Truck accidents are some of the scariest crashes on California’s roads. Trucks weigh much more than passenger vehicles, and when the two collide, it’s those in the smaller vehicle who suffer the worst injuries.
It can take months, and sometimes even years, to recover from a truck accident. Some individuals never make a full recovery, and tragically, families sometimes lose loved ones to these senseless accidents.
It takes courage to push forward with your life after a devastating truck accident. It takes courage to stay tough through painful medical treatments. It takes courage to fight aggressive trucking companies and insurers.
After a crash with a big rig, delivery truck or work truck, these steps help protect your health and your claim:
Who pays for a truck crash depends on what caused it, and more than one party may share responsibility:
Sorting out who was driving for whom, and under whose operating authority, takes a careful look at the records. That is why we start investigating early.
A commercial truck crash usually involves more than one driver and one insurance company. The trucking company, the company that loaded the cargo, a maintenance shop, a broker, or the owner of the trailer may share responsibility. Interstate carriers must follow federal safety rules, including hours-of-service limits (49 CFR Part 395), driver qualification and drug-testing rules, and inspection and maintenance requirements. Federal rules also set minimum insurance levels for many interstate carriers (49 CFR 387.9), which are often much higher than a typical car policy.
Some of this data can be overwritten or discarded in the ordinary course of business. Sending a written preservation (spoliation) letter early is one of the first things we do.
Many of our truck cases come from the freeways that carry freight through Southern California: I-5 and I-405 through Orange County, SR-91 between Orange County and Riverside, I-15 and I-215 through the Inland Empire, SR-60, and I-10 through the San Gorgonio Pass into the Coachella Valley. The Inland Empire’s warehouse and distribution centers also put heavy trucks on local streets, where wide right turns, blind spots and backing crashes are common. Freeway crashes are usually investigated by the California Highway Patrol, which has commercial vehicle enforcement units. See our I-10 San Gorgonio Pass guide.
Depending on the facts, a claim may include past and future medical care, lost income and earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering. When a truck crash causes a death, certain family members may bring a wrongful death claim (Code of Civil Procedure 377.60). California’s pure comparative fault rule applies, and most lawsuits must be filed within two years (CCP 335.1); claims involving a public agency often require a written claim within six months (Government Code 911.2). We cannot promise any result — every case depends on its own facts.
The driver, the trucking company, a cargo loader, a maintenance company, the owner of the truck or trailer, or a parts manufacturer, depending on what caused the crash.
It is usually wise to speak with a lawyer before giving a recorded statement. Trucking insurers often respond to crashes very quickly.
Responsibility can still extend to the motor carrier or other companies depending on the contracts, the operating authority, and who controlled the work.
Yes. Crashes with delivery vans, box trucks, pickup trucks used for work, and other commercial vehicles often involve commercial insurance policies.
Orange County: call (949) 989-2511. Riverside, the Inland Empire and the Coachella Valley: call (951) 583-1900. Text (949) 776-8964 any time — we answer 24/7 and the first consultation is free. Our office staff speaks Spanish and Farsi. We work on contingency, so you pay no attorney fees unless we recover money for you. Related: car accidents, catastrophic injuries, Riverside car accidents, case results, en español.
Attorney Advertising. General information only, not legal advice; contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
If you were hurt in a truck crash, Contact us for a free consultation. Attorney Suzannah Tafreshi and our team will listen to what happened, explain your options in plain language, and tell you honestly what we think. Our office staff speaks Spanish and Farsi.
We have offices in Fountain Valley (18837 Brookhurst St, Ste 207), Lake Forest (22600 Lambert St, Ste 1501) and Riverside (4121 Brockton Ave, Ste 101). Call (949) 989-2511 in Orange County or (951) 583-1900 in the Inland Empire, or text (949) 776-8964.
