--- title: "Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer | Hancock Injury Attorneys" description: "Hit by a semi, delivery van, or other commercial truck in Tampa Bay? We move fast to preserve logs and black-box data. Free consultation: (813) 915-1110." url: "https://novacock.carlosarias.com/practice-areas/truck-accidents" --- Practice Areas # Truck Accidents Why commercial truck crashes are different: federal safety rules, evidence that must be preserved fast, and the many companies that may share responsibility. [Call (813) 915-1110](tel:+18139151110) [Free Case Consultation](/contact/) ## Tampa Truck Accident Lawyers Who Move Fast on the Evidence A crash with a loaded tractor-trailer, which can legally weigh as much as 80,000 pounds on the interstate, is not just a bigger car accident. Trucking companies and their insurers typically start investigating right away, and key evidence such as electronic logs and black-box data can be lost if no one acts to preserve it. We move quickly to protect that evidence and identify every company that played a part. ## Why Truck Cases Are Different Commercial trucks are governed by federal safety rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Those rules control how long a driver may stay behind the wheel (hours-of-service), who is qualified to drive, how trucks must be inspected and maintained, and how cargo must be secured. When a carrier or driver cuts corners on any of them, the violation can become powerful evidence of negligence. Truck cases also tend to involve: - More severe injuries, including brain and spinal cord injuries, crush injuries, burns, and multiple fractures - Higher insurance limits, since commercial carriers typically carry far more coverage than personal vehicles - An organized defense, with adjusters, investigators, and lawyers working for the carrier from the start - More than one defendant, each one pointing at the others ## Who May Be Liable The truck driver is only the starting point. Depending on the facts, responsibility can extend to: - The motor carrier that employed the driver or operated the truck, including for negligent hiring, training, or supervision - The owners of the tractor and the trailer, which are not always the same company - The company whose name is on the trailer - A freight broker that arranged the load and may have chosen an unsafe carrier - The shipper or loading crew that overloaded the trailer or failed to secure the cargo - Maintenance contractors responsible for brakes, tires, and lights - Manufacturers of defective truck parts Finding every responsible party matters because each may carry its own insurance. When one policy cannot cover a serious injury, another may. ## Common Truck Crashes Around Tampa Bay Truck traffic is heavy on I-4 near the I-75 interchange, on I-275 through downtown Tampa, on the roads serving Port Tampa Bay, and along Adamo Drive and the industrial areas of East Tampa. The crashes we handle include: - Jackknife crashes, when the trailer swings out from the cab, often after hard braking, speeding, or a shifting load - Side-impact and sideswipe crashes, often during lane changes into a truck's blind spots - Overloaded or improperly loaded trucks, which need more distance to stop and are more prone to rollovers. Federal law generally caps loaded weight at 80,000 pounds on interstates. - Distracted and fatigued driving, including phone use and pushing past hours-of-service limits - Rear-end crashes, where a truck's long stopping distance turns a slowdown into a violent collision - Delivery van crashes, including Amazon and other package delivery vehicles. Whether the delivery company itself can be held responsible often depends on the driver's employment status and the company's role in the delivery operation. ## The Evidence We Work to Preserve Much of the most important evidence in a truck case sits with the carrier, and some of it can be overwritten or discarded in the ordinary course of business. We send preservation letters early and pursue: - Electronic logging device (ELD) records and driver logs - Engine control module ("black box") data showing speed, braking, and throttle - Dash camera and other onboard video - Driver qualification files, drug and alcohol testing, and training records - Inspection, maintenance, and repair records - Bills of lading, weigh tickets, and cargo securement details - Dispatch communications and phone records We also work with accident reconstructionists and, in serious injury cases, with economists and life-care planners who help show the full cost of the injury. ## Results in Truck Cases - $1.3 Million: Trucking Company Held Responsible. A trucking company was held responsible for the wrongful acts of its employee against our client. - $600,000: 18-Wheeler Trucking Accident in North Port, FL. An 18-wheeler collided with our client's vehicle on I-75, causing neck and shoulder injuries that required multiple surgeries. - $486,000: Passenger Car Accident in Pasco County, FL. An unsecured hay bale rolled off an 18-wheeler onto the roof of the car our client was riding in. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ## What to Do After a Truck Crash Get medical care right away. Your own PIP coverage still pays first in Florida, and you must get initial treatment within 14 days to use it. Report the crash, photograph the truck (including its DOT number and company name), and collect witness contact information. Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company's insurer, and keep a journal of your pain and limitations as you recover. Expect the carrier to blame someone else. Under section 768.81, your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, and if you are found more than 50% at fault you generally cannot recover. For most crashes on or after March 24, 2023, Florida generally allows two years to file a lawsuit, but exceptions exist and evidence can disappear far sooner. ## Talk to a Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer Trucking companies have lawyers on their side from day one, and you should too. We handle truck cases on a contingency fee and advance the costs of investigation, so you owe nothing unless we recover money for you. Call (813) 915-1110, 24/7, or contact us online for a free consultation with an attorney. ### Evidence in Truck Cases Doesn't Wait The trucking company's investigation may already be underway. Call (813) 915-1110 for a free consultation so we can start protecting the logs, data, and video that prove your case. [Free Case Consultation](/contact/) [(813) 915-1110](tel:+18139151110) ## Serving Truck Accident Victims Across Tampa Bay We represent people hurt in commercial truck crashes on I-4, I-75, I-275, US-19, and the busy freight corridors of Hillsborough, Pasco, and Hernando counties. - Tampa - Carrollwood - Northdale - Lutz - Town ’n’ Country - Brandon - Temple Terrace - New Tampa - Wesley Chapel - Land O’ Lakes - Zephyrhills - Odessa - Spring Hill - Brooksville - Hudson - New Port Richey - Hillsborough County - Pasco County - Hernando County ## Frequently Asked Questions Who can be held liable for a truck accident? Liability can extend well beyond the driver to the motor carrier, the owners of the tractor and trailer, the company named on the trailer, a broker or shipper, the loading crew, maintenance contractors, and parts manufacturers. Each may carry separate insurance, which can make a real difference when injuries are severe. Should I talk to the trucking company's insurance adjuster? Not before you speak with a lawyer, and do not sign anything the insurer sends. Commercial adjusters are trained to gather information that limits the claim, including statements that shift blame to you. We can handle all communication with the carrier and its insurer. Why does evidence need to be preserved so quickly? Electronic logging data, black-box data, dash camera video, and maintenance records are controlled by the trucking company, and some of it may be overwritten or discarded over time. A preservation letter puts the carrier on notice that it must keep that evidence, and the sooner it goes out, the better. Can I sue Amazon if a delivery van hit me? Possibly. Whether Amazon or another delivery company can be held responsible often depends on whether the driver was its employee or worked for a contracted delivery business, and on how involved the company was in the delivery operation. We investigate those relationships and every available insurance policy. How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Florida? For most crashes on or after March 24, 2023, Florida generally allows two years to file a negligence lawsuit, and wrongful death claims generally must be filed within two years of the date of death. Exceptions exist and some deadlines are shorter. Call promptly so we can preserve evidence while it still exists. ## Related practice areas [### Car Accidents What to do after a Florida car crash, how PIP and the no-fault rules work, and how a former insurance defense attorney protects your claim. Learn more](/practice-areas/car-accidents/)[### Catastrophic Injuries Life-changing injuries call for a claim built around the future: lifetime medical care, lost earning capacity, and the full human cost of the harm. Learn more](/practice-areas/catastrophic-injuries/)[### Wrongful Death Compassionate guidance for Tampa Bay families who lost a loved one through someone else's negligence, so you can grieve while we handle the claim. Learn more](/practice-areas/wrongful-death/) ## Practice Areas - Personal Injury - Car Accidents - Truck Accidents - Motorcycle Accidents - Slip & Fall / Premises Liability - Catastrophic Injuries - Wrongful Death - Boat Accidents - Pedestrian Accidents - Bicycle Accidents - Golf Cart Accidents - Insurance Disputes Speak with our team ### Let’s talk about your next step. - (813) 915-1110 · answered 24/7 - 1317 W Fletcher AvenueTampa, FL 33612 - 2224 Ashley Oaks Circle, Suite 102-EWesley Chapel, FL 33544 - 10485 Heley StreetSpring Hill, FL 34608 - No recovery, no fee [Free Case Consultation](/contact/) [**Mike Hancock**Founding Attorney · Since 1996*Former insurance defense attorney*](/about/attorneys/mike-hancock/) Here when you need us ## Let’s talk about what happened. One conversation. Clear answers. A team that takes your case personally. [Call Hancock Today**(813) 915-1110**](tel:+18139151110) Free consultation No recovery, no fee