Miami Commercial Vehicle Accidents
A Miami commercial vehicle accident can leave you facing mounting medical bills, lost paychecks, and exhausting insurance battles. You don’t need to face these challenges alone. Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers is ready to stand by your side and put decades of experience to work for you.
We’ve achieved many positive results for victims of commercial vehicle accidents, including $10 million for a client who was run over by a garbage truck. If you or a loved one was injured in a crash with a commercial vehicle, call 305-363-7099 or fill out our online form for a free case evaluation today.
Reviewed by: James D. Payer
Table of Contents
- Recent Miami Accidents Show the Dangers of Commercial Vehicles
- Why Commercial Vehicle Crashes Are More Devastating Than Regular Car Wrecks
- What Are the Most Common Types of Commercial Vehicles Involved in Crashes in Miami?
- Who Pays After a Truck or Delivery Van Crash in Miami?
- Immediate Steps To Protect Your Health and Claim
- What Compensation Looks Like in a Miami Commercial Vehicle Case
- How Payer Law Builds Winning Commercial Vehicle Cases
Recent Miami Accidents Show the Dangers of Commercial Vehicles
On July 18, 2024, a tractor-trailer was driving south on I-75 when it left the roadway, hit a guardrail, and collided with an overpass’s structural pillars. The vehicle caught fire, and the driver died at the scene. The crash caused all southbound express lanes to be closed.
Another incident that occurred on April 18, 2025, caused 200 gallons of fuel to spill onto the roadway. The chain-reaction crash involving four vehicles caused a fuel tanker to overturn on I-95 northbound near State Road 112 in Miami-Dade County. One person was injured, and extensive resources were needed to manage the spill and divert traffic.
These incidents illustrate the threat that large commercial vehicles pose to others on the road. The risk is particularly high on I-95, the Palmetto Expressway, and routes near PortMiami due to their heavy box truck and freight traffic. These routes play a key role in moving goods from South Florida’s ports to and from the rest of the nation, but their commercial traffic makes serious crashes a major risk.
Why Commercial Vehicle Crashes Are More Devastating Than Regular Car Wrecks
A commercial vehicle is any vehicle used for business purposes, such as box trucks, Amazon or FedEx delivery vans, and utility pickup trucks. Crashes involving these vehicles carry a higher risk of severe injury or death than typical Miami car accidents.
The main reason for the difference is their heavier weight. Vehicles with more mass take longer to stop, which means collisions often happen at higher speeds.
Passenger vehicle occupants suffer most of the serious injuries and fatalities in these crashes. Looking at 2023 data on Florida traffic crashes, only 0.36 percent of occupants in medium or heavy trucks suffered fatal or incapacitating injuries, compared to 1.33 percent of occupants of passenger cars. The large frame of commercial vehicles often protects passengers and drivers from significant harm, while smaller vehicles absorb much of the crash force.
Commercial vehicle insurance limits are often significantly higher than standard auto insurance policies to account for these severe outcomes. Florida’s no-fault insurance system requires victims to seek compensation from their own insurance policies first. However, those who suffer serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, can often file a claim with the commercial vehicle driver’s liability insurance.
What Are the Most Common Types of Commercial Vehicles Involved in Crashes in Miami?
Certain types of commercial vehicles are particularly likely to get into crashes in Miami, including:
- Box trucks
- Delivery vans
- Tractor-trailers
- Utility trucks
- Passenger buses
- Waste management trucks
- Tow trucks
Who Pays After a Truck or Delivery Van Crash in Miami?
The liable party is responsible for paying for the victim’s damages after an accident with a commercial vehicle in Miami. Any of these parties may be liable if their negligence caused the crash:
The driver of the commercial vehicle
If the driver was speeding, distracted, or intoxicated, they may be liable for the accident. They may also be liable if they drove while fatigued and violated federal hours of service regulations.
The Driver’s Employer
The trucking company may be liable for poor hiring, training, or supervision practices if those failures contributed to the crash. For example, the employer may have violated safety regulations by hiring a driver with a suspended license or encouraging drivers to drive past hours of service limits.
The Maintenance Provider
If a mechanical issue caused the crash, a maintenance shop could be at fault for improper inspections or repairs.
The Cargo Loader
The company or contractor responsible for loading the vehicle might be liable if unbalanced or unsecured cargo contributed to the accident.
The Vehicle or Parts Manufacturer
If a defective truck part contributed to the crash, the manufacturer may be responsible for the damages.
How Comparative Fault Affects Liability
Under Florida’s comparative fault rule, you cannot recover damages from the other parties if you’re more than 50 percent at fault for the accident. If you’re less than 51 percent at fault, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you.
For example, if the crash is 30 percent your fault and 70 percent the trucking company’s fault, you can still recover compensation, but it will be reduced by 30 percent. That means if your total damages were $100,000, you would receive $70,000.
When pursuing a claim for injuries after a commercial vehicle accident, you’ll want to prove that the other party was primarily responsible for the accident. Dashcam footage, black box data, witness statements, maintenance or driver log records, and other forms of evidence can reduce the percentage of fault assigned to you and maximize your compensation. The sooner you contact our Miami car accident lawyers, the better equipped we’ll be to collect this evidence before it fades.
Immediate Steps To Protect Your Health and Claim
Your actions immediately after a commercial vehicle accident can make all the difference in your claim’s outcome. Do the following to protect your health and legal rights:
- Call 911.
- Take photos of the accident scene, and collect any available dashcam footage you or witnesses may have.
- Visit the doctor within 14 days, even if your symptoms are mild.
- Keep receipts for any accident-related out-of-pocket expenses.
- Don’t talk to the other party’s insurance company until you have a Miami car accident lawyer on your side.
Contact our Miami commercial vehicle accident lawyers using our twenty four hour a day, seven days a week phone line so we can quickly secure evidence from the crash, including black box data.
What Compensation Looks Like in a Miami Commercial Vehicle Case
- Past and future medical expenses beyond your PIP policy limit
- Lost wages for the work you missed while recovering
- Lost earning capacity for the injury’s long-term impact on your ability to work
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death benefits, such as funeral expenses
How Payer Law Builds Winning Commercial Vehicle Cases
Our firm takes a hands-on approach to every case, starting with a thorough investigation. We partner with accident reconstruction experts, subpoena the trucking company to access black box data, interview witnesses, and more to create a compelling case from the ground up.
Founding attorney James D. Payer has over 30 years of experience fighting for victims of Miami commercial vehicle accidents. He and his bilingual team assist both English- and Spanish-speaking clients with every step of the legal process. While you focus on your recovery, we’ll be busy seeking fair compensation on your behalf.
We’re ready to help if you or a loved one was harmed in a commercial vehicle accident. Speak with a Miami commercial vehicle accident lawyer now—call 305-363-7099 for your free case review.
12000 Biscayne Blvd STE 503
Miami, FL 33181
(305) 363-7099
Hours: Open 24 hours daily
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- What to Do After a Car Accident
- Timeline to File a Car Accident Claim
- Recovering Lost Wages After a Crash
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