Florida jury awards $92.3 million in trucking crash case after FMCSA expert testimony

A Florida jury returned a $92.3 million verdict in Gadson v. Smith Construction, et al., a trucking crash case tried in Suwannee County. Truck Accident & Incident Experts, LLC served as the plaintiff’s FMCSA compliance and standards-of-care expert shortly before trial, and attorneys said the testimony helped explain where the trucking company fell short of federal safety standards.

Why it matters: - The $92.3 million verdict underscores how FMCSA compliance and industry safety practices can shape outcomes in commercial truck crash litigation. - Attorneys involved in the case said the award is among the largest ever returned in conservative North Florida venue. - The result highlights the potential impact of late-stage expert testimony when a case turns on trucking safety standards.

What happened: - A Florida jury awarded $92.3 million in Gadson v. Smith Construction, et al., Case No. 2017-54-CA. - The case was tried in the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Florida in Suwannee County. - The lawsuit stemmed from a commercial truck crash that left the plaintiff with lifelong injuries. - Truck Accident & Incident Experts, LLC served as the plaintiff’s FMCSA compliance and Standards of Care expert after being retained shortly before trial. - The firm stepped in after issues arose with a previously retained expert.

The details: - TAIE reviewed evidence quickly and prepared expert opinions on federal trucking regulations and accepted industry safety practices. - During trial, TAIE evaluated the trucking company’s compliance with FMCSA regulations and industry standards. - TAIE also provided testimony on safety practices and operational decisions at issue in the case. - Plaintiff attorney Timothy C. Felice of Felice Trial Attorneys in West Palm Beach said the firm’s testimony explained how a responsible trucking company operates and showed where the defendant fell short. - Scott Turner founded Truck Accident & Incident Experts, LLC. - TAIE provides expert witness services in commercial motor vehicle crash litigation nationwide for both plaintiff and defense counsel. - The firm focuses on FMCSA regulatory compliance and trucking industry Standards of Care. - TAIE is retained in approximately 150 matters each year. - Turner said commercial motor vehicle cases often depend on whether federal safety regulations and accepted industry practices were followed. - Turner said the firm’s role is to evaluate the evidence, apply the applicable standards, and help attorneys and juries understand the facts. - TAIE says its team has a collective 250-plus years of experience. - The firm says its team has inspected or responded to thousands of CMV crashes across all 50 states, Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada. - Turner has been a CMV industry veteran since 1988 and is a Level 1 FMCSA-MCSAP enforcement-trained inspector. - Learn more at the company’s website.

Between the lines: - The case shows how expert witnesses can become central when jurors must decide whether a trucking company met federal safety obligations. - The size of the verdict suggests the plaintiff’s evidence on standards of care and compliance resonated strongly with the jury. - The late retention of TAIE also suggests the plaintiff team needed a fast reset on technical trucking testimony before trial.

What's next: - TAIE will continue serving as an expert witness, litigation support, and regulatory consulting provider in CMV crash and incident matters nationwide. - The verdict could be cited in future trucking cases where FMCSA compliance and safety practices are disputed. - Attorneys in similar cases may look more closely at how quickly an expert can assess records, explain regulations, and connect those standards to the crash facts.

The bottom line: - In trucking litigation, a well-timed expert on federal safety standards can be as important as the crash facts themselves.