Sunrise Truck Accident Lawyer

A truck crash is different from an ordinary car accident. There can be several companies involved, federal safety rules, electronic driving logs and large commercial insurance policies. This page explains, in general terms, how truck accident claims work for people hurt in Sunrise. It is general information, not legal advice; every case is different.

Why Truck Traffic Is Heavy in Sunrise

Sunrise sits at the Sawgrass Interchange, where the Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) meets I-75 and I-595. That makes the city a crossroads for freight moving between Miami-Dade, the Fort Lauderdale area, Port Everglades and the rest of Florida by way of I-75. Trucks also serve the retail and business areas inside the city, including Sawgrass Mills, one of the largest outlet malls in the country, and the 612-acre Sawgrass International Corporate Park.

Common places where people get hurt in truck-related crashes in and around Sunrise include:

• The Sawgrass Interchange Trucks merging between the expressway, I-75 and I-595 at highway speed, with lane changes in tight spaces.
• Expressway exits The exits at Sunrise Boulevard, Oakland Park Boulevard and Commercial Boulevard, where trucks slow down and turn onto busy surface roads.
• Mall and arena deliveries Box trucks and tractor-trailers making wide turns into loading areas near Sawgrass Mills and Amerant Bank Arena.
• Neighborhood deliveries Amazon, FedEx, UPS and other delivery vans that stop often, double-park and back up on residential streets.

Who Can Be Responsible for a Truck Crash

In a car accident, there is usually one driver and one insurance company on the other side. In a truck crash, several parties may share responsibility:

• The truck driver, for speeding, distraction, fatigue or unsafe lane changes.
• The trucking company or motor carrier, for hiring, training, supervision and scheduling decisions.
• The owner of the truck or trailer, which can be a different company from the carrier.
• The company that loaded the cargo, if an overloaded or poorly secured load caused the crash.
• A maintenance company or parts maker, if bad brakes, tires or other equipment played a role.

Finding every responsible party matters because it can affect how much insurance coverage is available for your injuries.

Federal Safety Rules for Commercial Trucks

Interstate trucks are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Some of the rules that often come up in truck cases:

• Hours of service Property-carrying drivers may generally drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, may not drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty, and must take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving.
• Electronic logging devices (ELDs) Most interstate trucks must record driving time electronically. These records can show whether a driver was over the limits.
• Minimum insurance Interstate carriers of general freight must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, and more for some hazardous materials.
• Inspections and maintenance Carriers must inspect, repair and maintain their vehicles and keep records of that work.

Trucking companies are not required to keep every record forever, so it is important to act quickly to ask that evidence like ELD data, dashcam video and maintenance files be preserved.

What to Do After a Truck Accident in Sunrise

1. Get medical care. Call 911. Truck crashes often cause serious injuries, and some don't show symptoms right away.
2. Get the police report. Crashes on the Sawgrass Expressway, I-75 and I-595 are often handled by the Florida Highway Patrol; crashes on city streets are usually handled by the Sunrise Police Department.
3. Photograph the truck. Take pictures of the truck, the trailer, the company name, the USDOT number on the door and the license plates.
4. Don't talk to the trucking company's insurer alone. Commercial insurers often contact injured people quickly. Talk to a lawyer before giving a statement.
5. Keep everything. Save medical records, bills, work notes and all insurance letters.

Your Rights After a Truck Accident in Florida

Your own PIP coverage generally pays part of your medical bills and lost wages first, as in any Florida car crash. When injuries are serious, you may also bring a claim against the truck driver, the trucking company and other responsible parties for losses PIP doesn't cover, such as future medical care, lost earning ability and pain and suffering.

Florida uses modified comparative negligence: in general, if you are found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover from the other parties, and if you are 50% or less at fault, your recovery is reduced by your share.

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

How We Help Sunrise Truck Accident Victims

Tomas Robirosa serves Sunrise and the rest of Broward County. You can speak with him directly in Spanish or English. We investigate the crash, identify the companies involved, ask for the trucking records to be preserved, deal with the insurers and, if needed, file suit in Broward County.

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

Frequently Asked Questions