Whether you’re on Highway 1, setting off to Pebble Beach, or riding through the roads to explore the city of Monterey, it should be no surprise to see a variety of trucks and other trailers on the road. Busy streets and congested highways may not be a surprise to Monterey locals, but whether you’re visiting or know the area, truck accidents can happen when you least expect it. If you or a loved one were injured in a truck accident that left your car totaled and you struggling to deal with severe injuries, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit for damages. A Monterey truck accident lawyer from BD&J can be the unmatched legal representative you need!

What Causes Monterey Truck Accidents?

Truck accidents are not uncommon in the state of California, with about 3,969 injuries from these types of accidents recorded so far in 2025. Monterey truck accidents can be caused by a variety of reasons, most notably human error. Monterey truck accident causes include:

Dangerous driving (speeding, running red lights, cutting motorists off, etc.)
Distracted driving (texting, looking elsewhere but the road, changing the radio, etc.)
Fatigued driving
Improperly secured cargo
Failure to yield
No visibility
Weather conditions
Road defects
Debris on the road
Faulty truck parts

What Are Common Truck Accident Types?

In the blink of an eye, you and your passengers may find yourself involved in a truck accident. Some of the most frequent types of truck accidents our team of truck accident lawyers at BD&J in Monterey have represented include:

Head-on collisions
Spilled cargo accidents
Jackknife accidents
Truck tire blowouts
Underride accidents
Rollover accidents
And more

Small standard four-door cars and SUVs are no match against large commercial trucks and other similar vehicles. Drivers and passengers of smaller vehicles will often end up having the worst injuries in the event of a truck accident, leading to a hefty amount of expenses and loss. If you or a loved one were injured in a Monterey truck accident like the aforementioned types, speak with a Monterey truck accident lawyer from BD&J.

How Severe Can Injuries Be?

Injuries from a truck accident can be extremely severe, particularly due to the weight and size of a truck in the event of a collision. Injuries from truck accidents may include:

Broken bones or fractures
Burns
Soft tissue injuries
Catastrophic injuries
Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
Traumatic brain injuries
Amputations
And more

In some grave cases, the injuries may be too much to withstand, leading to fatalities. If you lost a loved one due to injuries from a truck accident, a wrongful death lawsuit may help recover compensation to cover funeral expenses and more.

Who is Liable for the Truck Accident?

The objective of a personal injury claim after a truck accident is to hold responsible parties accountable within the legal system. Liable parties for a truck accident often held accountable by BD&J truck accident attorneys include:

The Truck Driver

A truck driver who is distracted, fatigued, or driving recklessly has no business being on the road. If the actions of a truck driver who has breached the duty of care owed to their fellow motorists results in injury, they can and should be held liable.

The Trucking Company

A trucking company can be held liable for a truck accident due to numerous reasons, including failure to do a background check on a truck driver with prior history of reckless driving, failure to provide proper driver training, inadequate truck maintenance, and more.

The City

If the truck accident was caused by a pothole on the road, lack of road signage, or even spilled debris due to road fixtures and other events, the city could be held liable for causing a truck accident. If you are in Monterey and think the city’s negligence may have caused the truck accident you were involved in, speak to a truck accident attorney from BD&J.

How Will a Monterey Truck Accident Lawyer Represent My Claim?

95% of pending personal injury lawsuits are settled during pre-trial proceedings, which means only 1 in 20 cases make it in front of a judge. In order to ensure timeliness in your claim and try to obtain the maximum amount of compensation possible, a Monterey truck accident lawyer should be in your corner. BD&J truck accident lawyers in Monterey represent clients diligently at every stage of their claim, from filing, collecting evidence, negotiating, and even helping provide advances for medical treatment if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I’m Partially at Fault for the Accident?

Even if you were partially at fault for a truck accident, you can still obtain compensation. California is a comparative negligence state, which means plaintiffs found to be partially at fault in an accident can still recover compensation. The compensation is simply reduced by their percentage of culpability.

How Can I Prove the Other Party Was Liable Even if I was Partially at Fault?

Proving the other party was liable in a personal injury claim can work by presenting evidence, such as photos and videos of the accident (including dashcam footage), medical documentation of injuries, eyewitness testimonies, and a police report.

What if I Don’t Have Enough Money for Medical Expenses After a Truck Accident?

This is why filing a personal injury claim is very important. You shouldn’t have to pay for medical treatment for injuries that were caused by the negligence or recklessness of another driver. Speaking with a Monterey truck accident lawyer can help you learn more about your options for medical treatment expenses!

How Much Will a BD&J Attorney Cost?

Our team of attorneys knows that the expenses of a truck accident can be exponential. We work on a contingency fee basis, which leaves our clients reassured that they don’t have to worry about the financial aspect of their claim until a settlement is reached.

What Are Contingency Fees?

Contingency fees mean an attorney is paid with a percentage of the settlement obtained from a personal injury claim. At BD&J, we know that the financial strain after a truck accident or other incident can be too much on any person or household, which is why we advance case costs to make sure all expenses are accounted for, even medical expenses!

How To File a Timely Truck Accident Claim in California

Filing a timely truck accident claim in Monterey is important to obtain compensation. To file a timely claim, be sure to:

Be aware of the statute of limitations. – California has a statute of limitations for all personal injury cases, which is essentially a deadline for plaintiffs to file. You have two years from the date of the truck accident to file a personal injury claim for compensation.
Collect evidence. – Collecting evidence for your class should be done as early as possible, while your memories and those of witnesses are still fresh. Collecting evidence also means gathering photos and videos, medical documentation, and your own account of the accident, as well as a police report.
Speak to a Monterey truck accident lawyer. – Filing a claim with the help of a Monterey truck accident lawyer can help speed up the claim process. This is because you have an expert legal advocate in your corner who is handling filing, evidence collection, discovery, negotiations, and much more.