Commercial trucks carry heavy loads across long distances along Florida’s highway system. According to the National Safety Council, Florida ranks third, behind California and Texas, for commercial truck-related fatalities. Despite different types of truck accidents, the outcome is rarely a fender bender. The size and weight of a tractor-trailer create a force that leaves drivers and passengers in smaller vehicles with life-changing injuries, expensive medical bills, and disrupted lives.
Truck accident cases differ from car crashes, partly because of the types of commercial trucks that may be involved in tragic accidents. Semi-truck crashes may vary from delivery truck crashes in terms of how the drivers operate vehicles and how the parent company manages its fleet and hires drivers. At Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, PLLC, our experienced Florida truck accident lawyers help victims injured in commercial truck crashes pursue maximum compensation.
After an accident with a truck or delivery vehicle, contact a commercial truck accident lawyer to review your options. The Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, PLLC team offers a free initial case review.
Types of Commercial Truck Accidents
Commercial truck accidents take varied forms. Each type carries different risks for drivers and passengers in smaller vehicles. The most common truck collisions on Florida roadways include:
Jackknife Accidents
A truck jackknifes when the trailer swings out at a 90-degree angle to the cab, like a knife with a folding blade. Jackknife accidents usually happen when the driver brakes suddenly or loses control while maneuvering curves. Driving too fast in wet or inclement weather conditions or shifting cargo can also cause jackknife accidents. The swinging trailer can sweep multiple lanes, putting anything in its path in danger.
Underride Crashes
An underride accident occurs when a smaller passenger car collides with a larger commercial truck, and then slides underneath the truck’s body. Due to the size difference between the vehicles, the passenger vehicle suffers catastrophic damage, where the roof may be sheared off or the front end gets crumpled beyond recognition. Sudden stops or improper braking techniques are common causes of underride accidents. Bars called underride guards are supposed to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding under commercial trucks, but they can also cause devastating damage.
Rollover Crashes
Tractor-trailers have a high center of gravity, which makes them more prone to rollovers. Taking a curve too fast or driving with improperly loaded or overloaded cargo commonly causes rollover crashes. Unsafe lane changes or aggressive driving maneuvers can also lead to rollovers, which may block several lanes of traffic and create chain-reaction collisions.
Rear-end Collisions
The size and weight of large commercial trucks require more distance to stop than passenger cars. When a truck driver follows too closely or fails to adjust speed because of changing traffic conditions, the result can be a rear-end crash. Distracted and impaired driving are also common causes of rear-end crashes.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on truck crashes usually start with a lane departure driven by impairment, distraction, or fatigue under schedule pressure. We can confirm the cause through things like hours-on-duty records, phone activity, and lane-position video.
Side-Impact/ T-Bone Crashes
T-bone crashes happen when one vehicle slams head-on into the side of another. Intersections are a common site of large truck crashes.
Wide-Turn Crashes
Trucks are bulky vehicles that require extra room when turning, especially to the right. If a driver swings wide without checking blind spots or signals too late, nearby cars can get caught between the cab and trailer or off the road. Poorly or inadequately trained drivers may not have the experience or skills to negotiate wide turns.
Blind-Spot/No-Zone Crashes
No-zones are blind spots where truck drivers cannot see around their commercial rig. Commercial trucks have four no-zones, and existing mirrors and cameras cannot account for all blind spots. Blind spot accidents occur when a smaller vehicle remains in a truck’s blind spot and the truck’s operator makes unsafe lane changes.
Accident type directs the investigation and tells our attorneys which records to pull, which experts to bring in, and which safety rules control the case. A jackknife points to braking data, speed, and load securement, while an underride raises questions about guard design and stopping distance. Depending on the details it can determine who is liable, what insurance applies, and the value of your case.
Types of Commercial Trucks Involved in Accidents
Not all commercial trucks are the same. The type of truck involved in a crash can affect the severity of injuries, the cause of the wreck, and who may be liable for damages.
18-Wheelers and Semi-Trucks
18-wheelers and semi-trucks are the workhorses of the American transportation industry. They consist of a power unit called a cab or tractor, which tows a trailer unit attached to it by a special hitch called a fifth wheel.
Tractor-Trailers
Tractor-trailers are another term for a combination vehicle consisting of a powered tractor pulling a non-powered trailer. Commonly responsible for transporting refrigerator trailers and flat beds, tractor-trailers are prone to maintenance failures and braking issues.
Tanker Trucks
Tankers carry hazardous liquids or gases. Tanker truck crashes can cause spills tied to poor safety practices. A tanker crash may cause not just blunt-force trauma but also burns, toxic exposure, or environmental hazards. Liability can extend beyond the trucking company to shippers and contractors responsible for loading the cargo.
Flatbeds
Flatbeds haul oversized or heavy loads that are secured with straps or chains but are otherwise exposed to the elements. When this cargo shifts or falls onto the roadway, nearby drivers face sudden and dangerous obstacles.
Dump Trucks
Dump trucks are prone to overloading accidents and spills. Local road hazards like potholes can cause dump trucks to lose their load or spill their contents, creating driving hazards for other vehicles.
Garbage Trucks
Garbage truck routes start early in the morning when visibility is low. Sun flares can make driving challenging, and driver fatigue can impair judgment and coordination.
Delivery Trucks (UPS, FedEx, Amazon)
The rise of e-commerce has made delivery trucks and vans a constant presence in neighborhoods and city streets. Drivers work under pressure to meet tight schedules, which can leave them too fatigued to operate their vehicles safely. Unfamiliar routes and intrusive GPS systems can be distracting. Moreover, shipping companies frequently subcontract with local last-mile delivery companies or independent drivers, which can affect liability.
Utility and Service Trucks
Utility and service vehicles transport oversized equipment, which may not be adequately secured by a cargo company or dock workers, causing jackknife or rollover accidents.
Construction and Heavy Haul Trucks
A common issue with construction or heavy haul trucks is overweight loads beyond permitted limits. Overweight loads affect stopping and truck maneuverability and can violate state and federal regulations.
The type of truck involved in the accident influences the case strategy. A tanker points to hazmat rules, shipper and loader responsibility, and spill documentation; a flatbed points to securement standards and load sheets; a delivery van points to contractor agreements and who actually employs the driver. Our attorneys target the right records, experts, and insurance layers, including maintenance logs, telematics and ECM data, bills of lading, and contracts, so fault and coverage tie directly to the truck’s role in the crash.
Causes of Truck Accidents
Different types of truck accidents have various causes, but driver error tends to be the leading contributing factor. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that 87 percent of commercial accidents result from driver error. Common driver-related accident causes include:
- Driver fatigue
- Distractions
- Impairment
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Inexperienced/inadequate training
Trucks are also complicated machines that require regular maintenance and safety inspections to keep them running smoothly. Skimping inspections, employing unsafe parts, or poor loading practices compromise safety. Cargo and mechanical issues that cause truck accidents may include:
- Unsecured cargo
- Improperly loaded cargo
- Brake or mechanical failures
- Tire blowouts
The cause of the crash dictates the records to collect and the questions to ask. Your attorney confirms it through things like driver logs, ELD and telematics, phone records, maintenance files, load sheets, and inspection reports, then uses that proof to pin down fault and trigger the coverage that applies.
Florida Weather and Truck Crashes
Florida’s quick-changing storms, tropical systems, and heavy rain cut visibility and traction. Standing water and crosswinds raise the risk of jackknifes, rollovers, and rear-end crashes. Safe driving means slowing down, widening following distance, checking tires and brakes, and delaying trips when conditions spike.
After a weather-related crash, we look at what choices were made: dispatch timing, speed for the conditions, following distance, and basic equipment like tires, brakes, and wipers. If a company pushed a run through a storm or a driver failed to adjust, that links fault to those decisions.
From Accident Type to Case Strategy
Good truck accident lawyers customize cases according to the type of accident and the vehicle involved, then link real-world context to specific driving rules and company responsibilities. They use that link to decide which records to secure first, which experts to retain, and which insurers and companies to notify.
Context that changes fault and who pays:
- Lane layout, merge points, and ramp geometry
- Active work zones and signal timing
- Lighting, visibility, surface grip, standing water, and crosswinds
- Load weight, center of gravity, securement method, and empty vs loaded status
- Hours on duty, rest breaks, and schedule pressure
- Dispatch timing, route choice, and detours
- Vehicle condition and tech status: brakes, tires, ABS, stability control, dashcam
- Local constraints like as toll gantries, weigh stations, and restricted turns
Handled this way, the path to resolution gets shorter and the route to compensation stays clear.
Our Florida Truck Accident Team Can Manage Any Truck Accident Case
Truck drivers and trucking companies will protect themselves. Let an experienced Florida truck accident attorney protect you. Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, PLLC, will fight for maximum compensation to help you rebuild your life after a commercial truck accident. We have in-depth experience in proving negligence in commercial trucking accident cases Florida-wide.
Contact our office today by calling 833-LAW-LLSS (833-529-5577) for a free case review and let us explain your rights and options.
