Hurt in a FedEx Truck Crash? Here Is What to Do Next

If a FedEx truck was part of your crash in West Palm Beach, you may have a claim for your injuries or for a loss your family has suffered. The steps you take early can decide what evidence survives and how well your claim is documented.

Driving near Clematis Street or along Okeechobee Boulevard is busy enough. Taking on a delivery company’s insurance team by yourself can feel like crossing Okeechobee at rush hour with no crosswalk.

This guide explains what to do first, why truck crashes differ from ordinary car accidents, and how Florida law treats fault, family losses, and deadlines. It is written for people who were hurt and for families who lost someone.

If a FedEx Truck Was Involved in Your Crash in West Palm Beach

The first priority after a FedEx truck crash is your health. The second is protecting the records that show what happened.

Start with a medical evaluation, and follow your doctors’ care. Tell every provider about every symptom, even the ones that seem small. Keep a list of your appointments and the names of the people who treat you.

Get the police crash report number. When a law enforcement officer investigates a crash that causes injury, death, or complaints of pain, or that involves a commercial motor vehicle, Florida requires a long-form crash report, and it must be submitted within 10 days after the investigation is completed. The parties involved, their legal representatives, and their insurers can access that report (Fla. Stat. § 316.066).

Also collect photos, the names and phone numbers of witnesses, and the truck’s company name and unit number if you can see them. Save bills, pay stubs, and records of missed work.

Expect the trucking company’s insurer to call you early. You can speak with a lawyer before you give any recorded statement. An insurer’s friendly voice is not the same as advice for your side.

CHG Personal Injury Lawyers is a Florida-based personal injury firm that serves people in West Palm Beach and throughout Palm Beach County. Igor Hernandez is the responsible lawyer for this page.

FedEx Truck Crashes Reported Around West Palm Beach

Local news reports describe several recent crashes involving FedEx trucks in South Florida. News reports do not decide who was at fault.

One report described a FedEx truck that collided with an SUV on Florida’s Turnpike at Interstate 595. One person was killed and one was injured. Another described a multi-vehicle crash involving semi-trucks on the Turnpike near Lake Worth Beach. A CBS12 report dated July 26, 2026, said a train struck a FedEx truck, and its driver and a passenger were taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Police reports, investigations, and court records determine liability. A news account of what happened at a scene is a starting point, not a verdict.

These patterns matter to residents. Delivery trucks share busy highways, merge lanes, and rail crossings with commuters every day. A crash can happen in seconds, and the records that explain it can disappear quickly.

Why a FedEx Truck Crash Is Different From an Ordinary Car Accident

A crash with a commercial truck usually involves more federal rules, more companies, and more records than a typical car crash.

Weight matters first. A loaded tractor-trailer is far heavier than a passenger vehicle. The same impact can do much more damage to the people in the smaller vehicle.

Federal rules limit how long commercial drivers may work and drive. A driver may not drive without first taking 10 consecutive hours off duty. Under 49 C.F.R. § 395.3, except as otherwise provided in § 395.1, a driver of a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle may not drive without first taking 10 consecutive hours off duty, may not drive after a period of 14 consecutive hours after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty, and may drive a total of 11 hours during that 14-hour period. The same rule also caps weekly on-duty time at 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days, depending on how often the carrier runs trucks.

Many trucks use electronic logging devices. These devices automatically record data such as date, time, location, engine hours, and vehicle miles (49 C.F.R. § 395.26). While a truck is moving, the device records an entry about once an hour if no other entry was made.

Motor carriers must keep their vehicles in safe operating condition at all times (49 C.F.R. § 396.3). They must also keep maintenance and inspection records for 1 year where the vehicle is housed, and for 6 months after the truck leaves their control.

That retention window is why timing matters. Ask for these records early and in writing, and keep copies of every request you send.

Who May Be Liable in a FedEx Truck Crash

More than one person or company may share responsibility after a FedEx truck crash.

The driver may be responsible if he or she was careless. The company that employed or contracted the driver may be responsible too. A maintenance provider may share fault if a brake or tire problem was missed. Another driver, or a property owner whose conduct contributed, may also be part of the picture.

Many FedEx routes are run by delivery service contractors. In some crashes, more than one party may be connected to the harm, and the facts of each situation determine who may be responsible. This depends on the facts of each crash.

Florida does not make every at-fault party pay the whole amount. A court enters judgment against each party based on that party’s percentage of fault (Fla. Stat. § 768.81).

In May 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC that a state-law claim against a broker who negligently hired an unsafe motor carrier falls within a federal safety exception. That means such a claim is not blocked by federal preemption. How it applies to any one crash depends on its facts.

Sometimes the crash is not the whole story. If a vehicle’s design or safety equipment made injuries worse, a claim may involve the maker of that part. Investigators also review road conditions, such as lane closures or missing signs.

When a Fatal Crash Changes Everything for a Family

Florida’s wrongful death law keeps the at-fault party liable for damages even when the injured person dies, if the event would have entitled that person to maintain an action and recover damages had death not ensued (Fla. Stat. § 768.19).

A sudden death on a West Palm Beach road can bring grief, bills, and hard decisions all at once. The legal process can feel overwhelming, and a family should not have to carry it alone.

Florida’s damages law lists what survivors may recover (Fla. Stat. § 768.21). A surviving spouse may recover loss of companionship and protection, plus mental pain and suffering. Minor children may recover lost parental companionship, instruction, and guidance. Each parent of a deceased minor child may recover mental pain and suffering. A survivor who paid medical or funeral bills may recover those costs. The estate, through its personal representative, may recover the decedent’s lost earnings from the date of injury to the date of death, less lost support of survivors.

Families can take steps now. Keep the police report, any footage, and the victim’s personal belongings. Make a list of expenses. Speak with a lawyer before giving recorded statements to any insurer.

Catastrophic Injuries From Commercial Truck Crashes

Truck crashes can cause catastrophic injuries that change daily life for a long time.

Some of the most serious injuries include traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries that cause paralysis, amputation, severe burns, and serious back and neck injuries. Each one can bring long-term medical care, adaptive equipment, home changes, and time away from work.

Families often need to plan for years, not months. Follow your medical team’s treatment plan. Tell your lawyer about every provider you see, so the full picture of your care is documented.

Our firm handles catastrophic injury claims and truck accident claims for people across Florida, including West Palm Beach.

Florida Deadlines and Why Timing Matters

Florida sets filing deadlines for injury claims, and missing one can end a claim.

Florida’s limitations statute, Fla. Stat. § 95.11, sets the time limits for filing. Those limits depend on the type of claim. Do not assume you have more time than you do.

Florida also reduces recovery based on the injured person’s share of fault. Under § 768.81, in a negligence action to which this section applies, a person found greater than 50 percent at fault for his or her own harm may not recover any damages, but this does not apply to an action for personal injury or wrongful death arising out of medical negligence under chapter 766. Documenting the facts early helps protect your claim.

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

Talk With CHG About Your West Palm Beach FedEx Truck Crash

If you were hurt, or lost someone, in a FedEx truck accident, the next weeks matter. Gather your police report number, medical records, bills, and any photos or notes you have.

If a FedEx truck crash has left you or a loved one facing these questions, reach out to CHG Personal Injury Lawyers through our contact page for a free case evaluation. Igor Hernandez is the responsible lawyer for this page, and the first consultation is confidential and carries no obligation to continue.