Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | October 7, 2026 | Truck Accidents
Merging Trucks, Blind Spots, and Your Right to Compensation on I-4 Key Takeaways: When a truck merges into your car on I-4 in Orlando, the truck driver is often the main party at fault, but the trucking carrier, the truck’s owner or lessor, maintenance providers, and cargo loaders may also share liability. Blind spots generally… read more
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | September 26, 2026 | Truck Accidents
The Trucking Paperwork That Can Decide Your Palm Bay Injury Claim Key Takeaways: A driver qualification file (DQ file) is the federally required personnel record a motor carrier must keep for every commercial driver under 49 C.F.R. part 391, containing employment applications, motor vehicle records, prior employer verifications, road test certificates, medical certificates, and annual… read more
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | September 24, 2026 | Truck Accidents
A New Door Opens for Brevard County Families After a Brokered-Load Crash Key Takeaways: On May 14, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC that state-law negligent hiring claims against freight brokers are not preempted by the FAAAA because they fall within the statute’s safety exception. For Melbourne… read more
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | September 22, 2026 | Truck Accidents
Why Federal Drug and Alcohol Testing Rules Matter After a Lakeland Truck Wreck Key Takeaways: Post-accident drug and alcohol testing is federally mandated under 49 CFR §382.303, with collection procedures governed by 49 CFR Part 40. Testing is required when a crash involves a fatality, but for injury or tow-away crashes it’s generally required only… read more
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | September 17, 2026 | Truck Accidents
When Freight Moves, Everything Changes: Building Proof After a Shifting Load Crash Key Takeaways: Proving a load shift caused your Orlando truck accident injuries requires connecting a statutory duty, breach, and reconstruction evidence. Florida’s FL Sec. 316.520 requires vehicles be loaded so cargo cannot shift, drop, or escape. Proof comes from bills of lading, securement… read more
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | September 13, 2026 | Truck Accidents
The Federal Safety Data Behind Every Commercial Truck on I-4 Key Takeaways: CSA scores are FMCSA safety measurements from roadside inspections, crashes, and investigations that can reveal a carrier’s pattern of regulatory failures predating your collision. Under Fla. Stat. § 768.81, damages in negligence actions are apportioned by fault percentage and may be barred entirely… read more
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | September 4, 2026 | Truck Accidents
When a Trailer’s Rear Guard Fails to Stop a Car From Sliding Underneath Key Takeaways: An underride guard failure truck accident occurs when a passenger vehicle slides beneath a tractor-trailer because the steel guard meant to block intrusion bends, breaks, or was inadequate, turning a survivable impact into catastrophic injury. These crashes are common on… read more
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | August 18, 2026 | Truck Accidents
Understanding the Insurance Safety Net Behind Big-Rig Crashes Key Takeaways: The MCS-90 endorsement is a federally mandated attachment to a motor carrier’s insurance policy that guarantees injured members of the public can collect a judgment even when the carrier’s underlying coverage falls short. Created under the Motor Carrier Act of 1980, it functions as a… read more
zleacox@nordenleacox.com | August 6, 2026 | Truck Accidents
Understanding Florida’s Truck Driver Break Requirements Key Takeaways: Orlando truck drivers must take a 30-minute rest break under federal FMCSA rules after 8 cumulative hours of driving without interruption. The break must be 30 consecutive minutes but can combine off-duty, sleeper berth, and on-duty not driving statuses like fueling or roadside inspections. Florida adopts these… read more
zleacox@nordenleacox.com | July 21, 2026 | Truck Accidents
Understanding Trucking Company Accountability After a Melbourne Crash Key Takeaways: Yes, a trucking company in Melbourne can be held liable for negligent hiring when it places a dangerous or unqualified driver behind the wheel and that decision contributes to a crash. Florida recognizes negligent hiring as a distinct claim under Chapter 768, with § 768.096… read more
