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Freight that moves up and down Florida's east coast passes right through Port St. Lucie on I-95, Florida's Turnpike, and US Highway 1, and more of it now stops at the warehouses rising west of the interstate. When one of those trucks hits you, Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers steps in to investigate the carrier, protect the evidence, and pursue every policy that may pay for your injuries. Our Port St. Lucie truck accident attorneys work from our office at 8454 S. US Highway 1, and your consultation is free whenever you call.
A trucking company starts defending itself the day of the crash, often before you leave the hospital. Call 561-800-8000, and we can begin building your side of the story the same week.
What Does Our Port St. Lucie Office Do After a Truck Crash?
Our Port St. Lucie office takes over the parts of a truck claim that injured people have the least time and access to do themselves. A trucking company has adjusters, investigators, and defense lawyers assigned to the crash, and you need people working just as hard for you.
Once you hire us, our work typically includes:
- Contacting the carrier and its insurer so the calls and letters come to us instead of you.
- Sending written demands that the company keep its driver logs, inspection records, and electronic data.
- Obtaining the crash report from the Port St. Lucie Police Department, the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, or the Florida Highway Patrol.
- Bringing in reconstruction specialists when the cause of the crash is disputed.
- Tracking your medical treatment so the full cost of your injuries is documented.
- Negotiating with the insurer and filing suit in St. Lucie County when a fair offer does not come.
Because our office sits on US Highway 1, many clients prefer to meet in person, while others start by phone or video while they recover. Either way, the work begins right away.
Which Trucking Records Can Disappear, and How Fast?
Federal rules require motor carriers to keep certain records only for a limited time, and some vehicle data has no required retention period at all. An injured driver has no way to force a trucking company to hand over its files, but a lawyer can demand that the records be preserved and later obtain them through the court process.
The table below shows several records we request and how long federal rules require carriers to keep them.
| Trucking record | What it can reveal | Federal minimum retention |
|---|---|---|
| Hours-of-service records and supporting documents | Whether the driver was over the legal driving limits or falsified logs | 6 months under 49 CFR 395.8(k) |
| Driver vehicle inspection reports | Defects the driver reported before the trip, such as brakes or lights | 3 months |
| Inspection, repair, and maintenance records | Whether known problems went unrepaired | 1 year, and 6 months after the truck leaves the carrier's control, under 49 CFR 396.3 |
| Driver qualification file | Past violations, training, and medical certification | 3 years after the driver leaves the company |
| Engine data and dash camera video | Speed, braking, and the moments before impact | No federal minimum, so it may be overwritten |
Those retention windows are minimums, and many carriers keep only what the rules require. Our preservation letters go out early so a short deadline does not erase the proof your claim depends on.
Truck Routes Around Port St. Lucie
Truck crashes in Port St. Lucie tend to follow the routes that connect the interstate to the city's growing industrial and commercial areas. Knowing the route helps us figure out which agency responded, which cameras may have recorded the crash, and which companies use that road.
The Interstate and Turnpike Through St. Lucie County
Both highways carry long-haul freight through St. Lucie County, and the I-95 interchanges at Gatlin Boulevard, St. Lucie West Boulevard, and Becker Road see heavy merging traffic. Highway crashes are often handled by the Florida Highway Patrol's Troop L, so the report and the trooper's notes come from a different agency than a crash on a city street.
Legacy Park and the Tradition Area
The industrial parks west of I-95 near Becker Road bring a steady flow of tractor-trailers onto roads built for neighborhood traffic. Wide turns, trucks waiting to enter loading areas, and drivers unfamiliar with new road layouts create risks for nearby commuters.
US Highway 1 and Port St. Lucie Boulevard
Delivery trucks, box trucks, and construction vehicles share these commercial corridors with shoppers and local traffic. Frequent driveways and left turns into businesses lead to broadside and rear-end crashes.
Crosstown Parkway
Crosstown Parkway links the east and west sides of the city across the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. Higher speeds and long stretches between signals can turn a truck driver's lapse into a serious collision.
Who Pays When a Commercial Truck Hits You?
The trucking company's commercial policy usually pays first when a commercial truck causes a crash in Port St. Lucie, but it is rarely the only coverage available. Finding every source matters because some trucks carry less insurance than people assume.
Under section 627.7415, a truck that operates only within Florida and weighs between 26,000 and 35,000 pounds may carry as little as $50,000 per occurrence in combined liability coverage. A serious injury can exceed that amount quickly, which is why we look for every policy that might apply.
Coverage we look for includes:
- The motor carrier's commercial auto policy
- Excess or umbrella coverage above the primary policy
- The truck owner's policy when the truck was leased to another company
- Coverage for a company that loaded the cargo improperly
- Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage
- Your personal injury protection (PIP) for early medical bills and lost income
An insurer has no obligation to point out other coverage that might apply to your claim. We review the contracts, leases, and policies so the full picture is on the table before anyone talks about settlement.
How Do Trucking Insurers Try to Shift the Blame?
Trucking insurers often try to shift part of the blame to the injured driver, because Florida reduces your recovery by your share of fault. A finding that you were more than half responsible wipes out the claim entirely under section 768.81(6), which is why these arguments need a serious answer.
Arguments We Commonly See
Insurers may claim you cut in front of the truck, lingered in its blind spot, braked suddenly, or were looking at your phone. Answering those claims takes the truck's own data, video, and witness accounts, which is exactly the evidence the carrier controls.
How Shared Fault Changes the Numbers
Suppose a tractor-trailer drifts into your lane on Crosstown Parkway, and a jury values your damages at $400,000. Assigning you one-tenth of the blame for drifting a few miles per hour over the limit cuts the award to $360,000. Truck data and video are often what keep a percentage like that from growing.
Deadlines for Port St. Lucie Truck Claims
Florida gives most people injured by negligence on or after March 24, 2023, two years to file suit, as set out in section 95.11(5)(a). A wrongful death claim after a fatal truck crash generally has a two-year deadline as well, measured from the date of death.
Claims Involving Government Vehicles
A crash with a city or county truck follows separate rules, including written notice before a lawsuit and limits on damages. Exceptions and special circumstances can change any deadline, so we confirm the timeline that applies to your case at the start.
Where the Case Is Filed
Truck cases from Port St. Lucie that go to court are usually heard in the St. Lucie County Circuit Court, which belongs to the 19th Judicial Circuit. Our local office means we are close to the court and the community where your case will be heard.
Results for Injured Clients
Several results from our firm's published list involve the kinds of spine and joint injuries truck crashes often cause:
- $573,046.32 for severe spine injuries
- $305,000 for a spinal injury
- $260,000 for a knee injury
- $132,000 for cervical and lumbar injuries
Your claim will be measured by its own evidence, medical records, and insurance, so these amounts are not a prediction of what any future case will bring.
Why Treasure Coast Families Rely on Frankl Kominsky
Truck crash victims in Port St. Lucie rely on Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers because we treat a commercial carrier the way it treats you: as a serious opponent. Our office on US Highway 1 lets you meet with the people working on your case without driving to another county.
When you work with us, you get:
- A lawyer who leads your case personally and returns your calls
- Over $250 million recovered for injured clients across Florida
- 60+ years of combined injury law experience
- An A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and over 2,000 verified client reviews
- Super Lawyers recognition and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum membership
- Staff fluent in Spanish and Creole
Our firm also helps people hurt in crashes with passenger cars, and our car accident attorneys and broader personal injury practice in Port St. Lucie handle those claims from the same office.
Questions About Truck Crashes in St. Lucie County
What if I can't identify the truck that hit me?
If a truck causes a crash in Florida and the driver never stops, your own uninsured motorist coverage may pay for your injuries, depending on your policy's terms. Witness accounts, traffic cameras, and toll or business video can sometimes identify the truck later, which may open the carrier's coverage.
Should I let the trucking company's insurer inspect my car?
You can allow an inspection, but it is wise to document the damage yourself first and avoid letting the vehicle be scrapped or repaired before a specialist working for you sees it. A damaged car can show the angle and force of a truck impact, and once it is gone, that evidence is gone with it.
Can a trucking company's safety record be used in my case?
A carrier's inspection history, past violations, and the way it screened and supervised its driver can be relevant in a Florida truck case, especially to show the company knew of a risk. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration publishes certain carrier safety data, and more detailed records can be requested during a lawsuit.
How can I tell if fatigue played a role in my truck crash?
Fatigue is usually proven by comparing the driver's electronic logs with fuel receipts, delivery records, toll data, and phone activity. Gaps or conflicts between those records can show the driver was on the road longer than the federal hours-of-service rules allow.
Can I recover for anxiety or fear of driving after a truck crash?
Emotional harm such as anxiety, sleep problems, or fear of driving can be part of the damages in a Florida truck accident claim when it flows from the crash and your physical injuries. In most crashes involving a motor vehicle, recovering for pain and suffering also requires showing a permanent injury under Florida's no-fault law.
Back on the Road With Support Behind You
Getting behind the wheel again after a truck crash can feel like a big step, especially on the same highways where it happened. Knowing that someone is handling the insurer, the records, and the deadlines can make the recovery period a little lighter.
Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers is ready to take on the trucking company. Reach our Port St. Lucie truck accident attorneys at 561-800-8000. We are available 24/7, and the consultation is free.
