Hurt in a FedEx Truck Crash? Talk to a Florida Lawyer Before the Insurance Adjuster Does.

An insurance adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you. After a crash, the adjuster’s job is to settle the claim for the insurer. Often, they try to do this quickly.

If an adjuster is calling about a FedEx truck crash, you do not have to respond without a plan. This guide explains what to say, what to avoid, what to protect, and which Florida rules may apply.

CHG Personal Injury Lawyers is a Florida-based personal injury firm. We help people hurt in crashes across Florida.

Why the Insurance Company Is Calling So Soon After a FedEx Truck Crash

An adjuster’s job is to evaluate and resolve claims for the insurer. That goal is not the same as protecting your interests.

Insurers often reach out within days of a crash. The first contact may be a phone call, a letter asking for a recorded statement, or an early settlement offer.

Insurers tend to move fast. But your injuries, medical bills, and lost work may take months to become clear. An offer made before that picture forms may not cover the care you need later.

That gap is the main reason to slow down. Review each request before you respond.

Who the Insurance Company Might Be After a FedEx Truck Crash

More than one insurer can be involved in a FedEx truck crash. The first task is finding out whose coverage may pay.

Several parties may play a role:

• The truck’s driver
• The company operating the truck
• A delivery contractor
• Your own auto insurer

Knowing your options early after an accident can help you make informed decisions. Within 30 days of your written request, each liability insurer must provide a sworn statement. A sworn statement is a written statement signed under oath. Under Florida law, within 30 days of a claimant’s written request, the insurer must provide a sworn statement that lists the insurer’s name, the name of each insured, the coverage limits, a statement of any policy or coverage defense the insurer reasonably believes is available, and a copy of the policy (Fla. Stat. § 627.4137).

Florida’s no-fault system also matters. Personal injury protection (PIP) is your own coverage. It pays certain medical bills and lost income first. PIP does not cover every loss. A separate claim against the at-fault party may be needed for the rest.

Florida law also generally requires you to first obtain a settlement or verdict against the insured. Only then can you bring a claim directly against the liability insurer (Fla. Stat. § 627.4136).

If the at-fault driver’s coverage is not enough, your own underinsured motorist coverage may apply. This coverage pays when the at-fault driver has too little insurance (Fla. Stat. § 627.727).

What to Say and What to Avoid When an Adjuster Calls

Stay polite. Confirm who is calling. Avoid guessing about fault, speed, or injuries.

You can always pause the call and call back.

Write down the adjuster’s name, company, phone number, and claim number. If you are not ready to talk, say so. Ask when you can call back.

An insurer may ask for a recorded statement. You can ask for more time before you give one. You can also ask for your lawyer to be present.

Common mistakes include:

• Guessing about speed, distance, or who was at fault.
• Calling your injuries “fine” when pain continues.
• Discussing past medical history without context.
• Signing medical authorizations, releases, or settlement papers before your injuries are known.

Insurers can also ask you to attend an independent medical examination (an exam by a doctor the insurer chooses). Many people have questions about personal injury protection (PIP) insurance after a car accident, and a conversation with our team can help you understand how it may apply to your situation.

Keep every follow-up visit your doctor recommends. Follow your doctors’ care.

Keep a written log of every call, letter, and offer. Include dates and names.

Evidence to Protect Before the Insurer Changes the Story

The strongest evidence is what you gather in the first days. That includes photos, the police report, witness names, and your medical records.

Evidence from the truck itself can be just as important. It can also disappear.

Photograph both vehicles, the road, traffic signs, and your injuries. Write down the names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the crash. Keep pay stubs and records of time missed from work.

Florida’s long-form crash report must be submitted within 10 days after the investigating officer completes the investigation of a crash that resulted in death of, personal injury to, or any indication of complaints of pain or discomfort by any party or passenger (Fla. Stat. § 316.066). The report lists the parties and their insurance companies. Under Fla. Stat. § 316.066(1)(b), crash reports held by the agency may be made immediately available to the parties involved in the crash and their legal representatives, but not for redistribution to anyone the statute does not list.

Large commercial trucks often carry electronic logging device records. These devices automatically record data. That data includes date, time, location, engine hours, and vehicle miles. Under 49 C.F.R. § 395.26, when the driver indicates authorized personal use of the truck, engine hours and vehicle miles are left blank in hourly recordings, and location is recorded only within roughly a 10-mile radius.

Ask the company to preserve these records early. Federal rules allow records to be kept by any technology. The technology must accurately reflect the information and stay accessible (49 C.F.R. § 379.7).

Florida Deadlines and What Insurers May Offer

Florida law generally sets a two-year deadline to file a negligence lawsuit, so contact the firm promptly to protect your rights (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a)).

Other deadlines can apply, depending on the defendant and the facts. Act promptly.

Florida’s comparative fault rule matters too. Comparative fault means each party’s share of blame is measured. Under Fla. Stat. § 768.81, in a negligence action a party found more than 50 percent at fault for their own harm may not recover any damages, but this rule does not apply to personal injury or wrongful death actions arising out of medical negligence under chapter 766.

Courts enter judgment against each liable party by that party’s percentage of fault. Under Fla. Stat. § 768.81, in a negligence action the court shall enter judgment against each party liable on the basis of that party’s percentage of fault and not on the basis of the doctrine of joint and several liability; the section does not apply to any action brought to recover actual economic damages resulting from pollution, to any action based upon an intentional tort, or to any cause of action as to which joint and several liability is specifically provided by chapter 403, chapter 498, chapter 517, chapter 542, or chapter 895. That is why an adjuster’s fault percentage deserves careful review.

An early offer often comes before doctors know the full extent of your injuries. Accepting a settlement usually ends the claim.

Before you decide, compare any offer against your total damages. Under Fla. Stat. § 768.81, economic damages means past lost income and future lost income reduced to present value; medical and funeral expenses; lost support and services; replacement value of lost personal property; loss of appraised fair market value of real property; costs of construction repairs, including labor, overhead, and profit; and any other economic loss that would not have occurred but for the injury giving rise to the cause of action.

No one can say in advance what your claim will be worth.

When to Involve a Lawyer After a FedEx Truck Crash

Talk with a lawyer early if:

• Your injuries are serious.
• Fault is disputed.
• Several insurers are involved.
• An adjuster pushes for a quick decision.

You do not need to wait until a lawsuit is filed.

Situations that often call for legal help include:

• Spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, or severe burns.
• A fatal crash, where a family may have wrongful death questions.
• Disputed fault or conflicting statements about what happened.
• Multiple insurers, or policy limits that may not cover your losses.

At the start, a Florida personal injury lawyer can communicate with insurers. The lawyer can request records and evidence. The lawyer can also review the claim under Florida rules.

CHG Personal Injury Lawyers is a Florida-based firm. We serve people throughout Florida, including Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville. Igor Hernandez is the responsible lawyer for this page. He is one of the firm’s lawyers.

The firm offers a free, confidential initial consultation with no obligation to continue. CHG charges no attorney’s fees and no case costs unless there is a recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance Adjusters After a FedEx Truck Crash

Next Step: Talk With CHG About Your FedEx Truck Crash Claim

If an adjuster has called, asked for a recorded statement, or sent an offer, you do not have to respond alone. This may be true even before your medical picture is clear.

A free consultation can help you review the insurer’s requests. It can also help you understand the Florida deadlines that may apply. You can focus on your recovery while we handle the details.

Contact CHG Personal Injury Lawyers for your free consultation.