Truck accident
Truck Accident Attorneys in San Bernardino, California
The firms in this guide
- William D. Shapiro Law, Inc. Call William D. Shapiro Law, Inc.: (909) 890-1000
- The Reeves Law Group Call The Reeves Law Group: (909) 657-0576
- Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP Call Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP: (866) 634-4525
- The Dominguez Firm Call The Dominguez Firm: (877) 265-2167
- Bentley & More LLP
1. William D. Shapiro Law, Inc.
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, tractor-trailer accidents, big rig accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death.
Case Types Handled: Trucking company negligence, driver fatigue accidents, speeding accidents, mechanical failure accidents, brake failure accidents, cargo accidents, jackknife accidents, rollover accidents.
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, multi-party liability investigation, accident reconstruction, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims.
Background: William D. Shapiro Law, Inc. has served Southern California for over forty years. The firm has achieved notable trucking accident results including $53 million (against negligent truck driver), $41.5 million (mother and wife wrongful death), and $26.5 million (against negligent truck driver). Attorneys William D. Shapiro and Brian D. Shapiro work with medical experts, reconstruction teams, police officials, and trucking industry professionals to determine if clients have cause to file a claim.
Location: 893 E Brier Dr, San Bernardino, CA 92408 (near Hospitality Lane)
Contact: (909) 890-1000 | https://wshapiro.com/
Consultation: Free consultation available. Contingency fee basis.
2. The Reeves Law Group
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, big rig accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death.
Case Types Handled: Commercial truck collisions, driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents, equipment failure accidents, cargo accidents, rollover accidents, jackknife accidents.
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, multi-party liability investigation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, punitive damage claims, wrongful death claims.
Background: The Reeves Law Group features Derek Pakiz, who is certified in both Civil Trial and Truck Accident Law, making him one of only a few attorneys in California with this dual certification. The firm has won over $250 million for clients and is recognized as a pioneer in handling catastrophic injuries involving commercial trucks and heavy vehicles in the Inland Empire.
Location: 198 N Arrowhead Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92408
Contact: (909) 657-0576 | https://www.robertreeveslaw.com/
Consultation: Free consultation available. Contingency fee basis.
3. Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, tractor-trailer accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death.
Case Types Handled: Commercial trucking accidents, driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents, equipment failure accidents, cargo accidents, improper maintenance accidents, hours of service violations.
Legal Services: Trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, multi-party liability investigation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims.
Background: Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP is named in Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” and ranks as Tier 1 Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs in Los Angeles. Founding partners Browne Greene and Bruce A. Broillet are members of the exclusive invite-only Inner Circle of Advocates as two of the top 100 plaintiff trial lawyers in America. Several attorneys have received the Consumer Attorney of the Year Award. All 15 attorneys have been selected to Best Lawyers after an extensive peer review process.
Location: San Bernardino, California (main office in Los Angeles)
Contact: (866) 634-4525 | https://www.gbw.law/
Consultation: Free consultation available. Contingency fee basis.
4. The Dominguez Firm
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, tractor-trailer accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death.
Case Types Handled: Trucking company negligence, driver fatigue accidents, improper maintenance accidents, lost load accidents, cargo accidents, equipment failure accidents, highway authority negligence.
Legal Services: Trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, multi-party liability investigation, evidence preservation, accident investigation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims.
Background: The Dominguez Firm is one of San Bernardino’s personal injury law firms with over three decades of experience litigating truck accident cases. The firm offers a 96% success rate and has extensive experience with the growth in warehouse operations in San Bernardino County. The attorneys work with clients to identify all damages caused by accidents and handle all negotiations, documentation, and investigations.
Location: San Bernardino, California
Contact: (877) 265-2167 | https://dominguezfirm.com/
Consultation: Free consultation available. Contingency fee basis.
5. Bentley & More LLP
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, tractor-trailer accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, big rig accidents, hazardous cargo accidents, catastrophic injuries.
Case Types Handled: Driver fatigue accidents, hours of service violations, drowsy driving accidents, equipment failure accidents, cargo accidents, poorly maintained truck accidents, rollover accidents.
Legal Services: Federal trucking regulation investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, multi-party liability investigation, product liability claims, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims.
Background: Bentley & More LLP provides legal representation in the Inland Empire for truck accident victims. The firm has experience with the high volume of commercial truck traffic traveling through San Bernardino on major freeways and state highways. The attorneys understand that trucking companies often keep lawyers ready to defend their practices and work to counter their tactics.
Location: San Bernardino, California (Inland Empire)
Contact: https://www.bentleymore.com/
Consultation: Consultation available. Contingency fee basis.
Truck Maintenance, Driver Alcohol Rules and Road Conditions in San Bernardino Truck Crashes
A San Bernardino truck crash can trace back to the truck’s condition, the driver’s fitness for duty, or the road itself. Federal rules cover the first two for interstate carriers, and California’s Government Code covers claims about public roads.
Inspection, Repair and Maintenance
Under 49 CFR 396.3, every motor carrier must systematically inspect, repair and maintain the vehicles subject to its control and keep maintenance records for 1 year where the vehicle is housed or maintained and for 6 months after the vehicle leaves its control; private carriers of passengers (nonbusiness) are excluded from the recordkeeping paragraph.
The Annual Inspection
Under 49 CFR 396.17, each commercial motor vehicle, including each unit of a combination, must have passed a periodic inspection at least once during the preceding 12 months, with documentation on the vehicle.
Alcohol and Post-Crash Testing
Under 49 CFR 382.201, a driver subject to the testing rules may not report for or remain on safety-sensitive duty with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater. Under 49 CFR 382.303, a fatal crash requires alcohol and drug testing of the surviving driver, and a crash with injury treated away from the scene or a disabling tow-away requires it when the commercial driver is cited for a moving violation arising from the crash within 8 hours (alcohol) or 32 hours (drugs); nothing in the section requires delaying necessary medical attention.
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.
San Bernardino Truck Accident Questions
When is a claim about a public road due?
Government Code § 911.2 requires a claim for death or personal injury to be presented within six months after accrual. Under § 945.6, suit follows within six months after a written rejection notice, or two years from accrual if no notice is given.
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.
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.