California Truck Accident Lawyer

Why Truck Accident Cases Can Be Different From Car Accidents

A truck collision may look like a larger version of a car accident, but the investigation can be substantially different. Commercial trucking operations can involve the driver, motor carrier, vehicle owner, maintenance companies, cargo-related businesses, employers, and multiple insurance policies.

Truck cases can also involve evidence that may not exist in an ordinary car crash, including driver logs, electronic logging-device information, vehicle data, inspection records, maintenance records, dispatch information, and company safety documentation. FMCSA uses commercial-vehicle safety regulations and electronic logging systems to regulate and document areas such as driver hours and duty status.

These additional parties and records are among the reasons serious trucking cases may require a broader investigation than an ordinary two-car collision.

Learn more about how truck accident cases are different from car accident cases in California.

Common Causes of California Truck Accidents

Serious truck accidents can result from driver error, company practices, vehicle problems, road conditions, or a combination of several factors. Potential issues may include distracted driving, unsafe speed, following too closely, improper lane changes, driver fatigue, unsafe turns, inadequate training, maintenance problems, braking issues, or cargo-related problems.

Commercial vehicles also behave differently from smaller passenger cars because of their size, weight, turning characteristics, and stopping needs. California’s commercial-driver materials emphasize the additional space and planning needed to safely operate heavy commercial vehicles.

Determining what actually caused the collision may require looking beyond the police report and examining the truck, driver, carrier, electronic information, company records, and surrounding evidence.

Driver Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Issues

Truck-driver fatigue can become an important issue when a driver has spent substantial time behind the wheel or has not received adequate rest.

Federal hours-of-service rules generally restrict how long covered property-carrying commercial drivers may drive and remain within their driving window. FMCSA currently summarizes the general property-carrier limits as up to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, within a 14-hour driving window, along with additional break and weekly on-duty limitations. Exceptions and specialized rules can apply.

Many covered commercial drivers use electronic logging devices to record driving and off-duty time. FMCSA states that ELDs are designed to help track hours-of-service compliance and driver duty status.

When fatigue may have contributed to a collision, driver logs, electronic records, dispatch information, and trip timing may become important evidence.

Read more about California truck driver hours-of-service rules and our broader guide to California truck accident laws.

Trucking Company Negligence and Who May Be Liable

The truck driver is not necessarily the only party who may bear responsibility for a serious commercial truck crash.

Depending on the circumstances, potentially responsible parties may include the truck driver, trucking company, employer, vehicle owner, maintenance provider, cargo-related company, contractor, or another motorist.

A trucking company’s own conduct may become relevant when questions arise about hiring, driver supervision, training, scheduling, maintenance, vehicle safety, or other operating practices. Which parties are legally responsible depends on the facts of the individual collision.

Identifying every potentially responsible party can also affect what evidence should be preserved and which commercial insurance policies may need to be investigated.

Learn more about who may be liable after a truck accident in California and California trucking company negligence claims.

Jackknife and Underride Truck Accidents

Certain types of collisions are particularly associated with large commercial trucks.

A jackknife accident occurs when a truck’s trailer swings at an angle relative to the tractor. These crashes can involve multiple lanes and several vehicles, particularly when surrounding motorists have little time to avoid the trailer.

An underride accident occurs when a smaller vehicle moves beneath part of a larger commercial truck or trailer. These crashes can cause catastrophic injuries because the truck structure may strike higher areas of the passenger compartment.

Both types of collisions may require careful examination of driver actions, braking, vehicle condition, roadway conditions, physical damage, and available electronic or video evidence.

Learn more about California jackknife truck accidents and California underride truck accidents.

Black Box, Electronic Logs, and Other Truck Accident Evidence

Evidence can be especially important in a truck accident because commercial vehicles and trucking operations may generate records beyond those available in an ordinary passenger-car case.

Potential evidence may include vehicle electronic data, electronic driver logs, inspection records, maintenance documents, dispatch information, photographs, dash-camera footage, surveillance video, witness statements, driver records, and company documentation.

FMCSA explains that electronic logging devices are used to record and manage driver duty-status information and help with hours-of-service compliance. Depending on the truck and circumstances, other onboard electronic information may also become relevant to reconstructing what occurred.

Some records or physical evidence can change or become more difficult to obtain with time, making early identification of potential evidence important.

Read more about California truck accident black box evidence.

Common Injuries and the Financial Impact of a Truck Crash

Truck accidents can cause severe injuries because occupants of smaller vehicles may be exposed to substantial forces during the collision.

Potential injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal trauma, neck and back injuries, fractures, internal injuries, crush injuries, facial trauma, permanent scarring, and other conditions requiring surgery or long-term treatment. Some victims may experience permanent disability or require substantial rehabilitation.

Medical expenses may include emergency care, hospitalization, diagnostic testing, surgery, specialist treatment, physical therapy, rehabilitation, medication, and future medical needs. Serious injuries can also lead to lost income, reduced earning capacity, and significant changes in a person’s ability to work or perform normal activities.

Learn more about common injuries after a California truck accident and DAG Law Firm’s brain injury practice.

Commercial Truck Insurance Claims

Insurance issues in truck accident cases can be more complicated than those in ordinary automobile collisions.

A serious crash may involve coverage associated with the driver, trucking company, tractor, trailer, employer, or another business connected to the operation. Multiple insurers may investigate responsibility, injuries, medical treatment, and the amount of claimed losses.

The existence of commercial coverage does not create a predetermined settlement amount. The value of a truck accident claim depends on factors such as injury severity, medical treatment, future care, lost income, permanent limitations, liability evidence, available insurance, and the number of potentially responsible parties.

Because trucking cases may involve several businesses and policies, identifying the complete insurance picture can be an important part of the investigation.

Read more about California truck accident insurance claims.

What to Do After a California Truck Accident

After a serious truck accident, immediate medical needs and safety should come first. When circumstances allow, useful information may include photographs of the vehicles and roadway, trucking-company names or markings, tractor and trailer identification, witness information, insurance details, and the investigating agency.

Medical records, employment documentation, photographs, repair information, and accident-related expenses may also become important. In commercial trucking cases, preserving company and electronic evidence can be particularly significant because records relating to the truck, driver, and trip may help explain what happened.

Truck accident claims are also subject to legal deadlines, and unusual circumstances—such as government involvement or multiple defendants—can affect the applicable timeline. The specific deadline should be evaluated based on the parties and facts rather than assumed from a general rule.

Read our step-by-step guide on what to do after a truck accident in California and our overview of California truck accident laws.

California Truck Accident Resources and How DAG Law Firm Can Help

DAG Law Firm’s California truck accident resources provide deeper information about the issues that may arise after a serious commercial vehicle collision.

You can learn more about California truck accident laws, who may be liable after a truck accident, what to do after a truck accident, truck driver hours-of-service rules, trucking company negligence claims, jackknife truck accidents, underride truck accidents, truck accident black box evidence, commercial truck insurance claims, common truck accident injuries, and how truck accident cases differ from car accidents.

DAG Law Firm, APC represents people injured in serious truck accidents throughout California. We can review how the crash occurred, the truck and driver’s information, potentially responsible companies, available electronic evidence, insurance coverage, medical injuries, lost income, and other accident-related losses.

Whether the collision involved driver fatigue, unsafe trucking practices, a jackknife, underride, commercial insurance dispute, negligent maintenance, or several potentially responsible parties, the specific facts and evidence matter.

You do not pay attorney fees unless we win your case. There are no upfront attorney fees for qualifying truck accident matters handled on a contingency fee basis.

Call (323) 930-2020 or contact DAG Law Firm today to discuss your situation.