Hit by a Truck? Call a Miami Lawyer Right Away

Being hit by a commercial truck is not the same as being hit by a passenger car. Truck cases involve federal motor carrier regulations, multiple potential defendants, far higher insurance limits, and evidence stored in electronic systems that may be overwritten or destroyed within days unless someone moves quickly to preserve it. The first hours after a serious truck crash in Miami can determine whether you ultimately recover full compensation or settle for a fraction of what your case is worth.

Why Speed Is Critical in Truck Cases

• Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) record hours-of-service data. Federal rules require carriers to keep this data for only six months — and some carriers will overwrite or "lose" unfavorable records once a lawsuit becomes likely.
• Engine control modules ("black boxes") capture pre-crash speed, braking, throttle, and other event data. Repairs or salvage of the truck can permanently destroy this data.
• In-cab dashcams are increasingly common in commercial fleets. The video is often retained for as little as 30 days.
• The driver qualification file, hiring records, training records, and prior crash history are routinely produced only in response to formal litigation requests. Identifying a pattern of negligence requires getting these records before the carrier "cleans up" the file.
• The truck itself often needs to be inspected by an accident reconstructionist before it is repaired or scrapped.

Who Can Be Liable in a Florida Truck Crash

• The truck driver, for negligent operation
• The motor carrier — under both respondeat superior and direct theories such as negligent hiring, training, retention, supervision, and entrustment
• The truck owner or lessor
• A shipper or broker that pressured the driver to violate hours-of-service limits
• A maintenance contractor that performed inspection or repair work
• A cargo loader for shifting or unsecured loads
• The manufacturer of a defective tire, brake, or other component

Higher Insurance Limits Mean Higher Stakes

Federal law requires interstate motor carriers to maintain at least $750,000 in liability insurance, and $1 million or more for hazardous materials. Many carriers carry $1 million primary policies plus layered excess coverage well above that. The higher available limits in a truck case make full-value damages economically realistic — and they also explain why trucking-defense lawyers fight these cases so hard.

What to Do in the First 48 Hours

• Get medical evaluation immediately — and within 14 days at minimum to preserve PIP benefits
• Make sure a Florida Traffic Crash Report has been generated
• Photograph the truck, the cab, the trailer, the position of the vehicles, and any visible damage to the company markings or DOT number
• Get the truck's USDOT and MC numbers from the cab door
• Identify witnesses and get their contact information
• Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company's insurance representative
• Call a personal injury lawyer with truck-case experience

If you or a loved one has been hit by a commercial truck anywhere in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Monroe County, the Law Offices of Albert Goodwin can help. Call 786-522-1411 or email [email protected]. The earlier we are involved, the more evidence we can preserve.