Tractor-Trailer Accidents
Collisions involving large semi-trucks and 18-wheelers, often causing catastrophic injuries due to an extreme size and weight differential.
Truck Accidents
Commercial truck accidents present distinct legal challenges, often involve multiple liable parties, and frequently result in severe or life altering injuries.
Discuss your accident
Types of Cases We Handle
Delivery Truck Accidents
Crashes involving commercial delivery vehicles making frequent stops in urban areas, often caused by time pressure and distracted driving.
Explore delivery truck accidents →Tanker Truck Accidents
Incidents involving vehicles carrying hazardous materials, fuel, or chemicals, which can result in fires, explosions, and environmental contamination.
Overloaded or Improperly Loaded Trucks
Accidents caused by cargo that exceeds weight limits or is improperly secured, leading to rollovers, jackknifes, or falling debris.
Driver Fatigue Accidents
Crashes caused by truck drivers who exceed hours-of-service regulations, drive while fatigued, or falsify their driving logs.
Maintenance Failure Accidents
Collisions caused by brake failures, tire blowouts, or other mechanical defects resulting from inadequate vehicle maintenance.
$10.5 million
Pedestrian v. Driver
Client was struck by a left-turning transport truck while within the crosswalk, suffering massive injuries and traumatic brain injury.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Overview
Commercial truck accidents are among the most devastating on our roads. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh about 80,000 pounds, far more than a passenger vehicle. When a collision occurs with a commercial truck, the results are often catastrophic.
Commercial truck accident cases often involve multiple parties who may bear responsibility for a crash. At The Brandi Law Firm, we investigate truck accidents thoroughly, examining driver logs, electronic data recorders, maintenance records, company safety records, and cargo loading procedures. Our Person-Machine-Environment approach is particularly effective in truck accident cases, where the cause of the crash may involve driver fatigue, vehicle defects, and road conditions.
We have the resources to take on large trucking companies and their insurers, who often dispatch rapid response teams to accident scenes to protect their interests. If you've been injured in a truck accident, prompt legal representation is critical to preserving evidence.
Understanding California Law
Commercial truck drivers and companies are subject to both the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations and California state laws. Federal regulations govern hours of service, vehicle maintenance standards, driver qualifications, and cargo securement. Violations of these regulations can serve as evidence of negligence in a truck accident case. California Vehicle Code includes specific provisions for commercial vehicles, including speed limits, lane restrictions, and equipment requirements.
The statute of limitations for truck accident claims in California is generally two years from the date of the accident. However, if a government entity contributed to causing an accident (for example, if a dangerous road condition contributed to the crash), shorter deadlines may apply. Evidence in truck accident cases can disappear quickly, so prompt legal action is essential.
Potential Compensation
Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be able to pursue compensation for the following types of damages:
- Medical care and hospitalization
- Long-term rehabilitation and therapy
- Future medical costs for catastrophic injuries
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and suffering
- Disability and loss of independence
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
Our Process
Rapid Response Investigation
We move quickly to preserve critical evidence including the truck's black box data, driver logs, drug and alcohol test results, and vehicle inspection records before they can be altered or destroyed.
Regulatory Analysis
Our team reviews FMCSA compliance records, hours-of-service logs, driver qualification files, and the trucking company's safety history to identify violations that contributed to the crash.
Liability Chain Investigation
We identify every potentially responsible party, including the driver, trucking company, broker, cargo loader, vehicle manufacturer, and maintenance provider.
Damages Assessment
We work with medical professionals, life care planners, and economists to calculate the full extent of your current and future losses.
Aggressive Litigation
Trucking companies and their insurers have significant legal resources. We match those resources and are prepared to take your case to trial.
What Sets Us Apart
- Thorough investigation of all potential causes
- Multiple liable party identification
- Experience with complex motor vehicle cases
- Resources to take on major corporations
- Severe and catastrophic injury cases
Notable Case Results
The results described below are representative of past outcomes. Each case is unique. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Pedestrian v. Driver
Client was struck by a left-turning transport truck while within the crosswalk, suffering massive injuries and traumatic brain injury.
Truckdriver v. Truckdriver
Client struck by left-turning semi truck and ejected, causing life-threatening injuries.
Bicyclist v. Truck
Bicyclist killed when struck by truck mirror.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is liable in a truck accident?
Multiple parties may share liability in a truck accident, including the truck driver, the trucking company, the cargo loading company, the vehicle manufacturer, the maintenance provider, and even the broker who arranged the shipment. Our attorneys investigate all potential sources of liability.
What is a truck's black box?
Most commercial trucks are equipped with an electronic control module (ECM) or event data recorder (EDR) that records information such as speed, braking, engine RPMs, and other data in the moments before a crash. This data can be critical evidence, but it may be overwritten if not preserved quickly.
How are truck accident cases different from car accident cases?
Truck accident cases are more complex because they involve federal regulations, California Vehicle Codes, multiple potentially liable parties, larger insurance policies, and typically more severe injuries. It is not uncommon for trucking companies to send rapid response teams to accident scenes, making prompt legal representation essential to be on an equal playing field.
What if the truck driver was violating hours-of-service rules?
Federal regulations limit how many hours a truck driver can operate without rest. If a driver exceeded these limits or falsified their logs, this can be evidence of negligence. Our attorneys analyze electronic logging device data to uncover these violations.
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim?
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California is generally two years, but critical evidence in truck cases can be lost quickly. We recommend consulting with an attorney as soon as possible after a truck accident to help preserve important evidence.
Free Case Evaluation
If you or a loved one has been affected by truck accidents, contact us for a free, confidential consultation.
Contact usTruck image is illustrative, not a photograph of a client’s accident or a specific location.