Get Real Justice with Our Truck Accident Attorneys Serving Jacksonville & North Florida
After a serious truck accident, you’re probably in pain, missing work, overwhelmed by medical bills, and wondering what you’re supposed to do next. It’s time to talk to a Jacksonville truck accident lawyer who can help you understand your options for compensation and push for accountability from the people responsible for the crash.
Jacksonville is a major transportation and freight hub. Tractor-trailers, delivery vehicles, dump trucks, and other large vehicles travel I-95, I-10, I-295, U.S. 1, and roads serving JAXPORT every day. And when a smaller vehicle ends up in a crash with a big truck, there can be terrible consequences.
At Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers, we know that this accident affects you and your family in many ways. It’s connected to your health, your independence, your livelihood, and your future. Our Jacksonville truck accident attorneys deliver Real Advocacy when you need someone trustworthy and experienced in your corner.
Call 904-758-1111 or contact us online to schedule a FREE consultation. We handle injury cases on a no-win, no-fee basis, so you don’t pay us unless we recover the compensation you need to move forward.
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The Real Deal: Jacksonville Truck Accident Claims
- Get medical care! Your health and safety come before anything else.
- Truck crashes can involve several responsible parties. The driver, trucking company, cargo company, maintenance provider, or vehicle manufacturer could share fault.
- Trucking evidence can disappear or be overwritten. Driver logs, electronic data, inspection records, and company communications should be gathered quickly.
- Florida generally gives you 2 years to file a negligence lawsuit. Different rules or deadlines can apply in some cases.
- Florida’s fault rules can reduce or block recovery. If you’re found more than 50% responsible, you generally can’t recover damages.
- The trucking company and its insurer will start protecting themselves immediately. You deserve to have someone protecting you, too.
What To Do After a Truck Accident in Jacksonville
We can’t say it enough: Your health comes first. Get emergency help if you need it, and whatever you do, don’t delay medical care because you’re worried about the cost or an insurance claim.
After a Jacksonville truck crash:
- Call 911. Ask for emergency medical assistance and law enforcement.
- Get checked by a medical professional. When fear and adrenaline are running high, it can be hard to tell how badly you’re hurt.
- Follow your treatment plan. Keep appointments and tell your doctor about new or worsening symptoms.
- Document what you can, safely. Take photographs or video of the vehicles, roadway, damage, skid marks, cargo, and the surrounding area.
- Get identifying information. Record the truck driver’s name, employer, license plate, truck number, insurance information, and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number.
- Collect witness information. Independent witnesses can provide important details about how the crash happened.
- Don’t give the trucking company’s insurer a recorded statement before getting legal advice. Adjusters can use your words to dispute fault or minimize your injuries.
- Talk to our Jacksonville truck accident attorneys. The team at Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers can start tracking down records, witnesses, and electronic data while you focus on healing.
Remember: Don’t put yourself at risk to gather evidence. Your safety is always the priority.
Real Results
- $850,000 Recovery: Three people were hurt in a rear-end truck crash, including two of our clients. After the insurer delayed the case for months, our team identified a key mistake by the defense and used it to move negotiations forward. The case resolved for $850,000 without the need to file a lawsuit.
- $375,000 Recovery: A Tennessee client suffered a neck injury after being rear-ended by a truck. The injury required medical care and ongoing treatment. Attorney Gregory Marangos obtained a $375,000 settlement that covered pain and suffering, past medical expenses, and expected future treatment.
How Long Do You Have To File a Florida Truck Accident Lawsuit?
Florida generally gives you 2 years from the date of the crash to file a negligence lawsuit (Florida Statutes § 95.11(5)(a)). If you miss the deadline, the court can dismiss your case, even when the truck driver or trucking company was clearly responsible.
An insurance claim isn’t the same as a lawsuit. And it’s important to know that negotiating with the insurance company doesn’t pause the statute of limitations on a lawsuit.
Different rules apply in some cases. For example, a crash involving a city, county, or state agency, or a publicly owned vehicle, can trigger special notice requirements (Fla. Stat. § 768.28).
The safest approach is to have our team confirm your exact deadline.
Why Are Truck Accident Claims More Complicated?
A truck accident claim isn’t just a bigger version of a car accident claim.
Commercial trucking involves drivers, carriers, contractors, maintenance companies, cargo businesses, and large insurance policies. Federal trucking rules and company safety procedures can also be part of your case.
Often, the trucking company starts making moves to protect itself as soon as they catch wind of the accident. That can include sending investigators to the scene, contacting witnesses, reviewing electronic data, and notifying the insurance carrier before you’ve even left the hospital.
You deserve a legal team of Real Advocates who get to work just as quickly. Our Jacksonville truck accident lawyers investigate the entire trucking operation. We don’t stop with the police report or accept the insurance company’s version of what happened.
Why Choose Us?
When you’re facing one of the toughest moments of your life, you need more than just a lawyer—you need a trusted ally who will stand with you and fight for your rights.
Who’s Responsible for a Jacksonville Truck Accident?
More than one person or company can share responsibility for a truck crash.
The Truck Driver
Truck drivers are responsible when they cause crashes by:
- Speeding
- Following too closely
- Driving while distracted or tired
- Driving under the influence
- Making unsafe lane changes
- Failing to check blind spots
- Ignoring traffic signs or signals
- Driving too fast for weather or traffic conditions
- Violating federal trucking rules
The Trucking Company
Trucking companies have a responsibility to hire qualified drivers, provide proper training, supervise their workforce, and keep their vehicles safe.
A trucking company can be held responsible for:
- Hiring an unsafe or unqualified driver
- Failing to check a driver’s background
- Poor training or supervision
- Allowing hours-of-service violations
- Pressuring drivers to meet unsafe delivery schedules
- Failing to inspect or maintain trucks
- Ignoring a pattern of dangerous driving
The trucking company can also be responsible for what an employee does while acting within the scope of their job.
The Cargo Company
Overloaded, unbalanced, or poorly secured cargo can shift, fall from the truck, or cause the driver to lose control. The company that loaded or secured the freight can be held responsible when its mistakes cause a crash.
A Maintenance or Repair Company
Commercial trucks need regular inspections, repairs, and maintenance. Worn tires, bad brakes, steering problems, broken lights, and other mechanical failures put everyone on the road at risk. A repair or maintenance company can be responsible when it overlooks a dangerous problem or performs careless work.
A Truck or Parts Manufacturer
Defective brakes, tires, steering systems, coupling equipment, and other parts can cause a driver to lose control. The company that designed, made, or sold a defective truck or part can be held accountable for the injuries the defect caused.
Other Drivers or Businesses
Some truck crashes involve several careless drivers or companies. We investigate every part of the crash so that all responsible parties and available insurance policies are identified.
What Causes Truck Accidents in Jacksonville?
Truck crashes are often avoidable. They happen because a driver or company made a dangerous choice or failed to follow basic safety rules.
Common causes include:
- Driver fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Following too closely
- Unsafe lane changes
- Driving under the influence
- Inexperienced or poorly trained drivers
- Hours-of-service violations
- Unrealistic delivery schedules
- Overloaded trucks
- Unsecured cargo
- Poor truck maintenance
- Brake failure
- Tire blowouts
- Defective truck parts
- Unsafe hiring or supervision
A full investigation can show whether the crash stemmed from the driver’s actions, the company’s safety practices, the condition of the truck, the way the cargo was loaded, or a combination of failures.
What Evidence Can Help Prove Your Case?
Strong cases are built on evidence. That evidence goes far beyond a crash report.
The team at Bernheim Kelley will look for:
- Police reports
- Photos & videos
- Witness statements
- Traffic camera or surveillance footage
- Electronic logging device records
- Engine control module or “black box” data
- Driver qualification files
- Training & employment records
- Driving history
- Hours-of-service records
- Cell phone & dispatch records
- Inspection & maintenance records
- Cargo documents
- Drug & alcohol testing records
- Company safety policies
- Medical records & bills
- Employment & income records
Some electronic truck data is automatically overwritten. Some trucking records are only required to be kept for limited periods of time. For example, motor carriers generally have to keep ELD hours-of-service records for 6 months. A skilled truck accident attorney can send a preservation letter demanding that the trucking company keep those important records.
What Injuries Do Truck Accidents Cause?
A fully loaded tractor-trailer can cause life-changing damage when it hits a passenger vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian.
Truck accident injuries can include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Paralysis
- Neck & back injuries
- Broken or crushed bones
- Internal bleeding & organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Nerve damage
- Facial injuries
- Scarring & disfigurement
- Post-traumatic stress
- Fatal injuries
These injuries can lead to surgery, rehabilitation, lost income, long-term pain, and permanent changes to how you work and live. We look at what you’re going through now and what the crash will cost you and your family in the future. Then, we push for the full and fair compensation you deserve.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Compensation reflects the effect the truck accident has had on your life. It’s not just about the bills you’ve already gotten. It’s also about what your future will look like and the changes you and your family will have to adjust to.
A Jacksonville truck accident claim can include compensation for:
- Ambulance & emergency care
- Hospital bills
- Surgery
- Rehabilitation
- Future medical treatment
- Prescription medication
- Medical equipment
- Home or vehicle modifications
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain & suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disability
- Scarring & disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
There’s no useful “average” truck accident settlement amount. Your case will be valued based on what happened to you.
What if I Lost a Loved One in a Truck Crash?
When a truck crash takes someone’s life, no amount of money can make your loss better. What a wrongful death claim can do is provide financial stability while you grieve and hold the people and companies responsible accountable for their negligence.
Depending on your relationship to the person who passed away and the losses involved, compensation can include:
- Medical expenses related to the fatal injuries
- Funeral & burial costs
- Lost income & financial support
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of parental guidance
- Mental pain & suffering
Florida generally gives the personal representative of the estate 2 years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(e)).
Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers can offer support, take over the legal details, and explain who has the right to seek compensation and what losses can be included.
Can I Get Compensation if I Was Partly At Fault for the Accident?
Yes, as long as you weren’t more than 50% responsible for your own injuries.
Florida follows a modified comparative negligence rule. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. So, if your damages total $500,000 and you’re found 20% at fault, your recovery would be reduced by 20% to $400,000.
But if you’re found more than 50% at fault, Florida law blocks you from recovering anything at all (Fla. Stat. § 768.81(2), (6)). Insurance companies know this rule well and will often look for ways to put more blame on you so they pay less. We push back to make sure you’re treated fairly, and the people in the wrong are held accountable.
Real Advocacy. Real Experience. Real Results.
Truck crashes are sudden and frightening. One minute, you’re going about your day. The next, you’re in pain, missing work, worried about bills, and trying to hold everything together.
You deserve more than an insurance company treating you like a claim number. You deserve to have a legal team that cares about what you and your family are going through. You deserve to have steady support when things feel uncertain.
- Real Advocacy means we listen to your story, stand by your side, and keep your needs and goals as our priority.
- Real Experience means we’ve handled serious truck crashes, taken on powerful companies, and are always prepared for court if that’s what it takes.
- Real Results means bringing the same focus, care, and determination that has helped us recover more than $1 billion for our clients.
– you are in good hands!
Contact a Jacksonville Truck Accident Lawyer Today for a FREE Consultation
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you call us. If you were hurt in a truck crash in Jacksonville, Duval County, or anywhere in North Florida, we’re here to answer your questions, give you the support you need, and help you understand what comes next.
Call 904-758-1111 or contact a Jacksonville truck accident lawyer at Bernheim Kelley Injury Lawyers online to schedule a FREE consultation. We’ll get you some Real Answers and help you decide what you want to do next.