Truck accident
Truck Accident Attorneys in Stockton, California
The firms in this guide
1. The Friel Law Firm
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, big rig accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions
Case Types Handled: Rollover accidents, jackknife accidents, underride accidents, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, wide turn accidents, driver fatigue accidents, improper cargo loading accidents, brake failure accidents, Highway 99 accidents, I-5 corridor accidents
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations investigation, state trucking regulations compliance review, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, permanent injury claims
Background: The Friel Law Firm handles serious injury cases involving 18-wheeler, semi-truck, and tractor-trailer accidents in Stockton and throughout Northern California. The firm’s personal injury attorneys have extensive experience with commercial vehicle accident claims and understanding of both state and federal trucking laws.
Location: 2291 W. March Lane, Suite A115, Stockton, CA 95207
Contact: (209) 300-6117 | https://friellaw.com/
Consultation: Free initial consultation. Contingency fee arrangement available.
2. Brown & Gessell
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, big rig accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions
Case Types Handled: Speeding-related truck accidents, driver fatigue accidents, improper cargo loading accidents, rollover accidents, jackknife accidents, underride accidents, rear-end collisions, wide turn accidents, distracted driving accidents
Legal Services: California trucking regulations investigation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliance review, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, punitive damage claims
Background: The firm has handled hundreds of accident cases, many involving big rigs. The attorneys are familiar with California’s special laws applicable to truck drivers, including inspection requirements, type and frequency of inspections, and other areas of truck-specific law.
Location: 5345 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95207
Contact: (209) 951-4800 | https://www.brown-gessell.com/
Consultation: Free consultation available. The firm serves Stockton and surrounding areas.
3. Kash Legal
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck accidents, commercial truck accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, delivery truck accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions
Case Types Handled: Highway 99 truck accidents, rollover accidents, jackknife accidents, underride accidents, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, wide turn accidents, driver fatigue accidents, brake failure accidents, cargo spill accidents
Legal Services: Commercial truck litigation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims
Background: Kash Legal’s Stockton truck accident lawyers have extensive experience and knowledge of the unique issues involved in trucking litigation. The firm serves clients throughout California with a focus on commercial vehicle accidents.
Location: 4420 Precissi Lane, Suite A, Stockton, CA 95207
Contact: (888) 527-4128 | https://kashlegal.com/
Consultation: Free consultation available. Contingency fee arrangement.
4. Davalos Law Firm PC
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions
Case Types Handled: Rollover accidents, jackknife accidents, underride accidents, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, wide turn accidents, driver fatigue accidents, equipment failure accidents, improper maintenance accidents
Legal Services: State and federal trucking regulations investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, liability investigation
Background: Davalos Law Firm PC has earned recognition as a prominent law firm in Stockton for consecutive years. The firm provides experienced legal representation in truck accident cases and maintains strong communication with clients throughout the legal process.
Location: 1330 W Robinhood Dr, Suite 3A, Stockton, CA 95207
Contact: (209) 400-4517 | https://thedavaloslawfirm.com/
Consultation: Free consultation. Contingency fee arrangement with no upfront costs.
5. Rancano & Rancano, APLC
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, big rig accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions
Case Types Handled: Rollover accidents, jackknife accidents, underride accidents, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, wide turn accidents, driver fatigue accidents, equipment failure accidents, improper cargo loading accidents
Legal Services: Trucking company negligence claims (respondeat superior), driver negligence claims, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, future care cost calculation
Background: Rancano & Rancano, APLC has been serving clients in Stockton since 1989. The firm provides contingency fee representation and pays for additional expenses upfront, including costs for expert testimonies. The firm has decades of collective legal experience working on high-value truck accident cases.
Location: 5330 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95207
Contact: (209) 255-6849 | https://www.rancanolaw.com/
Consultation: Free initial consultation. Contingency fee arrangement with no payment unless compensation is recovered.
Driving Hours, Driver Qualification and Speed Rules in Stockton Truck Crash Claims
A Stockton truck crash can turn on whether the driver should have been behind the wheel at that hour, and at that speed. Federal rules set the driving window and qualification standards for interstate carriers; California’s speed law applies to every driver.
The Daily Driving Window
Except as otherwise provided in 49 CFR 395.1, 49 CFR 395.3(a) requires a property-carrying driver to have 10 consecutive hours off duty before driving, limits driving to 11 hours, bars driving after the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, and bars driving once more than 8 hours of driving time have passed without a consecutive 30-minute interruption. Section 395.8(k)(1) requires the carrier to keep duty-status records and supporting documents for at least 6 months from receipt.
Qualification Before Driving
Except as provided in subpart G, 49 CFR 391.11(b) requires the 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.
Whether the Federal Rules Reach the Truck
Under 49 CFR 390.5, a commercial motor vehicle includes a vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more, along with passenger and hazardous materials thresholds.
Speed
Vehicle Code § 22350 bars driving on a highway faster than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, traffic and the surface and width of the highway, and in no event at a speed that endangers persons or property.
Stockton 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 25 percent of the fault on the injured driver: the recovery would be $375,000.
Can an uninsured driver recover pain and suffering?
No, as a rule. Civil Code § 3333.4(a) bars noneconomic losses for an injured owner whose vehicle was not insured as required and an injured operator who cannot establish financial responsibility, as well as an injured person convicted of DUI for that crash. Under subdivision (c), an uninsured owner injured by a motorist convicted of DUI for that crash is not barred.
How long do I have to sue?
Two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 for injury or death caused by another’s wrongful act or neglect. A claim against a public entity must first be presented within six months after accrual under Government Code § 911.2.