Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer

Your Rights After a Big Rig Truck Collision

Injured in a Truck Accident in Los Angeles or anywhere in California? Here’s what you need to know. A truck accident claim is a legal action to recover compensation after a collision with a commercial truck: an 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer, a box truck, a tanker, a dump truck, a delivery truck or any other large vehicle driven for business. A fully loaded big rig can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and requires more distance to stop than a passenger car, often causing severe injuries or death in a collision. You don’t have to face this alone, contact our truck accident attorneys now to know what to do in this situation. Sometimes liability may extend beyond the driver to the trucking company, truck owner or other responsible parties.

If you or a family member was hurt in a collision with a commercial truck anywhere in the Los Angeles area, an experienced Los Angeles truck accident lawyer can investigate every party that may share responsibility and pursue the full compensation California law allows. At Walch Law, we have handled personal injury and wrongful death cases for more than 50 years, recovering millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Contact us today for your FREE consultation. There is NO fee until you win!

Why Truck Accidents Are So Dangerous

Size and weight are the starting point. A big rig has long stopping distances, wide turning arcs and large blind spots, often called “no-zones,” on all four sides. When a truck driver follows too closely, changes lanes without checking or cannot stop for slowed traffic, the people in smaller vehicles take the force.

Where Truck Accidents Happen in Southern California

Our region is one of the busiest freight corridors in the country. The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach move a large share of the nation’s containerized imports, and thousands of port drayage and long-haul trucks travel the I-710, I-5, I-10, SR-60, and I-405 every day. Local drivers also share the US-101 through Woodland Hills, Encino, Sherman Oaks, and Calabasas with delivery and construction trucks. Other frequent trouble spots include SR-134 through Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena, SR-118 near Van Nuys and Simi Valley, SR-14 toward the Antelope Valley, the Grapevine on I-5 into Kern County, and the Cajon Pass on I-15. Steep grades, heavy congestion, wind, fog, and construction zones all add risk.

Residents of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Tarzana, Van Nuys, and the surrounding communities also face risks from local delivery trucks, garbage trucks, and construction vehicles on city streets.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Driver Fatigue and Hours-Of-Service Violations

Federal rules cap a property-carrying driver at 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, within a 14-hour on-duty window, with a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving and weekly limits of 60 or 70 hours (49 C.F.R. § 395.3). Pressure from tight delivery schedules, pay incentives, and unrealistic routes can push drivers past those limits. A drowsy driver can drift out of a lane, fail to brake or fall asleep at the wheel.

Speeding, Tailgating and Failure to Leave a Cushion

A loaded truck needs much more distance to stop than a car. Drivers must leave extra space and slow down in rain, fog, and heavy traffic. California’s following-too-closely law (Vehicle Code § 21703) applies to truckers like everyone else, and a rear-end collision with a stopped or slowing vehicle is a common and devastating truck crash pattern.

Blind Spots, Unsafe Lane Changes and Wide Turns

Large trucks have blind spots beside, behind, and in front of the cab. Sideswipes, squeeze-play crashes during right turns, and left-turn collisions are common. Whether a driver checked mirrors, used a spotter or cameras, and signaled is often disputed.

Poor Maintenance and Equipment Failure

Brake failures, worn or blown tires, faulty lights and steering problems cause crashes. Carriers must inspect and maintain their vehicles (49 C.F.R. Part 396) and maintenance records can show whether warnings were ignored.

Overloaded, Unbalanced or Unsecured Cargo

Improperly loaded cargo can cause rollovers and jackknife accidents or spill onto the roadway. Responsibility may extend to the company that loaded the truck, not just the driver.

Inadequate Hiring, Training and Supervision

A carrier that hires an unqualified or unsafe driver, fails to train or supervise or ignores a driver’s history may face direct liability in addition to responsibility for the driver’s actions.

Types of Truck Accidents We Handle

• Rear-end collisions and underride crashes
• Jackknife and rollover accidents
• Left-turn and intersection collisions
• Wide-turn and lane-change (sideswipe) crashes
• Tire blowouts and lost-cargo or falling-debris accidents
• Accidents involving tankers, flatbeds, dump trucks, delivery vans and garbage trucks
• Pedestrian, bicycle and motorcycle collisions with trucks

Who Can Be Held Responsible?

A truck accident lawyer will look beyond the driver. Possible defendants include:

• The truck driver, for negligent driving.
• The trucking company (motor carrier), both for its employee’s negligence and for its own failures in hiring, training, dispatching and maintenance.
• The truck owner or leasing company, which may be a separate business from the carrier.
• Shippers and loaders, if cargo was overloaded or improperly secured.
• Freight brokers, which arrange transportation. In Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC (U.S. May 14, 2026, No. 24-1238), the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held that federal law does not bar negligent-selection claims against freight brokers that hire unsafe carriers.
• Maintenance contractors and parts manufacturers, if faulty repairs or defective brakes, tires  or other components contributed.
• Government entities, if a dangerous road condition played a part (Government Code § 835) or if a city or county truck was involved.

Employers are generally responsible for harm their employees cause while doing their jobs, and the question of whether a driver was an employee or an independent contractor is often contested. A thorough investigation determines which insurance policies may be available.

Truck Accident Compensation: What You May Be Able to Recover

California law allows injured people to seek compensation for the harm a wrongful act caused. In a truck accident case, damages may include:

• Medical bills: ambulance, emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, and ongoing treatment
• Recovery costs: physical therapy, psychological counseling, and dental care
• Lost wages from missed work
• Loss of earning capacity if you cannot return to your prior work
• Pain and suffering and emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life and inconvenience
• Property damage: vehicle, cell phone, laptop, and other belongings
• Rental car costs
• Diminished value of a repaired vehicle
• Wrongful death damages for families, including funeral costs, lost support, and loss of companionship (Code of Civil Procedure §§ 377.60, 377.61)

Punitive damages are possible in rare cases involving malice, oppression or fraud, and they require clear and convincing evidence; when the defendant is a company, specific management involvement is required (Civil Code § 3294). Under Howell v. Hamilton Meats & Provisions, Inc. (2011) 52 Cal.4th 541, recoverable past medical expenses are generally limited to the amounts actually paid or incurred.

How Trucking Companies and Insurers Respond

Many trucking companies have rapid-response teams that begin investigating soon after a serious crash. Their goal is to protect the company. Common tactics include requesting a quick recorded statement, offering a fast low settlement, arguing the injured person was partly at fault, disputing medical treatment as unnecessary, and shifting blame among the driver, carrier, shipper, and other parties.

Comparative Fault and Shared Responsibility

California follows pure comparative negligence (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804), so being partly at fault does not bar a claim; your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. Under Civil Code § 1431.2, each defendant is generally responsible only for its own share of non-economic damages, which makes identifying every responsible party essential.

Common Mistakes Truck Accident Victims Make

• Giving a statement to the trucking insurer before speaking with a lawyer.
• Accepting an early settlement before knowing the full medical picture.
• Delaying medical care or stopping treatment too soon.
• Posting about the accident or injuries on social media.
• Waiting too long, so that logs, video, and data are lost.
• Missing a short claim deadline against a government entity.

Deadlines for Filing a Truck Accident Claim

Different deadlines may apply depending on whether one or multiple defendants are involved. Contact us today for a FREE consultation to understand the deadlines that may apply to your case and other legal assistance.

How Walch Law Can Help

Walch Law is a family-owned California personal injury firm with 50+ years of experience handling serious injury and wrongful death cases. We treat every client like family and help you obtain medical care, recover property damages, and deal with trucking companies and insurers.

There is NO fee until you win. You pay nothing upfront and our fee comes after your recovery.

Talk to a Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Truck accident evidence disappears quickly, and the company on the other side already has a team working on its response. If you or a loved one was hurt in a truck accident in Los Angeles or anywhere in California, our consultation is absolutely FREE and there is NO FEE until you win, so please contact us now for your FREE consultation and case evaluation.

Call us toll free at 866 INJURY 2 (866-465-8792) or 818-222-3400 (after hours, dial “1”), use our online contact form or email info@WalchLaw.com. We are available 24/7.