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Why This Distinction Matters
Search for almost any question about truck accident claims and you will be given numbers: average settlements, typical timelines, percentage odds. Most of those are derived from unstated samples by people with an interest in the answer, and none of them can be checked.
A different kind of number exists. Some figures in a Florida truck case are not estimates at all — they are written into a statute or a federal regulation, they are the same for everyone, and you can read the source. This post collects them.
What follows is not legal advice and is not a substitute for reading the provisions. Statutes are amended and regulations are revised; each citation below gives you the place to check.
Deadlines
| Figure | Source |
|---|---|
| 2 years | Filing deadline for negligence causes of action accruing on or after March 24, 2023 — Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a). |
| 4 years | The prior deadline, still governing causes of action that accrued before that date, under the superseded § 95.11(3)(a). |
| 14 days | Deadline to begin initial services and care to access PIP benefits — Fla. Stat. § 627.736. |
| 60 days | Period during which crash report information is confidential — Fla. Stat. § 316.066. |
| 8 / 32 hours | Post-accident alcohol and controlled substances testing windows — 49 CFR § 382.303. |
Money
| Figure | Source |
|---|---|
| $10,000 | Standard PIP benefit — Fla. Stat. § 627.736. |
| $2,500 | Reduced PIP limit where no emergency medical condition is determined — same section. |
| $750,000 | Federal minimum liability coverage for general freight carriers — 49 CFR Part 387. Higher for certain hazardous materials. |
| Statutory caps | Damages against government bodies are capped by Fla. Stat. § 768.28, which sets the figures and the mechanism for exceeding them. |
Notice what is absent. There is no statutory figure for what a claim is worth, because no such figure exists. Value depends on the injuries, the treatment, the losses, and the fault allocation in the individual case. Anyone quoting an average is describing a dataset, not your claim.
Fault and Thresholds
| Figure | Source |
|---|---|
| 50% | The share of fault above which recovery is barred entirely — Fla. Stat. § 768.81. At or below, the award is reduced by that share. |
| Permanent injury | The threshold for recovering non-economic damages where PIP applies — Fla. Stat. § 627.737, which states the categories rather than a number. |
| Clear and convincing | The evidentiary standard for punitive damages, with a pleading gateway — Fla. Stat. §§ 768.72 and 768.73. |
Hours, Equipment, and Records
| Figure | Source |
|---|---|
| 11 hours | Maximum driving time after 10 consecutive hours off duty — 49 CFR § 395.3. |
| 14 hours | The on-duty window, which runs continuously once it begins — same section. |
| 10 hours | Consecutive off-duty time required to reset the driving clock — same section. |
| 6 months | Retention of records of duty status and ELD data — 49 CFR §§ 395.8(k)(1) and 395.22. |
| 3 months | Retention of driver vehicle inspection reports — 49 CFR § 396.11. |
| 1 year | Retention of maintenance records while the vehicle is under the carrier's control — 49 CFR § 396.3(c). |
| 14 months | Retention of annual inspection reports — 49 CFR § 396.21(b)(1). |
| 3 years | Retention of the accident register — 49 CFR § 390.15(b)(2). |
| 1998 | Year the FMVSS 223 and 224 rear impact guard standards took effect for newly manufactured trailers. |
The full index, including every provision cited anywhere on this site, is at the statute and regulation index.
How to Use These
- Check the subsection, not just the chapter. The operative language usually lives in the subdivision. § 95.11 alone is not a useful citation; § 95.11(5)(a) is.
- Check the version in force when the cause of action accrued, which is not always the current one. Florida currently runs two parallel negligence regimes for exactly this reason.
- Treat a source that gives no citation as a source that has none. Every number above can be verified in minutes.
- Do not convert a retention period into a deadline for yourself. Six months is how long the carrier must keep records, not how long you have to ask — and asking after it expires may be asking for something that no longer exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average settlement for a Florida truck accident?
How much insurance must a trucking company carry in Florida?
How long do I have to file a Florida truck accident claim?
Why does this site not publish settlement figures?
Shiner Law Group, P.A.
Founded by David I. Shiner, Esq. · AV Preeminent® rated · Florida Bar member since 2002
Shiner Law Group was founded by David I. Shiner, Esq., a Nova Southeastern University law graduate, a member of The Florida Bar since 2002, and AV Preeminent® rated by Martindale-Hubbell. The firm represents injured people across Florida from offices in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Pierce, Orlando, Wellington, and Belle Glade, and handles truck accident cases on contingency: free consultations, and no fee unless there is a recovery.
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