408, US Highway 441/Orange Blossom Trail, and Rosalind and Magnolia Avenue. Our familiarity with these corridors, their traffic patterns, and their known accident sites informs how we reconstruct crash circumstances and build the factual narrative of your case.
Who Is Liable After a Truck Accident?
Truck accident liability rarely falls on a single party. After a crash involving a commercial vehicle, we investigate every potential source of responsibility: the driver, the trucking company, the cargo and shipping company, third-party maintenance providers, and the truck manufacturer.
The Driver
A driver who violates hours-of-service rules, operates under the influence, drives recklessly, or ignores traffic laws bears direct personal liability for the resulting crash.
The Trucking Company
Carriers face liability for negligent hiring, failure to train or supervise drivers, pressuring drivers to meet schedules that require violating FMCSA rest requirements, and failing to maintain the fleet. The doctrine of vicarious liability can also extend responsibility for the driver’s negligence to the employer regardless of any direct company wrongdoing.
The Cargo & Shipping Company
When improperly secured or overweight freight causes a rollover or loss of vehicle control, the party responsible for loading the cargo may share liability.
The Maintenance Provider
Third-party mechanics or maintenance contractors who miss critical defects can be held accountable when those defects contribute to a crash.
The Manufacturer
Defective components, brakes, tires, and steering systems, that fail under normal operating conditions may give rise to a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
We review driver logs, maintenance records, cargo loading procedures, black box data, and trucking company hiring policies to determine who is accountable. Many truck accident cases involve out-of-state carriers, adding jurisdictional complexity our team is prepared to navigate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents in Orlando
What Should I Do Immediately After a Truck Accident?
Call 911 and get medical attention, even if you don’t feel seriously hurt. Some injuries, traumatic brain injuries and internal damage, aren’t immediately apparent. Document the scene with photographs, collect the driver’s information and the trucking company’s name, and don’t give a recorded statement to any insurer before speaking with an attorney. Contact an Orlando truck accident attorney as soon as possible to protect your right to compensation.
How Is Liability Determined in a Truck Accident?
Liability is established by reviewing driver logs, black box (event data recorder) data, maintenance records, cargo loading procedures, and the trucking company’s hiring and training history. Eyewitness accounts and accident reconstruction analysis also play important roles. Because multiple parties can share fault, the investigation must examine every layer of the commercial trucking operation involved in your crash.
What Compensation Can I Seek After a Truck Accident?
Victims may pursue compensation for current and future medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and property damage. In cases involving egregious conduct, punitive damages may also be available. When a truck accident results in a fatality, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim covering funeral costs, lost financial support, and loss of companionship.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Truck Accident in Florida?
Under Florida law as amended in 2023, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. If your accident occurred before March 24, 2023, a different deadline may apply. Acting promptly matters regardless: evidence degrades, witnesses become harder to locate, and black box data can be overwritten. Reviewing the dos and don’ts of filing an insurance claim is a useful starting point, but consulting with an attorney as soon as possible is the most reliable way to protect your rights.
Why Should I Hire an Orlando Truck Accident Attorney?
Truck accident cases involve federal regulations, multiple insurers, and parties whose legal teams begin building a defense immediately after the crash. An experienced tractor-trailer accident lawyer in Orlando knows how to gather and preserve the evidence those teams can try to minimize, negotiate with carriers and their insurers, and pursue litigation when a fair settlement isn’t offered. At Legally Pink Law, we handle only personal injury law, so every truck accident client receives our full attention from the first call through resolution.
Talk to an Orlando Truck Accident Lawyer at No Cost
If you or a family member was injured in a crash involving a semi-truck, 18-wheeler, big rig, or any commercial vehicle in the Orlando area, don’t wait to get legal guidance. The trucking company’s insurer is already working the case. We can be too. Legally Pink Law offers free, confidential case evaluations with no obligation and no fee unless we win. Our attorneys are available 24/7, and every client works directly with their attorney at every stage of the case.
Call (888) 979-4941 today to speak with an Orlando truck accident attorney and learn more about your legal options.
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From the very beginning, they were professional, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to my case.
“Thanks to their hard work and expertise, my case had a very successful outcome. I felt confident knowing I had someone in my corner who genuinely cared about getting the best possible result for me.”- Stephanie T. -
A fantastic group of legal professionals.
“They are caring and supportive but also very thorough and knowledgeable. They were excellent to work with, fought hard for me and helped bring closure. Highly recommend them.”- Allegra G. -
Professional, compassionate, and truly committed to getting results.
“Carolyn and her team went above and beyond to make sure every detail of my case was handled with care. They took the time to explain everything to me, kept me updated throughout the entire process, and never made me feel rushed or overlooked.”- Katelyn J.
Your Questions, Answered
Get clear, straightforward answers from experienced personal injury attorneys.
Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at 888-979-4941 today!
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Out-of-pocket expenses are always made part of your claim and are part of your economic damages that we seek to recover from the at-fault party. When your claim is presented to the at-fault party, we include your out-of-pocket expenses as part of the demand package.
If your case does not settle in what we call the "pre-suit phase," then your case will proceed to court where we will ask a jury for your out-of-pocket expenses as part of your economic damages on the verdict form.
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Wage loss is paid out under your Personal Injury Protection benefit, which happens to be mandatory coverage for auto insurance in the State of Florida. There are exceptions, such as when you elected to have your wage loss reimbursement excluded on your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefit when you obtained your policy.
Normally, people who have their wage loss benefits excluded are those who are not employed for some reason or another. You can also elect to have a standard PIP (which covers wage loss at 60%) or extended PIP (which covers wage loss at 80%).
You will need to provide proof of income in the form of a paycheck stub, income tax return, or some other verifiable means. The remaining percentage of your wage loss not covered by your PIP insurance will become part of your claim against the defendant driver.
When cases do not involve PIP coverage, the wage loss becomes part of the demand to the at-fault party. In most cases, proof of lost income is rather simple if the injured person receives a paycheck. For our clients who are self-employed, we work very closely with them to help them assemble the necessary documentation to prove the wage loss claim. Tax returns can be helpful in instances where clients are self-employed.
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Yes. Under Florida law, there are very specific, detailed deadlines to file claims. If you do not meet these deadlines, you may be forever barred from bringing your claim forward.
These time restrictions are known as statutes of limitations, and they vary depending on the type of claim you are bringing. It is critical that you consult with an attorney as soon as possible after your incident so you can receive good legal advice on the time limits for filing a personal injury claim.
