Serving clients throughout the state of California
If you need a California truck accident lawyer, BD&J is here to help.
Over $3 Billion* Recovered for Our Clients
If you were hurt in a semi-truck accident in California, whether it happened on the I-5, I-10, I-80, CA-99, Highway 101, or near major freight hubs like the Ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach or Oakland, you may be dealing with overwhelming medical bills, missed work, and nonstop calls from insurance companies. When a commercial truck is involved, your injuries are often more severe, proving fault can be harder, and multiple parties may try to shift blame to avoid paying what you’re owed.
Beyond the driver, you may be up against a large trucking company, a cargo loader, a maintenance provider, a broker, or even a manufacturer or public entity, each with its own insurer and legal team. BD&J has the resources to take on the largest corporations involved in these cases and fight to obtain justice for you and your family.
Call BD&J at (855) 906-3699 or complete our online form to schedule a free, confidential case review consultation.
Key Takeaways
- California was one of the top 3 states with the most truck accident deaths in 2024, with 391 deaths recorded that year (NSC)
- Common truck accident types include rear-end accidents, t-bone impacts, spilled cargo accidents, jackknife collisions, and more.
- The size and weight of large trucks often result in devastating injuries for other vulnerable drivers and their passengers, such as catastrophic injuries, broken bones, brain injuries, etc.
- Truck accident attorneys in California from the BD&J team can represent you during an accident claim for compensation that covers medical expenses, vehicle repairs, lost income, etc.
What are Common Types of Truck Accidents?
Common truck accidents the BD&J truck accident attorneys have represented, including semi-truck accident crashes, box truck accident collisions, and catastrophic big rig accident scenarios, are:
- Jackknife Accidents: Occur when the trailer swings out to form a 90-degree angle with the cab and can be caused by sudden braking or the driver losing control on a slippery surface.
- Rear-end Collisions: Occur when a large truck crashes into the vehicle in front of it.
- Underride Accidents: Occur when a smaller vehicle slides underneath the trailer of a truck.
- T-bone Collisions: Happen as a side-impact of the truck to another vehicle and are most common in intersections.
- Rollover Accidents: Happen when a truck flips over on its side or roof and can often be caused by wide turns.
- Wide-turn Accidents: Happen when a truck swings left to make a right turn, colliding with other vehicles in adjacent lanes.
What to Do Immediately After a California Truck Accident
The first 72 hours after a serious truck crash can shape your health and your claim. If you can, focus on these steps:
- Call 911 and get help at the scene. Ask for police and medical response, and make sure an accurate report is taken.
- Get a medical evaluation right away. Even if you don’t feel pain yet, symptoms can show up later. Getting checked can protect your health and document your injuries.
- Take scene photos and videos. Capture vehicle damage, license plates, DOT numbers, the trailer and cab, skid marks, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
- Collect witness contact information. Get names and phone numbers from anyone who saw the crash.
- Be cautious with recorded statements. Don’t agree to a recorded statement with the trucking company or any insurer before you speak with a lawyer.
- Preserve truck-specific evidence. Trucking cases often rely on electronic data and logs, like the truck’s ECM/EDR (“black box”) data and the driver’s logs tied to Hours of Service regulations. Act quickly so this evidence is not lost.
Avoiding certain mistakes after a truck accident can make it easier for you and your legal claim. Don’t let time pass you by or neglect your own healthcare, and talk to an attorney as soon as you can.
After a terrifying truck accident, don’t wait to connect with the California truck accident attorneys from BD&J to get started on your claim!
Common Causes of California Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can be some of the most devastating types of vehicle accidents, especially due to the sheer size and weight of commercial trucks. There are also numerous complexities that come with bringing a case in court against a driver, a trucking company, and an insurance company at once. That’s why a skilled truck accident attorney can help you navigate your case and obtain the compensation you deserve.
There are several factors that may lead to truck crashes, which can make assigning fault and winning a case more complicated. Common causes of truck accidents can include:
- Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers face long hours on the road, and even though federal regulations have been imposed to lessen the time a driver is on the road between breaks, driver fatigue remains a significant issue, especially when Hours of Service regulations are ignored.
- Distracted Driving: This includes anything that takes the driver’s attention away from the road, including using a mobile phone, eating, or adjusting their GPS.
- Speeding and/or Reckless Driving: Truck companies’ deadlines can often contribute to truck accidents. The pressure to deliver goods on time causes many truck drivers to exceed speed limits or engage in other aggressive driving behaviors, such as cutting other drivers off, running red lights, etc.
- Mechanical Failures: Commercial trucks need regular maintenance to continue a safe journey on the road. Brake failures, tire blowouts, and engine problems can lead to severe accidents, whether due to negligence by the mechanics employed by a trucking company or a product defect.
- Improperly Loaded Cargo: Unbalanced or loose cargo loads can cause accidents when the loads shift or fall off the truck. These problems can affect a truck’s stability and maneuverability, making it more prone to tipping over.
In many commercial truck accident cases, the cause goes beyond driver error and points to trucking company liability. A trucking company may be responsible when it negligently hires a high-risk driver, provides inadequate training, skips inspections or maintenance, allows unsafe loading practices, or pressures drivers to violate Hours of Service regulations to meet delivery targets.
These cases often involve rules enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and proving violations can be to holding the right parties accountable.
Truck Accident Injuries and Their Long-Term Impact
Truck accidents typically result in severe injuries due to the size and weight of commercial trucks. Victims of these accidents often suffer life-changing injuries that require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. A truck accident attorney can help you pursue compensation for injuries such as:
- Traumatic Brain Injury: Symptoms of this injury type include disorientation, concussion, impaired movement, pain, and, in severe cases, brain death.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: These injuries cause severe pain in the neck, head, or back area, loss of movement, and a decline in sensory function (hard to feel touch, the temperature of something, etc.).
- Broken or Fractured Bones: This injury is characterized by severe pain and tenderness, swelling, loss of movement, and inability to bear weight around the injured area.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Includes symptoms of pain, limited range of motion, tenderness, and swelling around the area (muscles, ligaments, and tendons).
- Organ Damage: These injuries can lead to fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, bowel obstruction, and, in the case of damage to vital organs like the heart, brain, or lungs, can lead to death.
- Burns: Severe burns are painful and can cause disfigurement, infection, scarring, and loss of limbs.
What are Catastrophic Injuries from Truck Accidents?
Most often, the passengers of smaller vehicles, motorcyclists, and even pedestrians can suffer life-altering injuries from truck accidents that permanently change their lives and daily routines. From spinal injuries to brain injuries to amputations, catastrophic injuries are fairly common in accidents involving massive trucks.
These injuries typically result in permanent disability, decreased quality of life, the need for specialized care, and more. If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury from a truck accident that requires financial resources beyond your means, BD&J attorneys can help.
Truck Accident Statistics
Serious truck crashes can take a heavy emotional toll, apart from a physical one. It’s common to experience anxiety, sleep disruption, fear of driving, depression, or other symptoms of trauma after a truck accident, especially when your life is interrupted by pain, disability, and financial stress.
Large truck accidents in California are not rare. Some truck accident stats to consider include:
- Trucking accidents in the country increased by 30% in the last decade. (NSC)
- California was the 2nd state with the most deaths resulting from truck accidents in 2024, coming only after Texas (NSC) According to the Department of Transportation, there have been 2,569 large truck accidents in California in 2026 so far (DOT)
- According to a study published by the United States Department of Transportation in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, large semi-trucks were 23% more likely to be involved in fatal multiple-vehicle accidents than passenger cars.
What Can Compensation from a Truck Accident Cover?
After going through a truck accident, you shouldn’t be left paying for accident-related expenses out of your own pocket. In California truck crash claims, compensation can vary based on your injuries, available insurance, evidence, and whether your case resolves through a truck accident settlement or trial. A successful truck accident claim can help you recover money for:
Economic Damages
- Current and future medical bills for injuries caused by the accident
- Lost wages if unable to work after the accident
- Any physical rehabilitation needed to regain movement
- Repair costs for impacted vehicles in the accident or other property damage
Non-Economic Damages
- Emotional distress and the pain and suffering caused by the crash
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- In wrongful death cases, wrongful death-related recovery for your family, where applicable
- Punitive damages if the truck driver was found to have had prior traffic violations or recorded dangerous driving behaviors
How BD&J Investigates California Truck Accident Cases
Truck cases move fast, and critical evidence can disappear at any time. BD&J builds your case by promptly pursuing the documents and data that often decide liability and value, including:
- Preservation letters to prevent spoliation of evidence
- Truck “black box” (ECM/EDR) data
- Driver logs and Hours of Service regulations records
- Maintenance, inspection, and repair records
- Cargo and loading records
- Accident reconstruction when needed
Working with a prepared law firm can make a tremendous difference when it comes to the legal process, evidence collection, and how a legal professional further supports your case.
How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in California?
In most cases, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit after a truck crash under California Code of Civil Procedure CCP § 335.1. If the crash involves a public entity (for example, a city, county, or state agency), you may need to file a Government Claims Act claim within six months of the incident before you can pursue a lawsuit.
Because deadlines can depend on the facts of your case, it’s important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.
How to Get Started with BD&J on Your Case
Truck accidents, whether on a street or highway, can happen in the blink of an eye. When you’re working with the BD&J law firm, we don’t hesitate to get started on your case and the fight for compensation.
Follow these steps to get started with BD&J on your case today:
- Document what you can. – Save photos, videos, witness information, and any paperwork you receive (including police report numbers, tow information, pay stubs from your job showing income loss, and medical discharge papers).
- Get medical treatment and follow up. – Keep appointments, follow medical advice, and track symptoms and limitations as you recover.
- Schedule your free consultation. – Call BD&J at (855) 906-3699 or complete our form to talk through your next steps.
- Bring everything (including your questions!) to a consultation. – A dedicated attorney will look over your evidence, ask questions, provide you with legal insight, and answer all the questions you may have on their legal experience, similar cases, and case results.
3 Mistakes to Avoid When Starting Your Truck Accident Case
When it comes to starting your truck accident claim, there are some things you want to avoid. These mistakes can ultimately harm your claim, lower your compensation, and even affect your health.Avoid these 3 things for a smoother case when working with an attorney:
- Delaying or stopping medical treatments. – Delaying or stopping medical treatments for your injuries after an accident minimizes the injuries in your claim and also can impact your health negatively.
- Withholding information from your attorney. – Any good client/attorney relationship relies on trust, so being completely upfront about any pre-existing medical conditions, fault in an accident, and other details is crucial.
- Accepting an insurance offer without consulting an attorney. – Most first-time insurance offers are lowballs, which don’t account for future expenses related to your injury, so always consult with your attorney when you’ve been presented with an offer.
Connect with the attorneys at BD&J to see how much your claim is worth!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Could Be Liable in a Truck Accident?
Liability can rest on multiple parties. Some of the most notable parties that could be held liable according to California truck accident lawyers include the truck driver, the trucking company, the entity that leased the truck, a mechanic who failed to inspect the truck properly, and, in some cases, the driver of another vehicle involved.
How Can Liability Be Proven?
To prove liability in a truck accident, using strong evidence, such as photos and videos of the accident (including dashcam footage), police reports, witness testimony, and medical reports detailing the injuries, is key. Truck cases may also rely on black box (ECM/EDR) data, driver logs tied to Hours of Service regulations, maintenance and inspection records, and other FMCSA-related compliance documents.
Are There Any Laws for Truck Drivers to Promote Safe Driving?
Yes. Commercial drivers must follow federal and state rules, often referred to as commercial truck laws, including regulations enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). For example, truck drivers carrying property are not allowed to drive more than 11 hours consecutively and must follow with a break of 10 hours consecutively under Hours of Service regulations.
Trucks should also be regularly maintained, and must comply with strict operating standars. Cargo generally cannot exceed the 80,000-pound weight limit, including limits addressed in California Vehicle Code § 35551(a). California also imposes specific safe-operation requirements for certain vehicles, including California Vehicle Code § 21702.
When trucking safety rules are violated, BD&J can help you pursue accountability and the compensation you deserve. Call BD&J at (855) 906-3699 if you were involved in a serious truck accident.
How Much Does It Cost to Work with a California Truck Accident Lawyer from BD&J?
At BD&J, we understand the financial strain that comes with dealing with painful injuries and other accumulated expenses from a trucking accident. This is why we work on a contingency fee basis, which means no fees until we win*.
What Are Contingency Fees?
When working under a contingency fee structure, case costs are advanced by the firm on behalf of the client to get the claim started, and a lawyer’s fee is taken from the final compensation amount after a case is settled. This means no upfront* costs are paid from the client’s side until after the claim is resolved.
Can I Still Recover Compensation in a Truck Accident if I Was at Fault?
Yes. California is a comparative negligence state, which means that injured drivers can still recover compensation if they were found to have some fault in a truck accident. The compensation amount is simply reduced by the percentage the injured plaintiff is found to be at fault. How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in California?
In most cases, the deadline is two years under CCP § 335.1, but shorter deadlines may apply, especially when a public entity is involved, and a Government Claims Act claim must be filed within six months. Talk with a lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights.
What if I Didn’t Discover the Injuries from My Accident Until Weeks Later?
Delayed symptoms are why it’s often recommended that injured parties in an accident seek medical attention as soon as possible, but discovering injuries weeks after an accident doesn’t stop you from pursuing legal justice.
Talk with a California truck accident attorney as soon as possible to get started on your claim.
What is the Black Box on a Truck, and Why Does it Matter for My Case?
Many commercial trucks have an electronic control module (ECM) or event data recorder (EDR), often called a “black box,” that can store information like speed, braking, and other data around the time of a crash. This information can be critical to proving what happened during the accident and who is responsible. Still, it may not be stored forever, so it’s important to act quickly to preserve it.
Can I Sue the Trucking Company, Not Just the Driver?
Yes. In many cases, you can pursue a claim against the trucking company based on trucking company liability, including negligent hiring, inadequate training, skipped inspections, unsafe loading practices, or policies that pressure drivers to violate Hours of Service regulations.
What if the Truck Driver Was an Independent Contractor?
You may still have a case against the trucking company or other responsible parties. Even when a driver is labeled an independent contractor, liability can depend on the level of control, the contractual relationship, and whether the company’s own negligence (such as unsafe policies, negligent hiring, or maintenance failures) contributed to the crash.
Why Choose BD&J as Your California Truck Accident Attorneys
If you or a loved one suffered a truck accident caused by the reckless or negligent acts of another company or driver, you should not be left to pay for damages out of your own pocket. Since our establishment in 2007, BD&J has fought for injured people across California, recovering more than $3 billion* for clients.
We don’t turn our backs on any seriously injured person that walks through our doors, and we keep our clients’ best interests at heart every step of the legal process. Don’t settle for unfair compensation, denied claims, or lack of accountability from big trucking companies and their legal teams.
Call BD&J at (855) 906-3699 or complete our form to schedule your free and confidential case review consultation.
