When a truck collides with a passenger vehicle in California, disaster follows. It is among the deadliest types of auto accidents in the United States. The reason is simple: the sheer size of the truck (and its potential contents) versus a passenger vehicle. The average truck with a fully loaded trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds while the average passenger vehicle’s weight ranges between 4,000 to 5,000 pounds. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a truck accident, receiving fair and just compensation may be your only recourse for physical, mental, and emotional recovery.
Accidents involving 18-wheelers or commercial trucks are different from accidents involving only passenger vehicles. There’s a lot more involved. The truck driver isn’t the only one who may be liable. There are federal regulations to consider alongside state laws. The mechanics involved in the truck, too, are quite different and may be relevant, making truck accident cases more complex.
The problem is this: an insurance company may not settle for what’s fair. You may need to file a personal injury claim. At Injury Attorneys by Amin Law, our truck accident attorneys can help you file a strong, well-documented claim while advocating your rights and representing your best interests.
With offices in Beverly Hills, Sacramento, Folsom, and Yuba City, we work with clients throughout California.
Contact us today online or at 415-851-4300 to schedule a free consultation, or read on to find out more about trucking accident injuries.
Why Choose Amin Law for Your Trucking Accident Injury Case?
If you’ve been injured, or if a loved one has been injured, in a trucking accident in California, Amin Law can help. Here are a few reasons we are in a good position to help you get the compensation you deserve:
- Our track record of success for our clients (more on those in a moment).
- We focus on serious accidents, more so than on minor injuries.
- Ours is not a “volume” firm, in which we represent more clients than we can count. We’ll get to know each other.
- Though we have offices in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, we work with clients throughout the Golden State.
- Your attorney will travel to you (driving is probably the last thing you want to do right now).
- You won’t pay any fees unless and until we win your case.
- Consultations are free.
What makes California prone to serious trucking accidents?
For victims, trucking accidents seem to come out of nowhere. On the road here in California, most of our focus is on nice cars, scenic drives, and what’s waiting for us after we park. Our less-pleasant thoughts usually relate to slow traffic and avoiding careless drivers of other cars. Despite their size, trucks just tend to blend into the background.
But trucking accidents in California are not rare at all. A few terrifying statistics:
- California has the 2nd-highest number of fatal accidents that involved trucks, behind only Texas.
- 3 of the deadliest highways in the US are in California: the I-15 in San Bernardino County, the I-10, in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, and the I-5 around Sacramento.
- In 2024 just over 10% of fatal car crashes (3876) in California in 2024 involved a large truck (391), according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Not all trucking accidents are fatal, of course. But most of them are extremely serious. Paticularly common are head and brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones.
Trucking accident injuries tend to be serious mainly because of the size and weight differences between cars and trucks, though accidents involving multiple trucks can be just as dangerous. A recent example was a 17-vehicle pile-up in Shasta County, which involved multiple big rigs. Trucking accidents also tend to involve high speeds, because of the long distance and time required for a big rig to stop on the freeway.
Because California’s economy consists of many parts, a truck-involved accident in California may involve trucks of all shapes and sizes: big rigs (AKA semis or tractor-trailers), box trucks, flatbeds, car haulers, cement mixers, hazmat trucks, garbage trucks, dump trucks, logging trucks, delivery trucks, and pickup trucks.
When you combine the number and variety of trucks on the road with the variable quality of truck drivers, the other drivers on the road, some hard realities of trucking, and some California-specific factors, it’s a wonder trucking accidents aren’t even more common here. Truck drivers need to deal with fatigue, chaotic hours, and deadlines, on top of the usual hazards of driving any vehicle. California in particular has varied terrain and varying levels of congestion. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach produce enormous truck traffic through population centers both west to east and south to north. Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County have the most and second-most truck-involved fatalities, according to the NHTSA. Accidents involving one truck and one or two cars are all too common.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in California
Accidents involving semi-trucks or another type of commercial truck are caused for any number of reasons.
Some of the most common include:
- Distracted driving
- Excessive speed
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Driving in high winds
- Unsafe lane changes
- Inadequate training
- Inexperience
- Excessive fatigue
- Defective truck parts
- Poor truck maintenance
- Shifting cargo inside the trailer
- Poorly-fastened cargo on a flatbed trailer.
Not all truck accidents are caused by the truck driver or an issue with the truck. Other causes may include environmental conditions, poor road design, or another driver’s error. In the end, there may be several causes that lead up to the accident, which again makes these cases more complex than other types of auto accidents.
Common Types of Injuries in California from Truck Accidents
No matter how it is caused, a truck crash often leads to severe, life-threatening, life-changing, or fatal injuries for the people in the passenger vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides annual statistics, and year after year, it’s been documented that more than 80 percent of those who die from bodily injuries sustained in a truck accident are occupants of the other vehicle (or pedestrians or bicyclists). Only rarely is the truck driver or a passenger of the truck killed, and that’s in part because the sheer size and weight of the truck is to their advantage.
Though fatalities often result from semi-truck collisions, there are other serious injuries that can have life-changing effects on the victim. These injuries include:
- Spinal injuries
- Broken and fractured bones
- Crushing injuries
- Severe or life-threatening lacerations
- Internal bleeding and damage to internal organs
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis
- Limb dismemberment
- Burn injuries.
In some cases, certain injuries can lead to additional compensation. For example, if you are left scarred or unable to work, you deserve more than someone who will fully recover.
Ready to talk about your case?
Potential Liable Parties in California Truck Accidents
Truck accidents, especially commercial truck accidents, are different from other accidents involving only passenger cars because, in part, a trucking company usually employs the truck driver involved in the crash. As the trucker’s employer or carrier, it may be legally responsible for the upkeep of the truck and truck drivers’ actions.
In addition to a truck driver and the carrier, several other parties may be liable for a truck accident, including:
- Manufacturer of the truck
- Manufacturer of truck parts
- Vendors providing services to the carrier (like loaders)
- Owner of the cargo
- Local government or contractors responsible for highway design or maintenance
Why File a Personal Injury Claim for a Truck Accident in California?
Truck accidents are complex cases. Injuries sustained from them are often severe, and, as such, are extremely costly. Insurance companies may be happy to settle, but the offer will likely not reflect what’s fair and just.
When insurance companies make an initial settlement offer, their first goal is to protect their own bottom line – not help the victim recover. They will try to cut costs by not thoroughly investigating the accident. This means the insurer may not uncover all the underlying causes and potential liable parties (e.g., truck driver, trucking company, loaders, mechanics, etc.). Insurance companies will also try to get away with not paying for future medical bills, future lost wages, loss of earned income, and other expenses that you may not be aware of but which the law allows you to recover.
By filing a personal injury claim, victims can pursue the compensation that they really deserve.
Timing of the personal injury claim, however, is critical. There are deadlines you must meet in order to recover. If you miss certain deadlines, like those imposed by statutes of limitations, then you may not be able to recover anything. It is important to know the laws specific to your jurisdiction, thus, the reason why it is so very critical to your personal injury case to speak to a truck accident lawyer today.
Case Results: How We Helped Clients Injured in California Trucking Accidents
Below are some of our clients’ results. Of course, we can’t guarantee a specific settlement or award amount, but these cases are examples of the kinds of situations in which we can help you.
CA Trucking Accident Injury Case Example #1: Semi-Truck Rear-End Collision on I-5 (Spinal Injury) Near Yuba City
In 2022, our client was rear-ended by a commercial semi-truck on CA-99 near Yuba City during early morning traffic while commuting to work. The impact caused serious spinal injuries that required surgery and a lengthy recovery. The trucking company initially denied fault and claimed our client stopped suddenly. Our client’s spouse reached out to us shortly after the incident and worked closely with our office while the client focused on treatment. Through accident reconstruction and analysis of the truck’s electronic logging data, we determined the driver had exceeded allowable hours and was operating while fatigued. Once that came to light, the case moved toward resolution and ultimately settled favorably.
CA Trucking Accident Injury Case Example #2: Tractor-Trailer Lane Change on I-10 (Traumatic Brain Injury)
In 2021, our client suffered a traumatic brain injury after a tractor-trailer made an unsafe lane change on I-10 in heavy traffic, forcing our client’s vehicle into the barrier. The defense position was that our client was in the truck’s blind spot and responsible for the collision. We dug into the driver’s history, including training records and prior safety issues, and obtained additional evidence through discovery that showed improper lane movement. A family member helped coordinate communication with our office early on while the client dealt with the effects of the injury. The case resolved favorably before trial.
CA Trucking Accident Injury Case Example #3: Multi-Vehicle Trucking Collision on I-15 (Wrongful Death) in San Bernardino County
In 2019, we represented a family following a fatal multi-vehicle collision on I-15 in San Bernardino County. A commercial truck failed to slow for stopped traffic, triggering a chain reaction crash involving several vehicles. There were multiple parties involved and conflicting accounts of what happened, and the defense attempted to shift responsibility among the other drivers. We worked with accident reconstruction experts to piece together the sequence of events and establish that the truck driver failed to maintain a safe stopping distance. We primarily worked with the victim’s immediate family throughout the case, and the matter ultimately resolved in their favor.
CA Trucking Accident Injury Case Example #4: Big Rig Rollover on I-5 (Improperly Loaded Cargo) in the Central Valley
In 2018, our client was injured when a big rig lost control and rolled over on I-5 in the Central Valley after its cargo shifted during transit. As we investigated, it became clear that the load had not been properly secured. While the initial focus was on the driver, further review pointed to negligence by a third-party loading company. We pursued both avenues and were able to establish shared responsibility. The client and a family member stayed in close contact with our office throughout the process, and the case ultimately resolved favorably.
Contact Our Trucking Accident Team Today
Truck accidents can be devastating for everyone involved. Make sure you get the compensation you deserve by hiring an experienced trucking accident injury lawyer at Injury Attorneys by Amin Law. We have offices in Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Folsom, and Yuba City, CA. Contact us online or at 415-851-4300 to schedule a free consultation today.
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