Truck Accident Attorneys in Bakersfield, California

1. Rodriguez and Associates

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, big rig accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, catastrophic injuries from truck collisions, wrongful death from truck accidents, semi-truck accidents

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions with trucks, jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, head-on truck collisions, brake failure accidents, driver fatigue accidents, overloaded truck accidents, cargo spill accidents, underride accidents, wide turn accidents

Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, hours of service violation investigation, electronic logging device (ELD) data analysis, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, property damage claims

Background: Rodriguez and Associates is a Bakersfield-based personal injury law firm with experience handling motor vehicle accident cases throughout California. The firm focuses on truck accident cases and understands the differences between standard car accidents and commercial truck collisions. Their attorneys are knowledgeable in state and federal transportation laws, motor vehicle carrier rules, and trucking company safety regulations.

Location: Bakersfield, California (Kern County)

Contact: (661) 323-1400 | https://www.rodriguezlaw.net/

Consultation: Free initial consultation available, contingency fee arrangement

2. Klein DeNatale Goldner

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, catastrophic injuries from trucking accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, premises liability, personal injury

Case Types Handled: Driver fatigue accidents, speeding truck accidents, distracted driving accidents, brake failure accidents, improper loading accidents, rollover accidents, jackknife accidents, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, multi-vehicle truck accidents

Legal Services: FMCSA compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, hours of service violation investigation, vehicle maintenance investigation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims

Background: Klein DeNatale Goldner is a well-established law firm serving the San Joaquin Valley region. Their personal injury attorneys have experience handling complex truck accident cases involving multiple parties and intricate federal regulations. The firm conducts comprehensive investigations into factors including violations of FMCSA regulations, driver fatigue, vehicle maintenance records, and road conditions. The firm has deep roots in the Bakersfield community.

Location: 5260 North Palm Avenue, Suite 201, Fresno, CA 93704 (serves Bakersfield and San Joaquin Valley)

Contact: (661) 485-2100 | https://www.kleinlaw.com/

Consultation: Free consultation available

3. Wisner Baum

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, big rig accidents, catastrophic injuries from truck collisions, wrongful death from truck accidents, product liability, mass torts

Case Types Handled: Tractor-trailer accidents, semi-truck collisions, delivery truck accidents, tanker truck accidents, cargo spill accidents, brake failure accidents, tire blowout accidents, driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents, rear-end truck collisions

Legal Services: Federal trucking regulations investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, black box data retrieval, electronic logging device analysis, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, punitive damage claims

Background: Wisner Baum attorneys have won over $4 billion for clients nationally. The firm has extensive experience representing people injured in truck accidents in Bakersfield and throughout California’s Central Valley. The Bakersfield office is located in the West Park neighborhood, approximately one mile west of Highway 99 on California Avenue. The firm handles cases against major trucking companies and understands the complexities of federal transportation regulations.

Location: 10866 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1500, Los Angeles, CA 90024 (with Bakersfield office)

Contact: (855) 948-5098 | https://www.wisnerbaum.com/

Consultation: Free and confidential case evaluation available, no fee unless compensation is obtained

4. Setareh Law, APLC

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, big rig accidents, semi-truck collisions, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death from truck accidents, personal injury

Case Types Handled: Tractor-trailer accidents, delivery truck accidents, cargo accidents, overloaded truck accidents, driver fatigue accidents, brake failure accidents, jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks

Legal Services: FMCSA compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, cargo loading negligence claims, vehicle manufacturer defect claims, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims

Background: Setareh Law has recovered over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients. The firm handles truck accident cases throughout California including Bakersfield. Their attorneys understand the complexities of commercial truck accident cases and the multiple parties that may be held liable including truck drivers, trucking companies, freight companies, cargo loaders, and vehicle manufacturers. The firm provides dedicated representation against large trucking companies and insurance carriers.

Location: 315 South Beverly Drive, Suite 315, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 (serves Bakersfield)

Contact: (310) 659-1826 | https://www.setarehfirm.com/

Consultation: Free case consultation available

5. Carpenter and Zuckerman

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injuries from truck accidents, wrongful death, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries

Case Types Handled: Tractor-trailer accidents, big rig collisions, delivery truck accidents, tanker truck accidents, construction truck accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on truck collisions, jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, cargo spill accidents

Legal Services: FMCSA compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, maintenance provider negligence claims, cargo loader negligence claims, driver log investigation, crash report analysis, expert witness consultation, accident reconstruction, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims

Background: Carpenter and Zuckerman is a California personal injury law firm with attorneys experienced in truck accident litigation. The firm conducts thorough investigations gathering evidence including driver logs, maintenance records, crash reports, and expert testimony. Their attorneys negotiate with insurance companies and are prepared to take cases to trial when necessary. The firm evaluates both current and future losses to pursue full compensation for truck accident victims.

Location: 8383 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 648, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 (with Bakersfield office)

Contact: (888) 484-2033 | https://www.cz.law/

Consultation: Free no-obligation consultation available, no upfront costs

Driver Files, Electronic Logs and Highway Claims in Bakersfield Truck Crashes

A Bakersfield truck crash on a highway raises questions about the driver’s qualifications, the duty-status record, and the truck’s inspection history. If road conditions played a part, a claim against a public entity runs on a separate clock.

Driver Qualification

Except as provided in subpart G, 49 CFR 391.11(b) requires a commercial driver to be at least 21, to read and speak English sufficiently, to be able by experience or training to operate the vehicle safely, to be physically qualified, to hold a currently valid commercial license issued by only one jurisdiction, not to be disqualified, and to have passed a road test or hold an accepted equivalent.

Duty-Status Records

Under 49 CFR 395.8(a), the carrier must require each driver to record duty status with an electronic logging device, with manual records allowed in listed cases, including use for not more than 8 days in any 30-day period and a vehicle manufactured before model year 2000 as shown by the vehicle identification number on its registration. Records are kept at least 6 months from receipt under 395.8(k)(1).

The Annual Inspection

Under 49 CFR 396.17, each commercial motor vehicle, including each unit of a combination, must have passed a periodic inspection within the preceding 12 months, with documentation on the vehicle.

A Dangerous Public Road

Except as provided by statute, Government Code § 835 makes a public entity liable for injury caused by a dangerous condition of its property if the property was dangerous at the time of injury, the condition proximately caused the injury and created a reasonably foreseeable risk of that kind of injury, and either an employee’s negligent or wrongful act created it or the entity had actual or constructive notice in time to protect against it. A claim for injury is due within six months after accrual under § 911.2.

Bakersfield Truck Accident Questions

Can I recover if I was partly at fault?

Yes. Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) adopted pure comparative negligence. For example, imagine $500,000 in damages and 20 percent of the fault on the injured driver: the recovery would be $400,000.

Who may sue when a truck crash is fatal?

Under Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60, the surviving spouse, domestic partner, children and issue of deceased children, or, if there are none, those entitled to the estate by intestate succession; listed dependents may also bring the claim, and the personal representative may assert it on their behalf.

How long do I have to sue the carrier?

Two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 for injury or death caused by another’s wrongful act or neglect.