Driver
Driving decisions, observations, rest and response to traffic. Legal responsibility:
JOSEF TIMLICHMAN LAW · FLORIDA
Florida Truck Accident Lawyer
A dedicated truck accident practice. We handle 18-wheeler and commercial truck cases, with a focus on the evidence that can disappear first.
No attorney's fee unless we recover for you
Your attorney: Josef Timlichman, Florida injury trial attorney
Protect the evidence now
Truck companies send rapid-response teams within hours. Black box, ELD and dash-cam data can be overwritten. Call now so a preservation letter goes out immediately.
Calling does not establish representation or guarantee that a letter has been sent. The firm must agree to undertake the work.
SHORT ANSWER
Truck cases are not just bigger car cases.
A commercial truck crash can involve a driver, a carrier, a broker, a shipper and several insurance layers. The investigation must preserve vehicle data, trace who controlled the trip, assess equipment and loading, and document the actual injuries. Fault is not established by the size of the truck or the carrier name alone.
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE CASES
The crash mechanism matters.
01 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Jackknife truck crashes
Trailer angle, skid marks and roadway video
02 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Underride crashes
Trailer guards, contact points and lighting
03 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Rear-end crashes by a semi
Brake application, traffic queues and camera footage
04 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Wide-turn and squeeze-play crashes
Turning path, signal timing and curbside photographs
05 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Blind-spot and no-zone crashes
Mirror views, lane markings and side-camera records
06 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Truck tire blowout crashes
Failed tire, tread and tire-service history
07 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Truck brake failure crashes
Brake components, inspection findings and repair records
08 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Driver fatigue and hours-of-service violations
ELD history, dispatch messages and rest timeline
09 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Distracted truck driving crashes
Cab-facing footage, device activity and dispatch timing
10 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Overloaded or unsecured cargo crashes
Load restraints, bills of lading and weight tickets
11 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Tanker and hazmat crashes
Cargo manifest, placards and emergency-response records
12 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Truck rollover crashes
Load distribution, curve geometry and final vehicle positions
13 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Delivery van crashes
Route assignments, delivery app records and contractor agreements
14 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Dump truck and construction vehicle crashes
Worksite plans, backing cameras and load records
15 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Garbage truck crashes
Collection route, stop sequence and backing-camera footage
16 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Tow truck crashes
Tow dispatch, tie-downs and roadside positioning
17 / TRUCK CLAIM REVIEW
Bus and commercial passenger vehicle crashes
Passenger roster, route records and interior video
THE RECORD BEHIND THE CRASH
Evidence we pursue
Electronic and physical records may be held by different companies and vendors. Requests should identify the actual vehicle, systems and custodians. Access and preservation duties require individual legal review.
- 01Engine control module (black box) data
- 02Electronic logging device (ELD) logs
- 03Forward and cab-facing dash cams
- 04GPS and dispatch records
- 05Driver qualification file
- 06Drug and alcohol test results
- 07Maintenance and inspection records
- 08Bills of lading and weight tickets
- 09Broker and shipper contracts
- 10The carrier's federal safety record
- 11Preservation and spoliation letters
FOLLOW THE COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
Who can be responsible?
These are potential investigation subjects, not a conclusion that every party is liable. Conduct, control, contracts, causation and applicable defenses must be reviewed.
Motor carrier
Hiring, supervision, dispatch, equipment and safety practices. Legal responsibility:
Freight broker
The freight arrangement, selection and contractual relationships. Legal responsibility:
Shipper and loader
Cargo description, loading, restraints and weight information. Legal responsibility:
Maintenance company
Inspection, service work, unresolved defects and repair decisions. Legal responsibility:
Truck or parts manufacturer
Equipment design, manufacturing and any supported defect theory. Legal responsibility:
Leasing company
Ownership, lease terms and actual control of equipment. Legal responsibility:
Delivery company
The business directing a local van, including employment and contractor relationships. Legal responsibility:
Amazon, FedEx and UPS are plain-text examples of delivery fleet names. No affiliation or endorsement is implied, and branding alone does not establish responsibility.
FROM PRESERVATION TO TRIAL
How we build a truck case
- 01
Preserve the evidence
Discuss targeted preservation letters for the truck, trailer, devices, cameras and records. Representation and the scope of work must be agreed before action is undertaken.
- 02
Reconstruct independently
Compare scene measurements, native video, vehicle evidence and electronic records. Independent accident reconstruction and 3D animation must disclose inputs and assumptions; no excluded trial material is used.
- 03
Investigate the carrier
Review carrier safety history, driver qualification, maintenance and dispatch records. A safety record is context, not automatic proof of fault.
- 04
Document medical and life-care needs
Organize diagnoses, treatment, rehabilitation, work loss and supported future-care information. Medical and life-care assessments require appropriate professional review.
- 05
Litigate and prepare for trial
MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION
Injuries common in truck crash reviews
Truck crashes can involve serious injuries. Diagnosis, causation, prognosis and future needs require medical evidence; these categories are not frequency statistics or a diagnosis.
Brain injuries
Spine and spinal cord injuries
Crush and orthopedic injuries
Burns
Amputation
Wrongful death
Truck Crashes in Miami and Miami-Dade County
We represent people hurt in crashes with semis and commercial trucks across Miami-Dade County. Freight moves through Miami on I-95, the Palmetto Expressway (SR 826), the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836), the Florida Turnpike and US-27, and around PortMiami and the cargo areas near Miami International Airport. If a truck hit you in Miami, the trucking company's records can be overwritten quickly, so call 305-748-3789 to talk about preserving them. Meetings by appointment only.
Truck Crashes in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County
We represent people hurt in truck crashes in Fort Lauderdale and throughout Broward County. Heavy truck traffic runs on I-95, I-595 and Florida's Turnpike, including traffic to and from Port Everglades. If you were hit by a semi, box truck or delivery van in Broward, the same rules apply as anywhere in Florida: the evidence on the truck and in the carrier's systems can be overwritten quickly, so call (305) 748-3789 as soon as you can. Meetings by appointment only.
SOUTH FLORIDA AND STATEWIDE
Florida trucking corridors
For a Florida truck accident lawyer reviewing a corridor crash, road, direction and the nearest exit or mile marker help locate evidence. The firm handles 18-wheeler and commercial vehicle cases statewide without claiming an office in each city. Outside South Florida, we also review crashes on I-4 between Tampa and Orlando, I-275 in the Tampa Bay area, and I-10 and I-95 around Jacksonville.
- I-95
- I-75 and Alligator Alley
- Florida's Turnpike
- I-595
- I-4
- US-27
- Routes near Port Everglades
- Routes near PortMiami
- Routes near the Port of Palm Beach
- Doral and Medley warehouse districts
Josef Timlichman is an 18-wheeler accident attorney serving Florida. For a semi-truck accident lawyer in Miami, a Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorney or a Palm Beach truck accident lawyer, request an individual review here. I-95 truck accident claims and other commercial vehicle accident cases across Florida receive the same evidence-focused review. Based in Hollywood, Florida. Serving clients throughout Florida. Meetings by appointment only.
TELL US WHAT HAPPENED
Free truck case evaluation
TRUCK ACCIDENT GUIDES
Questions worth answering early
What to do after a truck accident in FloridaWho is liable for a truck crash in FloridaTruck black box and ELD data: why it disappears and how to preserve itHours-of-service violations and truck driver fatigueUnderride crashes: trailer guards, visibility and evidenceJackknife crashes: braking, articulation and the collision sequenceHow much insurance do trucking companies carry?Should I talk to the trucking company's insurance adjuster?Delivery van accidents involving Amazon, FedEx and UPS fleetsTruck accident claims vs. car accident claimsWhat a spoliation (preservation) letter is
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Truck accident questions
Truck claim FAQs
Should I call before all records are available?
Yes. Share the location, carrier identity and records you have. Electronic evidence can change or be overwritten; an attorney can discuss preservation. Calling does not itself create representation or guarantee a letter.
Does the firm handle cases along I-95 and statewide?
Yes. Josef Timlichman handles 18-wheeler and commercial truck cases throughout Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach. Based in Hollywood, Florida. Serving clients throughout Florida. Meetings by appointment only.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accident Claims in Florida
Who can be held legally liable for a commercial truck accident?
Potentially responsible parties include the driver, motor carrier, cargo loader, maintenance provider or truck or parts manufacturer. Responsibility depends on each party’s conduct, employment or agency relationships, control, causation and applicable defenses. Not every company involved in a trip is liable, and not all liability is vicarious. We trace those relationships and the evidence before reaching a conclusion.
What evidence is critical to secure immediately after a truck accident?
Important records can include Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data, Electronic Control Module or black box data, dashcam footage, driver qualification files, relevant drug and alcohol test results, maintenance logs and dispatch records. Prompt, targeted preservation letters put the appropriate custodians on notice, but do not guarantee that records exist or will be preserved. Calling or submitting a form does not mean representation has begun or a letter has been sent.
How do Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules affect my case?
Applicable FMCSA rules can address driver hours, drug and alcohol testing, vehicle inspections and maintenance. Whether a rule applies depends on the vehicle, operation and circumstances. A supported violation may be relevant to a negligence claim, but does not by itself establish that it caused the crash or automatically prove liability.
What compensation can be recovered in a catastrophic truck accident lawsuit?
Depending on the evidence and applicable law, a claim may seek medical expenses, rehabilitation and future care, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other supported losses. Punitive damages involve separate legal and procedural requirements and are not available merely because injuries are severe. Fault, causation, insurance and collectability can affect any recovery. No amount or outcome is guaranteed.