Truck crashes often cause devastating harm, leaving victims and families struggling to recover while trying to hold negligent parties accountable. When a large commercial vehicle collides with a smaller car, the results can be catastrophic.
Working with a Los Angeles truck accident lawyer from Greenberg Gross can make a meaningful difference in your ability to pursue compensation for your injuries, losses, and future care needs. Our attorneys handle every stage of the claim process, from investigating the crash to standing up to insurance companies that attempt to minimize what they owe.
Contact us now for a free consultation about your claim and learn how we can help.
Key Takeaways: Truck Accidents in Los Angeles
Truck collisions often involve multiple liable parties, including drivers, trucking companies, and maintenance contractors.
Federal and state regulations govern commercial trucking, and violations can help establish fault.
Victims can pursue compensation for both financial losses and personal hardships caused by the crash.
Evidence such as black box data, driver logs, and maintenance records plays a key role in proving negligence.
Acting quickly after a truck accident helps preserve evidence and protect your right to file a claim.
What Makes Truck Accidents Different from Car Accidents?
Truck accidents differ from typical car crashes because of the size, weight, and regulation of commercial vehicles. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why legal representation often matters in such cases.
Multiple Liable Parties in Commercial Truck Crashes
Truck collisions rarely involve just one responsible person. Liability may extend to the driver, the trucking company, or even a third-party maintenance crew. Each entity has different insurance policies and obligations, which makes identifying all responsible parties essential for building a strong claim.
Federal and State Regulations Governing Trucking Companies
Commercial trucking operates under federal and California laws designed to protect public safety. These rules cover how long a driver can operate a truck, maintenance schedules, weight limits, and drug testing. When companies ignore these regulations, their negligence can serve as key evidence in a claim.
Severity of Injuries in Truck Collisions
Because of the force involved in truck crashes, injuries are often life-altering. Victims may need extensive medical treatment, long-term rehabilitation, or assistive care. These factors significantly affect the overall value of a personal injury claim.
Complex Insurance Coverage Issues
Commercial trucking policies often provide millions of dollars in coverage. However, insurers may dispute claims to protect their profits. They may try to shift blame or argue that your injuries existed before the crash. Having a strong legal advocate ensures that every source of coverage is examined and pursued.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Los Angeles
Truck crashes in Los Angeles occur for many preventable reasons. Congested areas like the 405 Freeway, downtown intersections, and the Port of Los Angeles often see high volumes of commercial trucks sharing space with smaller vehicles.
Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service Violations
Truck drivers must follow strict hours-of-service regulations to prevent fatigue. When companies push drivers to exceed these limits, reaction times slow, and concentration fades, increasing the likelihood of collisions.
Improper Loading and Cargo Securement
When cargo shifts or falls, the truck’s balance changes, making it difficult to control. Overloaded or unbalanced trailers can cause rollovers or jackknife accidents. Cargo companies that ignore loading standards can be held responsible for resulting damages.
Inadequate Truck Maintenance
Commercial vehicles require frequent inspections. Faulty brakes, worn tires, and malfunctioning lights can create hazards for everyone on the road. Maintenance records often reveal whether a company cut corners on required safety checks.
Distracted and Impaired Truck Drivers
Texting, eating, or driving under the influence can turn a truck into a deadly weapon. Trucking companies that fail to monitor their drivers or enforce safety policies share responsibility for resulting injuries.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving
Trucks traveling at unsafe speeds need far more distance to stop than cars. Aggressive behavior, such as tailgating or abrupt lane changes, often leads to severe multi-vehicle crashes.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident?
Truck accidents may involve several negligent parties. Identifying them early helps strengthen the claim.
Truck Driver Liability Under California Law
Drivers who break traffic laws, drive distracted, or operate under the influence may face direct liability for the crash. Their driving history, logbooks, and toxicology results often provide vital evidence.
Trucking Company Negligence and Vicarious Liability
Under California law, employers can be held accountable for their employees’ actions while performing job duties. A trucking company that hires unqualified drivers, neglects training, or pressures workers to skip rest breaks may share responsibility for the collision.
Cargo Loading Company Responsibility
If an outside company loaded the truck improperly, that company can be named in the lawsuit. Their duty includes making sure the cargo weight is evenly distributed and properly secured.
Truck Manufacturers and Defective Parts
Mechanical failures sometimes trace back to defective parts. If a manufacturer released faulty brakes, tires, or steering systems, they may face product liability claims.
Third-Party Maintenance Providers
Companies that perform inspections and repairs must meet industry standards. If negligent maintenance leads to equipment failure, they can be held liable for damages.
California Laws That Apply to Truck Accident Cases
Truck accident claims in California involve several important state and federal rules.
California Vehicle Code Requirements for Commercial Trucks
The California Vehicle Code outlines equipment and safety standards for trucks. Violations such as worn tires, faulty brakes, or improper lighting can demonstrate negligence in a crash investigation.
Comparative Negligence Rules in California
California follows a pure comparative negligence system. This means you can still recover compensation even if you share some fault, but your recovery amount will decrease by your percentage of responsibility.
California’s Dangerous Weight Limits and Truck Size Restrictions
State regulations limit how much commercial vehicles can weigh and how large they can be. Overweight or oversized trucks require special permits. Operating without them can prove negligence if a crash occurs.
What Types of Compensation Can You Recover?
Truck accidents often create significant financial strain. California law allows victims to pursue different types of damages to help them rebuild their lives.
Economic Damages: Medical Bills and Lost Wages
Economic damages cover measurable losses such as hospital bills, ongoing medical treatment, and time missed from work. Victims may also pursue future earnings if their injuries prevent them from returning to their profession.
Non-Economic Damages: Pain and Suffering
Non-economic damages address how the crash impacts your life beyond finances. This includes emotional distress, physical discomfort, and loss of enjoyment of activities you once valued.
Punitive Damages in Cases of Gross Negligence
In extreme cases involving reckless or intentional misconduct, courts may award punitive damages. These payments aim to punish wrongdoers and discourage similar behavior.
Wrongful Death Damages for Fatal Truck Accidents
Families who lose a loved one may pursue compensation for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and the loss of companionship. California’s wrongful death laws give certain relatives the right to file these claims.
Common Injuries from Truck Accidents
The force of a truck collision often causes life-altering harm.
Traumatic Brain Injuries and Head Trauma
Head impacts can lead to concussions or long-term cognitive damage. Victims may require ongoing therapy or specialized care.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
Damage to the spine can cause partial or total paralysis, drastically affecting independence and quality of life.
Broken Bones and Crush Injuries
The sheer weight of a truck can cause multiple fractures or crush injuries, leading to surgeries and prolonged recovery periods.
Burns and Scarring
Fuel fires and friction burns often occur in truck crashes, sometimes resulting in permanent disfigurement.
Internal Organ Damage
Blunt-force trauma can cause internal bleeding or organ failure. Immediate medical care often saves lives in these situations.
How Do You Prove Negligence in a Truck Accident Case?
Truck accident claims rely heavily on evidence that shows how and why the crash occurred. Attorneys have the resources to gather critical evidence to support your claim.
Gathering Evidence from the Accident Scene
Photos, police reports, and witness statements provide the foundation of a strong claim. Preserving this evidence early prevents disputes later.
Obtaining the Truck’s Black Box Data
Commercial trucks carry an electronic control module, or “black box,” that records data like speed, braking, and driver activity. This information can reveal what happened just before the collision.
Reviewing Driver Logs and Maintenance Records
Driver logs show whether a trucker followed federal rest requirements. Maintenance records can confirm whether the truck received regular inspections.
Analyzing Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Reports
FMCSA reports track violations and compliance issues involving trucking companies. Reviewing these records helps uncover patterns of negligence.
Working with Accident Reconstruction Experts
Specialists can recreate the events leading up to the crash using physics and vehicle data. Their findings often strengthen a case during settlement discussions or trial.
What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?
The steps you take after a crash can influence the outcome of your case.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Always get examined after an accident, even if you feel fine. Some injuries take time to appear but can worsen without early treatment.
Document the Scene and Gather Evidence
If possible, take photos, gather witness contact information, and note any visible damage. These details support your account of the event.
Report the Accident to Law Enforcement
A police report creates an official record that may include valuable information about fault, road conditions, and witness statements.
Avoid Speaking to Insurance Adjusters Alone
Insurers often aim to reduce payouts. Having a personal injury attorney handle communications helps protect your rights and ensures you don’t make statements that weaken your claim.
Contact a Truck Accident Attorney
Reaching out to a lawyer experienced in truck accident cases helps ensure no deadlines or evidence are missed. Early legal help often strengthens your case.
How Our Attorneys Can Help
At Greenberg Gross, we understand the serious consequences of truck accidents and stand ready to help victims rebuild their lives.
Thorough Investigation of Your Truck Accident
Our team examines every detail, from police reports to black box data, to identify the cause of the collision.
Identification of All Liable Parties
We look beyond the driver to determine if trucking companies, contractors, or parts manufacturers share responsibility.
Negotiation with Insurance Companies
We handle discussions with insurers that try to limit payouts, using evidence to demand fair results for our clients.
Litigation and Trial Representation
If a reasonable resolution isn’t offered, our trial attorneys are prepared to present your case before a jury.
Maximizing Your Compensation Recovery
We focus on documenting your injuries, lost income, and future care needs to strengthen your pursuit of financial recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accident Claims in CA
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in California?
Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault?
Yes. Under California’s comparative negligence rule, you can still recover damages even if you share responsibility, though your recovery decreases by your percentage of fault.
What if the trucking company claims the driver was an independent contractor?
Courts often look beyond job titles. If the company controlled the driver’s schedule, routes, or vehicle, it may still be liable under California law.
How much does it cost to hire a truck accident lawyer?
Greenberg Gross works on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay no upfront fees and legal costs are only collected after a successful resolution of the case—making it easier to hire a lawyer for truck accident cases without added financial stress.
What if the truck driver fled the scene of the accident?
Police investigations, surveillance footage, and witness statements often help identify hit-and-run drivers. Once located, they can face both civil and criminal penalties.
Contact Our Truck Accident Attorneys in Los Angeles Now
Truck accidents require swift action to preserve evidence and protect your rights under California law. Greenberg Gross has a proven record of standing up for victims and holding negligent trucking companies accountable.
If you or someone you love suffered injuries in a truck crash, contact us for a free, no-obligation case evaluation today. Call (213) 334-7000 to speak with our Los Angeles truck accident attorneys.
Our Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer Office Location
Address: 601 S Figueroa St 30th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017 Phone: (213) 334-7000
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