Jacksonville Truck Accident Lawyer

If you’re the victim of a traffic accident involving a semi-truck in Jacksonville, truck accident lawyer Brett Hastings has the experience and resources to make your case a success. Automotive accidents involving big rigs require an expert in car accident injury cases who knows what trucking records and data to subpoena in support of your personal injury case against a trucking company. They also often require an attorney with Brett Hastings’ courtroom experience to get the facts out of witnesses in a trial.

Both state and federal laws regulate trucking, requiring companies and drivers to maintain logs and other documents. A few unscrupulous drivers and trucking companies try to hide or falsify records to hide infractions of trucking regulations. Some companies even coach their drivers on how to respond to police questions in an accident to cover up the company’s liability. As a Jacksonville truck accident lawyer, Mr. Hastings has experience obtaining the records needed and cutting through to the truth to ensure clients get the compensation and monetary award they are entitled to.

In 39% of automotive accidents involving semi-trucks, the main cause of the accident is the driver or truck, according to a report from the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) and National Center for Statistics and Analysis. That means that in nearly half of these accidents the driver is directly at fault and the company he or she works for is either directly (through maintenance of the truck) or indirectly (by hiring the driver) at fault. The report also revealed that information about these accidents is more accurate when investigated immediately on the scene. Scene-related evidence often dissipates over time and can be lost permanently if the investigation is delayed. This can include evidence that contradicts testimony from the driver.

Forty tons of steel and cargo screaming down the highway at over 50 miles per hour can be an extremely destructive force. When the drivers and owners of these massive weapons don’t act responsibly and cause someone’s injury or death, it’s important that they are held liable for their actions.

This is why it’s important to call Hastings Injury Law immediately when you’ve suffered a car accident injury involving a semi – the sooner our attorney’s investigator can get on the scene, the more evidence we will uncover and the easier it will be to prove that the driver’s or company’s negligence is responsible for your pain and suffering.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a truck accident case different from a car accident?
A truck case is a different discipline. There are usually multiple defendants — the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, the maintenance contractor, sometimes the manufacturer. Federal FMCSA/DOT rules on driver hours, maintenance, and equipment apply, and violations create leverage. And the defense is bigger — the carrier's insurer has attorneys and investigators on-scene within hours.
What evidence should be preserved after a truck crash?
A lot, and most of it disappears fast: the driver's hours-of-service logs, the truck's ECM (black box), dashcam video, the driver qualification file, maintenance and inspection records, post-crash drug/alcohol tests, and cargo manifests. We send a formal spoliation (preservation) letter the same day we take your case.
Can I sue the trucking company, not just the driver?
Yes, and usually we do. Under respondeat superior the employer is liable for an employee acting within their job, and we often bring direct claims against the carrier for negligent hiring, training, supervision, and retention — which can matter more than the driver's conduct, because that's where the insurance is.
What if the trucking company is based out of state?
It doesn't change where the case is filed. If the crash happened in Florida, Florida courts have jurisdiction, and interstate carriers must register an agent for service in every state they operate in.
How long does a truck accident case take?
Most run 12-24 months — longer than auto cases because of the added discovery (qualification files, FMCSA audits, ECM downloads, depositions of safety directors). We give a realistic timeline at intake.
What are federal trucking regulations and how do they affect my case?
The FMCSA and DOT impose binding rules — an 11-hour driving limit in a 14-hour window, a mandatory 30-minute break, drug/alcohol testing, driver qualification standards, and maintenance requirements. A violation can be evidence of negligence (sometimes negligence per se) and strong settlement leverage.
Do I need a different lawyer for a truck accident vs. a regular car accident?
Ideally yes — truck cases are a specialty. Ask whether the attorney has personally requested ECM data, issued spoliation letters, subpoenaed FMCSA records, and deposed a carrier's safety director. Brett has done trucking cases for 25+ years.

Contact Us for a FREE Consultation

Or Call Hastings Injury Law Today!
Free Consultation

Office Locations