Who Can Be Liable for Truck Accidents in Florida?

Summary:

Truck accidents in Florida can involve multiple liable parties beyond just the driver. Trucking companies, vehicle owners, cargo loaders, manufacturers, and even government agencies can all share blame. Florida’s comparative negligence rule means victims can still recover damages even if they’re partially at fault, as long as they’re not more than 50% responsible.

When a semi barrels into a sedan at 70 mph, chaos isn’t the only thing that follows. Over the last decade, there has been about a 43% increase in fatal crashes. The list of people who could be at fault is longer than you might expect. It’s rarely just “the driver messed up.” These crashes are often the result of a chain of bad decisions, bad habits, or just plain bad business.

If you’re hurt, don’t assume the trucking company will admit fault and cut a check. They won’t. Liability is sometimes a brawl over evidence, timing, and who had the power (and responsibility) to prevent what happened. Here’s a look at who can get dragged into that fight.

The Truck Driver

Let’s start with the obvious. If the driver was drunk, distracted, or driving like they were auditioning for a Fast & Furious reboot, they’re on the hook. Florida law doesn’t exactly give a pass for texting at the wheel or nodding off mid-route.

Drivers can be held personally liable if they break traffic laws, drive while impaired, or ignore rest breaks. If they skipped sleep to hit a deadline or blew past weight limits, that’s fuel for a lawsuit.

The Trucking Company

Carriers love to act like the driver is a rogue actor the moment something goes wrong. But under vicarious liability, if the driver was on the job, the company can get pulled in, too.

More often than not, trucking companies earn their seat at the defendant’s table. Think: hiring drivers with mile-long rap sheets, skipping training, skimping on maintenance, or demanding delivery schedules that require time travel to meet. Unrealistic expectations don’t just make for unhappy employees; they create unsafe roads.

The Owner of the Truck

The truck and the driver aren’t always part of the same package. Some rigs are leased, rented, or owned by third parties who treat maintenance like an optional subscription. If a worn brake line or bald tire played a role in the crash, the vehicle’s owner could be liable, even if they’ve never set foot in the driver’s cab.

Cargo Loaders and Shippers

If the cargo wasn’t packed, secured, or labeled properly, and that played a role in the crash (load shifts, spills, explosions), whoever handled that freight could be liable. Loading companies can’t play the “we just packed the boxes” card when people end up in the hospital.

The Manufacturer

Sometimes, the crash isn’t because of what a human did. Brakes that lock, tires that explode, or steering systems that give out at 60 mph? If it came down to a defective part, the manufacturer could face a product liability claim.

Maintenance and Repair Shops

If a repair shop recently worked on the truck and somehow missed the fact that the brakes were one tap away from quitting life, they could be on the hook too. Servicing heavy trucks comes with serious responsibility. Skipping steps or cutting corners can make the difference between a truck that rolls safely and one that rolls over.

What If It’s Everyone’s Fault?

Florida uses a comparative negligence system. Translation: more than one party can be liable, and if you’re injured, your own percentage of fault affects your payout. If you’re more than 50% at fault, you’re out. If you’re less, your compensation is reduced by your share of blame. So, if a jury says you’re 20% at fault, your damages drop by 20%.

Multiple lawsuits from a single truck crash are common. Because when everything breaks down at once, so does the line between “who’s responsible” and “who’s more responsible.”

If you’re dealing with injuries from a truck crash, and the people responsible are playing dodgeball with the truth, we’re not here for excuses; we’re here for results. At Feldman Legal Group, we hold trucking companies, insurers, and whoever else tries to skate by accountable. Call us. Let’s put this mess in order.