Homestead Truck Accident Lawyer

If you are looking for a truck accident lawyer in Homestead, this page explains how truck crash claims generally work in far south Miami-Dade County: the roads where trucks travel, the federal rules that apply, who may be responsible, and what to do now. It is general information, not legal advice; every case is different.

Truck Routes Through Homestead

Homestead is a city of about 86,200 people (U.S. Census Bureau, July 2025 estimate), about 26 miles southwest of Miami, between Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park. It is both a growing suburb and a major agricultural area, so freight moves in every direction:

• Florida's Turnpike, Homestead Extension The Homestead Extension begins at its south end at U.S. 1 in Florida City, just south of Homestead. Exit 2 at Campbell Drive (SW 312th Street) serves the Homestead-Miami Speedway, and Exit 5 at Biscayne Drive (SW 288th Street) connects to Homestead Air Reserve Base. Trucks leave and rejoin the Turnpike here on their way north or south.
• U.S. 1 (Homestead Boulevard) U.S. 1 is the only road to the Florida Keys, so tractor-trailers, fuel trucks and delivery trucks bound for the Keys pass through or near Homestead.
• Krome Avenue (State Road 997) Krome Avenue runs north-south through the western side of the city and north through the rural Redland, with farmland starting north of SW 296th Street. Traffic and crashes on Krome grew for years, which led to a project to widen it to four lanes with a median.
• Campbell Drive (SW 312th Street) A major east-west street. The Florida Department of Transportation began converting Campbell Drive into a truck bypass in 2014 so trucks would not need to pass through downtown Homestead and Florida City.

Farm Trucks, Speedway Traffic and the Air Base

Homestead's truck traffic has its own local mix. Nurseries and farms around the Redland ship plants and produce by truck, and slow farm vehicles share two-lane stretches with cars traveling at highway speed. Sudden stops, wide turns into farm entrances and loads that are not properly secured can all cause serious crashes.

On event days at Homestead-Miami Speedway, visitors who don't know the area arrive on Campbell Drive and the Turnpike alongside regular truck traffic. Homestead Air Reserve Base, reached from Biscayne Drive, brings its own deliveries and commuters. Unfamiliar drivers, heavy trucks and crowded exits are a risky combination.

Federal Safety Rules for Truck Drivers

Most large trucks that cross state lines must follow the rules of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Breaking them can be strong evidence of negligence:

• Driving limits A property-carrying driver generally may drive no more than 11 hours after 10 hours off duty, may not drive past the 14th hour after coming on duty, and must take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving. Weekly limits of 60 or 70 hours on duty in 7 or 8 days also apply. A driver near the end of a long run to or from the Keys may be close to these limits.
• Electronic logs Most drivers who must keep duty records use an electronic logging device (ELD), which can show whether the rules were followed.
• Insurance For-hire general-freight carriers crossing state lines in trucks of 10,001 pounds or more generally must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage.

Not every truck is covered by every federal rule. Local farm and delivery trucks may fall under different rules, which makes it important to find out early who owned and operated the truck.

Who May Be Responsible

• The truck driver For speeding, distraction, fatigue, impairment or an unsafe turn or lane change.
• The trucking company or farm operation An employer may be responsible for its driver, and for its own hiring, training and scheduling choices.
• Brokers, shippers and loaders The company that arranged the load or loaded the cargo may share responsibility for an overloaded or unsecured trailer.
• Maintenance companies and manufacturers For bad brakes, worn tires or defective parts.
• A government body If a road defect contributed, special written notice requirements and other limits apply.

What to Do After a Truck Crash in Homestead

1. Get medical care right away. Call 911 and get checked, even if you think you are fine.
2. Get the crash report. The Homestead Police Department is at 45 NW 1st Avenue. Its records section says a crash report can take up to 10 days to become available, and for the first 60 days only the people involved can get it. Crashes on the Turnpike are often handled by the Florida Highway Patrol.
3. Record the truck's details. Company name, USDOT number, truck and trailer plates, and the driver's name.
4. Take photos and find witnesses. Photograph the vehicles, the cargo, the road and your injuries. Get witness names and numbers.
5. Use your PIP. Florida's PIP law generally requires initial medical treatment within 14 days of the crash to use your PIP benefits.
6. Let a lawyer request the evidence. Truck data, driving logs and maintenance records may not be kept forever. A written preservation request to the company early can protect them. Don't give a recorded statement to the trucking insurer first.

Comparative Fault and Deadlines

Your own PIP generally pays a share of medical bills and lost wages first, but after a truck crash it rarely covers everything. You may also have a claim against the driver and the companies behind the truck for the rest of your medical care, lost income, lost earning ability and pain and suffering.

Under Florida's modified comparative negligence rule, in general, if you are found more than 50% at fault you cannot recover damages, and if you are 50% or less at fault your recovery is reduced by your share.

Read more about truck accident claims in Florida and car accident claims, or go back to our Homestead car accident and personal injury page.

Courts Near Homestead

Homestead is in Miami-Dade County, which makes up Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit, so a lawsuit is usually filed in Miami-Dade County. The Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court lists the South Dade Justice Center at 10710 SW 211th Street, with civil and traffic offices. Most injury claims settle without a trial, but preparing every case as if it may go to court puts you in a stronger position.

How We Help Homestead Families

Tomas Robirosa serves Homestead and all of Miami-Dade County, and you can speak with him directly in Spanish or English, by phone, by video or in person. We preserve the evidence, identify every company involved, deal with the insurers and, if needed, file suit.

We work on a contingency basis: no fee unless we recover. Call (305) 600-0529 for a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions