Hurt in a Crash With a FedEx Contract Driver? You Don't Have to Sort Out the Claim Alone.

If a FedEx truck hurt you or someone you love, you may still have a claim. This is true even when the driver is a contract driver. Many FedEx-branded trucks are driven by independent contractors, not FedEx employees. That makes the question of responsibility important.

This guide explains who may be involved in a FedEx contract driver truck accident lawsuit. It covers the Florida rules that apply. It also explains what to do next.

CHG Personal Injury Lawyers is a Florida-based firm. We serve people throughout Florida, including Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville.

What a FedEx Contract Driver Crash Means for Your Claim

A FedEx contract driver crash happens when the truck’s driver works as an independent contractor. The driver is not a FedEx employee. This difference changes who may be sued. It does not end the analysis.

It is normal to feel unsure about who is responsible. Most people hurt in a crash focus on their health. They do not focus on how a company is organized.

This page is written for:

• Florida residents hurt in a crash with a FedEx-branded truck.
• Family members of someone killed or seriously hurt in such a crash.

A driver’s job title is only one piece of the picture. Claims look at several things:

• Who hired the driver
• Who controlled the work
• Who owned the truck
• How deliveries were scheduled

If you do not know who employed the driver, you are not alone. These details can often be learned through the crash report, insurance information, and records requests.

Who Can Be Held Responsible After a FedEx Truck Crash

More than one party may be responsible after a crash. Whether FedEx itself can be named is a question for investigation. It is not an assumption.

Parties that may be examined include:

• The contract driver, whose driving may have caused the crash.
• The business that hired or contracted the driver.
• The company whose brand and delivery network the driver operates under.
• The truck’s owner or lessor.
• Maintenance, loading, or other contractors, where the facts support it.

Hiring decisions can matter too. In 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC. The Court held that a state-law negligent-hiring claim against a broker that selected an unsafe carrier falls within a federal safety exception. That case involved a broker, not FedEx. It shows that hiring decisions can be part of a claim.

Insurance also plays a role. Federal law directs the Secretary of Transportation to set minimum financial responsibility levels for motor carriers. Policy limits can affect how much money is available. For this reason, coverage should be reviewed early.

Common Causes of FedEx Truck Crashes

Truck crash claims often look at fatigue, hours of service, distraction, and vehicle condition. Every claim turns on its own facts, and a review of your case can explain which points apply to your situation. They are not conclusions.

• Fatigue and driving hours. Federal rules limit how long a property-carrying driver may drive. A driver may not drive after 14 consecutive hours that follow 10 hours off duty. Except for drivers who qualify for certain short-haul exceptions, a driver may not drive once more than 8 hours of driving time have passed without at least a consecutive 30-minute interruption in driving status (49 C.F.R. § 395.3).
• Impaired alertness. Federal rules bar driving when fatigue, illness, or another cause makes alertness unsafe (49 C.F.R. § 392.3).
• Distraction and delivery pressure. Claims may allege phone use, rushed schedules, speeding, unsafe lane changes, or rushed backing.
• Maintenance and loading. Claims may examine brakes, tires, and how cargo was loaded and weighed.

Records matter a great deal. The record can be electronic or on paper. Carriers must keep these records for at least 6 months (49 C.F.R. § 395.8). Carriers must also investigate each driver’s safety performance history with Department of Transportation regulated employers during the preceding three years (49 C.F.R. § 391.23).

What a Claim May Cover: Damages and Settlements

A FedEx contract driver truck accident lawsuit may seek money for several losses. These include medical care, lost income, and the harm an injury causes to daily life. Possible losses include:

• Medical bills, rehabilitation, and future care
• Lost wages and reduced ability to earn
• Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life
• Property damage and transportation costs

Families of someone who was killed have additional rights. Florida’s Wrongful Death Act covers these claims, starting with Fla. Stat. § 768.16.

Under Fla. Stat. § 768.21, survivors may recover lost support and services. A surviving spouse may recover for loss of companionship and for mental pain and suffering. Minor children may recover for lost parental companionship, instruction, and guidance. A survivor who paid medical or funeral expenses may recover those costs.

Settlement values vary widely. They depend on the injuries, the evidence, and the coverage available. No amount can be predicted or promised. Most truck claims are resolved through negotiation. A lawsuit may follow if a fair resolution is not reached.

Florida Deadlines and Rules That Affect Your Claim

Florida sets filing deadlines in its statutes. A missed deadline can bar a claim. The timing rules appear in Fla. Stat. § 95.11. Time limits differ by claim type. That is why reaching out promptly matters.

Florida also applies comparative fault. This law divides fault among everyone who contributed to a crash (Fla. Stat. § 768.81). If you share some fault, your own share reduces what you recover, but if you are found more than 50 percent at fault for your own harm, you may not recover any damages (except in medical negligence actions under chapter 766) (Fla. Stat. § 768.81).

Crash evidence can disappear. Trucking records, dashcam footage, and vehicle data may be lost or overwritten. Federal rules allow records to be kept using any technology that accurately reproduces them (49 C.F.R. § 379.7). Early requests to preserve evidence matter.

Follow your doctors’ care. Keep records of treatment, bills, and missed work. These records help show what the injury has cost.

What to Expect: Step by Step With Our Team

The process starts with a free, confidential, no-obligation first consultation. We review the crash and your injuries during this meeting.

1. Consultation. We listen to the facts of the crash, your injuries, and who was involved.
2. Investigation. We request that trucking, dispatch, and vehicle records be preserved. We also gather police reports. Our team may work with accident reconstruction professionals and medical providers.
3. Identifying parties. We work to identify each party and insurer that may be responsible. Then we present the claim with supporting documents.
4. Negotiation or suit. We negotiate first. If a fair resolution is not reached, we can file suit in the proper Florida court.

CHG charges no attorney’s fees and no case costs unless there is a recovery.

Complex truck cases often take months or longer. No timeline can be promised. Every case moves at its own pace.

Why Work With CHG Personal Injury Lawyers

CHG Personal Injury Lawyers is a Florida-based firm. Its practice focuses on truck accidents, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death claims. The firm also handles other personal injury cases.

Igor Hernandez is the responsible lawyer for this page. He is one of the firm’s licensed Florida attorneys. Our lawyers and support staff work together on each matter.

The firm represents clients throughout Florida. We also publish educational resources in English and Spanish for families who prefer Spanish.

We cannot promise any result. Each case turns on its own facts. We explain what we find as we go.

Frequently Asked Questions