California Truck Accident Lawyer

Top Rated Semi-Truck Accident Attorney Fighting on Behalf of Truck Collision Victims in San Pedro, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Throughout CA

Semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles are a common sight on California roads. Most of the time, we barely notice commercial trucks in and amongst passenger vehicles, except for when they take up large amounts of space on smaller streets. However, everyone in a passenger car knows to respect large trucks because semis and other commercial vehicles are so much bigger and heavier than most civilian vehicles, and any collisions between the vehicles could be catastrophic for the smaller cars. While passenger car drivers and commercial truck drivers may take many steps to ensure the safety of themselves and others on the road, mistakes can and do happen, sometimes due to a moment of negligence, inattention, recklessness, or other sort of human error. And still other trucking accidents, the root cause of the incidents can be traced back to vehicle defects and machinery malfunction, meaning that truck manufacturers may be at fault.

If you are a truck accident victim or your loved one suffered severe injuries (or potentially fatal injuries), you may be entitled to seek financial compensation from negligent parties.

Pursuing justice and financial recovery from trucking companies, truck drivers, and other parties involved in commercial vehicle accidents can be a complex legal matter. Many injured victims and their families require the legal guidance of an experienced truck accident attorney.

The Law Offices of Preston Easley is a California personal injury law firm dedicated to helping accident victims recover fair compensation for their injuries and other losses. To hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions or inactions, it is often necessary to gather evidence that proves negligence on the part of the truck driver or other parties involved. This can be a difficult legal issue because the trucking industry is backed up by teams of lawyers and insurance companies that are reluctant to pay out the settlements that personal injury victims rightly deserve.

As your attorney, Preston Easley will examine the unique facts of your case and determine your legal options for filing a truck accident lawsuit. To learn more about our legal services, please contact our California law firm to schedule your free initial consultation with our legal team today.

Are Large Truck Accidents Common in California?

Commercial motor vehicles are everywhere in California, especially in rural areas. The trucking industry is a vital part of the United States economy, delivering consumer goods nationwide. As commercial trucking companies continue to grow and expand, more large trucks are needed, which invariably raises the chances of truck crashes.

According to data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the United States Department of Transportation, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were 5,788 deaths in traffic accidents involving large trucks in 2021 alone.

The data also suggests that the occupants of non-commercial vehicles involved in accidents with semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles are at a far greater risk of being fatally injured than truck drivers. The same also applies to pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, whom the sheer force of a tractor-trailer incident can absolutely annihilate.

Truck accident fatalities continue to be on the rise, with an increase of 41% between 2015 and 2021.

There are thousands of truck accidents in California every year. If you have been one of the unfortunate few trucking accident victims who’ve suffered serious injuries in an accident this year, you should not be the party responsible for medical expenses and other losses. Contact our law firm to speak with an experienced trucking accident attorney who will explore options for taking legal action against at-fault parties.

What Should Truck Accident Victims Do After a Big Rig Accident?

If you’ve been in a commercial truck accident, you must take certain steps to safeguard your health and well-being and also strengthen the viability of your personal injury claim.

If possible, move to a safe location along the side of the road and out of the way of moving traffic. This will hopefully prevent further injuries from following you and your passengers. If you cannot move your car, be careful about oncoming traffic when exiting the vehicle.

Call 911 as soon as possible. Your number one concern should be the safety and well-being of everyone involved in the accident. Even if you believe your injuries to be relatively minor, it is still important that you seek immediate medical attention following commercial truck accidents. Some injuries may not be readily apparent from the start and could worsen as time goes on. Failure to get professional medical treatment may also devalue your personal injury lawsuit in the eyes of the insurance company.

Once you are safe and your injuries are tended to, provide a thorough accident report to the law enforcement personnel at the accident scene. Document everything relevant to the truck crash, as the police report will be valuable evidence to your personal injury attorney when it comes time to file a claim.

Obtain the insurance company provider information from the commercial truck driver and any other motorists involved in the collision. If the other drivers do not want to give you their information, be sure to tell the police of this. In dialogue with other parties involved in the auto accident, you must attempt to keep things civil but never go so far as to admit fault or diminish the severity of any injuries. We tend to apologize in high-stress moments like these, but you must resist that impulse.

Take photos and videos of the truck accident scene, including the vehicle condition, any injuries, debris, road conditions, weather conditions, and anything else that may be considered relevant to your attorney. If there were any eyewitnesses to the trucking collision, attempt to get their contact information, as eyewitness testimonies will be valuable to your personal injury attorneys.

Following the crash, be sure to keep track of all medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, repair costs, and other expenses related to the accident.

Avoid discussing the accident with others, including insurance adjusters, who will attempt to find ways to limit the liability of their insurance company employers and devalue your claim. Also, stay off social media.

After you are beginning to recover from your injuries, you must reach out to experienced trucking accident attorneys to discuss your legal options. Our law firm has years of experience assisting injured clients in seeking maximum compensation for their injuries and other losses. Schedule a free case consultation with our legal staff today.

Do You Need the Legal Services of California Truck Accident Attorneys?

After a trucking collision, the trucking company and other parties involved have a single solitary interest: avoiding liability and saving money. Even though trucking companies often have ample insurance, they will still do everything they can to avoid liability and shift the blame onto others. A truck company also has significant legal resources at their disposal, which they will use to take advantage of truck accident victims and save themselves a great deal of money. It is inadvisable to go up against the trucking industry on your own. You want experienced truck accident lawyers in your corner, representing your best interests throughout the legal process.

Highly skilled personal injury attorneys, such as attorney Preston Easley of San Diego, CA, help victims make informed legal decisions. Truck accident cases can be especially complex legal matters, with unique laws and regulations, and you want an attorney well-versed in the complex legal landscape of personal injury law and truck accident claims.

Determining liability can be a challenging task for those with no legal experience, especially if they are still in a state of recovery or grief following the auto accident. Qualified truck accident lawyers will examine the facts of the case to prove liability and negligence on the part of the truck driver, trucking company, and other possible parties.

The trucking company may offer a settlement to personal injury victims following a crash involving one of their drivers. While it may be tempting to accept the initial offer, we must recommend that you not be so hasty. A truck accident lawyer will examine the settlement offer to determine whether it is appropriate and meets all your needs. Your attorney will also assist in negotiations with the insurance company and the at-fault party to achieve better settlement terms.

If the trucking company or other parties remain reluctant to accept fault and instead try to shift the blame onto your shoulders, it may be necessary to take them to court. Truck accident litigation is a complex legal challenge, and you want legal representation with experience in trial settings. Our law firm is led by experienced trial attorney Preston Easley, who will work tirelessly to get you the justice and compensation you deserve.

What Evidence May Prove Valuable in Your Truck Accident Case?

In every truck accident case, a thorough investigation is necessary to determine liability and allow victims to recover compensation. As part of the investigation, your truck accident attorney will gather evidence from various sources to help strengthen your claim.

Evidence useful to a California truck accident claim may include the following:

• Company records: in certain cases, trucking company records may be useful to your personal injury claim. For example, records may show the qualifications of the truck driver involved in the crash and establish whether that driver was qualified to operate his or her vehicle. There may also be company records that detail maintenance and inspection
• Medical records: detailed medical records from before and after the accident can illustrate the severity of the injuries sustained, the impact they’ve had on the victim’s life, and the extent of associated expenses
• Police reports: after an accident, you must tell your side of the story to law enforcement personnel. A police accident report will be valuable evidence for your trucking accident lawyer
• Surveillance, CCTV, bystander, and other video footage: sometimes seeing is better than believing. Footage of your trucking accident may prove to be incredibly useful to you and your attorneys. Many newer commercial vehicles carry video cameras, like dash cams, that may have recorded the crash. Additionally, cameras from businesses or traffic lights may also have recorded what transpired
• The ‘black box’ device: commercial trucks carry a black box that records important data and information from the engine and other systems. The black box may record the driving time, speed, heartbreaking events, and other information that could be vital to prove your case. In most truck accidents, the black box shuts off after 30 days, meaning that it is essential to obtain the evidence as soon as possible following an accident
• Witness statements: if there were any eyewitnesses to the California truck accident, their testimonies may be vital parts of your personal injury lawsuit

Are Commercial Truck Accident Cases More Legally Complex Compared to Most Other Auto Accidents?

While every personal injury case or car accident claim can be complicated, this is especially true for commercial trucking accident cases.

Accidents involving tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles differ from typical car accidents. In addition to the police report, trucking companies typically send investigators to the accident scene to protect their interests.

Commercial trucks must also comply with strict regulations imposed by state and federal laws. Breaking from these rules and regulations causes many truck accidents.

Multiple parties could be held liable in a truck accident case, including the drivers, truck owners, manufacturers, cargo loaders, and repair shops. Because of the several parties that may be held accountable for damages, legal claims are inherently more complicated and often require highly skilled legal counsel.

One more unfortunate reason why trucking accidents are more complex than most typical motor vehicle accident cases is the larger settlements at the center of commercial trucking accident claims. As semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles are more capable of causing damage and death, associated medical expenses and other economic or non-economic damages may be greater than those seen in most car accident cases. Essentially, the worse the pain and suffering, the larger the settlement is apt to be. With more money on the line, interested parties are more likely to fight hard to defend their interests and bank accounts, making things extra challenging for truck accident victims.

What Laws Regulate the Commercial Trucking Industry?

Both California and federal laws dictate the responsibilities of CA truckers. To ensure the safety of other motorists, truck drivers and their employers must comply with strict regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

If you’ve been in a tractor-trailer accident, you need the legal advice of attorneys well-versed in applicable laws for your claim. The Law Offices of Preston Easley has extensive experience representing personal injury victims in pursuit of fair and full compensation in truck accident cases.

Among the many rules and regulations that apply to truck drivers in California are the following:

• Driving under the influence: truck drivers are held to a higher standard than other motorists when it comes to drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs. Whereas the legal limit for most motorists over the age of 21 is 0.08% in California, the legal limit for truck drivers is 0.04%. If a truck driver’s blood alcohol concentration exceeds 0.04%, they may face DUI charges
• Maintenance and inspections: truck drivers and truck company employers are responsible for regularly inspecting, maintaining, and repairing large trucks on the roads. Failure to regularly inspect and maintain a commercial vehicle could result in penalties
• Medical certification: in California, truck drivers must pass a thorough medical exam and acquire a medical certificate that proves their physical and mental fitness for the job. Truck drivers must renew this medical certification every two years
• Service hours: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration limits the number of hours that truck drivers are allowed to drive every workday. In most cases, this is capped at 11 hours. Additionally, truck drivers can only drive for 60 hours in a seven-day work week or 70 hours in an eight-day work week. Truckers must also take occasional rest breaks during their trips to avoid driver fatigue. Rest breaks must be properly recorded in logbooks
• Strict qualifications: commercial trucking companies are responsible for ensuring that the truck drivers they employ are fully qualified and properly licensed to drive semi trucks, buses, dump trucks, and other large commercial vehicles. Additionally, the trucking company should provide its drivers with adequate training programs

What Types of Trucks Are Commonly Involved in Motor Vehicle Accidents?

Truck accident attorney Preston Easley has a proven track record of helping victims and their families seek compensation for economic and non-economic losses. In his years of legal experience, the attorney and his team have handled various truck accident cases involving a wide variety of different types of vehicles.

Examples include the following:

• 18-wheelers
• Armored trucks
• Big rigs
• Box trucks
• Buses
• Cargo trucks
• Cement trucks
• Delivery vehicles, including Amazon delivery trucks and food delivery vehicles
• Dump trucks
• Garbage trucks
• Gravel trucks
• Logging trucks
• Produce trucks
• Street sweepers
• Tanker trucks
• Tow trucks
• Tractor trailers
• U.S. Postal Service vehicles
• Utility trucks
• Water tanker trucks

Because of their size, weight, design, and the challenges controlling them, there are many types of trucking accidents. Our law firm has represented injured clients in various truck accident cases.

Examples of different types of truck accidents include the following:

• Asleep-at-the-wheel accidents
• Drunk driving accidents
• Fatal accidents
• Freeway accidents
• Head-on collisions
• Hit-and-run incidents
• Jackknife accidents
• Load-related truck accidents
• Rear-end accidents
• Rollovers
• Sideswipe collisions
• T-bone crashes
• Tire blowouts
• Underride and override accidents
• And more

Who May Be Held Liable in Commercial Truck Accident Cases?

Multiple parties could be liable for damages depending on the unique circumstances of your truck accident claim. In most motor vehicle accident cases, negligence usually rests on one or both parties involved in the crash. In a commercial vehicle accident involving a large truck, additional parties may be at fault. While having several parties potentially liable for damages can provide victims with multiple legal options for recovering financial compensation, it does make proving negligence more legally challenging.

Potential parties that may be held responsible in a truck accident case include, but are not exclusive to, the following:

• Commercial trucking companies could be held accountable for truck crashes if they fail to regularly maintain their vehicles, employ incompetent drivers, or push their drivers to break the hours-of-service rules
• Government entities responsible for roadway design and road maintenance may be held responsible for damages if load defects were the cause of a trucking accident
• Maintenance and repair shops are facilities entrusted by truck companies to repair, inspect, and maintain their vehicles. If faulty maintenance or inadequate repairs result in an accident, the maintenance or repair shop could be held liable under the law
• Parties responsible for the loading of truck cargo may be held responsible if they overloaded the trucks or loaded cargo improperly, which could result in semi-trucks becoming unbalanced and dangerous to everyone on the road
• Public entities that own or operate trucks or otherwise employ the driver may also be held accountable
• The owner, seller, distributor, or buyer of the goods being shipped could find themselves liable for damages under certain circumstances
• The truck manufacturer or truck parts manufacturers may be liable for economic or noneconomic damages if defective active parts contributed to the crash. As semi-trucks are on the road longer than most passenger vehicles, they are more prone to wear and tear and have more moving parts that need to be regularly replaced
• The truck owner may be held liable under certain circumstances
• Truck drivers who were negligent behind the wheel of their vehicles through actions such as speeding, drunk driving, disobeying the rules of the road, texting while driving, and general carelessness

What Are Common Causes of Truck Accidents in California?

There is no shortage of ways for truck accidents to occur in California. Many truck accidents happen in the blink of an eye due to a momentary lapse of judgment on the part of the truck driver. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration studied the circumstances behind seemingly countless big rig accidents over a two-year span and found common causes for truck accidents across the country.

The most common causes of truck accidents include the following:

• Adverse weather conditions like rain, fog, or ice
• Aggressive driving or reckless driving
• Brake failure
• Compliance violations
• Coupling device failures
• Dangerous lane changes
• Distracted driving or driver inattention
• Driving at excessive speeds
• Driving under the influence of liquor
• Drowsy driving and driver fatigue
• Drug use, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and illicit substances
• Failure to obey traffic signals
• Failure to perform regular maintenance
• Failure to yield to the right of way
• Improper reversing procedures
• Improper turning, including failure to check for other vehicles when making wide turns
• Inadequate surveillance
• Inexperienced or unqualified truck drivers
• Mistakes at intersections
• Motor vehicle defects
• Overloaded or improperly loaded vehicle cargo
• Passenger cars disappearing into blind spots
• Poor vehicle maintenance performed by repair shops
• Road defects
• Tailgating
• Texting while driving or talking on a cell phone while driving
• Tire blowouts
• Traffic congestion
• Unfamiliarity with the roadway
• Unsafe passing attempts on highways
• Unsecured loads
• Visual obstructions

What Are Common Truck Accident Injuries?

Semi-truck accidents and accidents involving other types of commercial vehicles can be devastating to the occupants of smaller vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and others who share the roads with big trucks. A passenger car that’s involved in a collision with another vehicle of similar size and weight is likely to have a much different outcome than the same car colliding with a tractor-trailer truck.

Although some truck accident victims can walk away from the scene of the crash relatively unscathed, far more suffer catastrophic injuries or worse.

Common truck accident injuries seen in California include the following:

• Back and neck injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Burns
• Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine injuries
• Concussions and other forms of head trauma
• Crushing injuries
• Deep cuts and lacerations
• Disfigurement
• Dislocated joints
• Forced amputations or loss of limbs
• Heavy bruising
• Loss of bodily functions
• Nerve damage
• Organ damage and internal bleeding
• Permanent scarring
• Post-traumatic stress disorder and other forms of mental illness
• Soft tissue injuries, including damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons
• Spinal cord injuries, which can sometimes result in paralysis
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Whiplash
• Wrongful death

Thousands of people are killed in collisions between large trucks and passenger cars every year. Most of the fatalities were the occupants of smaller passenger vehicles. A relatively smaller percentage of truck accident fatalities were the occupants of the big rigs.

What Are Some of California’s Most Dangerous Counties and Roads for Car and Truck Accidents?

Personal injury lawyer Preston Easley is well-versed in representing clients in complex truck accident cases. He and his legal team have years of experience working throughout the state of California, wherever they are needed.

According to recent data from the California Highway Patrol, the following counties regularly see the most truck crashes:

• Los Angeles County
• San Bernardino County
• Riverside County
• Orange County
• San Diego County
• Alameda County
• Sacramento County

The most dangerous California roads for car and truck accidents include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Interstate 5 in Los Angeles County
• Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County
• Highway 101 in Santa Clara County
• Interstate 5 in Riverside County and Orange County
• Interstate 880 in Alameda County

What Financial Compensation Could Be Recovered in a Truck Accident Settlement?

With the help of a personal injury lawyer, it is possible to maximize the settlement or judgment award to reimburse you for financial losses and other damages associated with your truck accident injury case. The financial recovery you stand to receive may be provided in economic and non-economic damages.

Potential compensation may include the following:

• All relevant out-of-pocket expenses associated with the truck accident
• Attorney legal fees and court costs
• Costs related to childcare, home care, domestic help, and home or vehicle modifications to account for disability
• Disability, disfigurement, or dismemberment damages
• Loss of companionship, consortium, or guardianship
• Lost income earning capacity if the truck accident victim is unable to return to their former place of employment
• Lost quality of life
• Lost wages if the injured party is unable to return to work for a certain period
• Mental anguish and emotional distress compensation
• Past medical bills and future medical expenses, including compensation for emergency medical treatment, surgical procedures, prescription medication, and more
• Physical pain and suffering compensation
• Property damage and motor vehicle damage or repairs
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy expenses
• Wrongful death damages, including funeral expenses, burial expenses, memorial costs, loss of benefits, and emotional trauma

If the at-fault party acted with willful disregard for the rights of others or was intentionally reckless, punitive damages may be awarded to the victim or their representatives. Punitive damages are meant to punish the at-fault party and deter others from committing similar acts.

Those who elect to go without professional legal counsel often find it more difficult to recover a fair settlement for their injuries and other damages. Personal injury victims and their families who retain professional legal representation typically stand to recover more from a settlement from the at-fault parties and their insurance companies.

What is Your Commercial Truck Accident Claim Worth?

Every truck accident case is unique. What one truck accident victim receives from their personal injury lawsuit may not be possible for the next victim. Several factors determine the value of a personal injury suit.

Factors that may influence the value of your personal injury settlement include the following:

• Age of the truck accident victims
• Estimated amount of future pain and suffering that you are likely to endure
• Home or vehicle modifications to account for a new disability
• Mental health therapy in the aftermath of surviving an accident
• Ongoing rehabilitation or physical therapy
• Required long-term care
• Severity of the victim’s injuries
• Surgery and post-surgical care
• The degree to which the victim’s lifestyle will be altered as a result of the accident
• The extent of the negligence of the truck driver or other responsible parties
• The inability to ever work again
• Your level of fault

It’s not uncommon for trucking companies or insurance companies to offer lowball settlements to victims and their families following a truck crash. You do not need to accept the initial settlement offer. Our personal injury law firm will help you negotiate better terms in pursuit of the maximum compensation for your injuries and other damages.

Can California Truck Accident Lawyers Assist You with a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

If you have recently lost a loved one in a fatal accident, our legal team offers our sincerest condolences.

Tragically, many semi-truck accidents result in fatal injuries for the drivers and passengers of smaller passenger cars. If you have lost a loved one in a fatal truck accident, our California law firm can help you pursue compensation by filing a wrongful death action against the at-fault parties.

While no financial compensation can ever truly undo the damage done to you or your family, the hope is to ease the burden of the financial losses incurred because of your tragic loss.

Wrongful death damages can help compensate you for medical bills associated with the truck accident before death, loss of estimated earnings and benefits, loss of companionship or consortium, loss of parent guardianship, pain and suffering endured prior to death, and emotional distress damages for surviving loved ones.

What if You Were Partially Responsible for a Truck Accident in California?

If you are partially responsible for causing the trucking accident, you are still potentially eligible to recover compensation for your injuries and other damages.

In California, parties can recover a portion of compensation so long as they are not 100% at fault for causing the accident. If you were 100% to blame, you would be barred from recovering a settlement.

Your truck accident settlement will be adjusted according to your percentage of fault. For example, if you were 40% at fault for causing the truck crash, your total compensation would be reduced by 40%.

Is There a Time Limit for Filing Truck Accident Claims in CA?

Whether you are a personal injury victim or have recently lost someone in a wrongful death accident, a strict statute of limitations dictates how long you have to file a claim in hopes of recovering compensation.

In California, victims or their representatives typically have two years from the accident date or the injury’s discovery to file a lawsuit with the civil courts. Failure to file a truck accident lawsuit for an injury or wrongful death within the established time window generally results in your claims being dismissed.

Simply put, you will be barred from recovering financial compensation if you do not file your personal injury claim or wrongful death action within the time limit.

Do not wait to take legal action following a semi-truck accident. As soon as you can, contact our law office to discuss your case with our highly skilled truck accident lawyer. You can schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation with our law firm today.

Why Hire Our Trucking Accident Attorney for Your Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Semi-truck accidents can result in catastrophic and life-altering injuries for survivors, and survival is far from guaranteed for those involved in such accidents. If you or a loved one have been in a big rig accident, you need legal guidance that helps you throughout the entire process while defending your rights and helping you recover the maximum compensation for your losses.

As your legal representative, truck accident lawyer Preston Easley will investigate the cause of the truck crash, calculate appropriate settlement demand, gather the necessary evidence to prove liability, engage in settlement negotiations, file a lawsuit if necessary, and represent your interests in court if the case goes to trial.

Even in truck accident cases where your attorney earns a verdict on your behalf, the defendants have the right to appeal. In these cases, you want an attorney who will stand up for your interests and help you recover the total compensation you require in your personal injury lawsuit.

The Law Offices of Preston Easley have extensive experience representing clients in various personal injury cases, including complex commercial trucking accident matters. We would proudly represent your legal rights in pursuit of just compensation. Our law firm is nationally recognized and has a sterling track record of previous success both in and out of the courtroom. To learn more about the benefits of retaining our legal services, please schedule a free case review today.

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with an Experienced California Trucking Accident Lawyer Today

Motor vehicle accidents can result in serious injury and death. These kinds of accidents can involve automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, unsafe road design, and unsafe road conditions. Vehicle accidents can arise from construction equipment such as forklifts and bulldozers. If you or a loved one were involved in a truck accident, contact a skilled California truck accident lawyer to discuss your case. The Law Offices of Preston Easley handles nearly all types of motor vehicle accidents. We have successfully handled major truck accidents due to unsafe plant/terminal design and complex truck rollover cases due to improper truck loading.

If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligent operation of a motor vehicle, then you have the right to sue the operator of that vehicle and the employer of the operator of the vehicle if it is being used for work purposes at the time of the accident.

We don’t just handle simple vehicle accidents—we take on the difficult ones that require creative thinking. If you have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, please contact our law office to evaluate the liability aspects of your case. We handle motor vehicle deaths and serious injury cases with compassion and dedication.

Schedule a free consultation by calling us at 310-773-5207.