Truck Accident Attorneys in San Francisco, California

1. Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck collisions, tractor-trailer accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, delivery truck accidents, big rig accidents, wrongful death from trucking collisions, catastrophic injuries from truck crashes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis cases

Case Types Handled: Rollover accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, crossing center line accidents, equipment failures, driver fatigue accidents, hours of service violations, broker negligence, negligent training cases, jackknife accidents, underride accidents, overloaded truck accidents

Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, hours of service violation investigation, black box data retrieval, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, catastrophic injury claims, accident reconstruction, expert witness coordination

Background: Firm established in 1959, over six decades of experience. Michael A. Kelly (CA Bar #77072), admitted 1976, UC Hastings College of the Law J.D., Consumer Attorneys of California Finalist for Consumer Attorney of the Year (2008, 2010, 2014), Super Lawyers Top Ten list (four times since 2019), Best Lawyers Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year (2023, 2024), Fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers, recovered over $150 million for trucking victims in last 5 years. Richard H. Schoenberger (CA Bar #122190), admitted December 1985, UC Hastings College of the Law J.D., Super Lawyers since 2004, American Board of Trial Advocates member, Fellow of International Society of Barristers, twice nominated finalist for SFTLA Trial Lawyer of the Year. Firm members of Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America (APITLA). Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating for all eligible attorneys. Notable results include $45 million trucking settlement, $18 million child v. trucking company settlement, $15 million cyclist v. forest products distributor settlement.

Location: 650 California Street, 26th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108

Contact: (415) 981-7210 | https://www.walkuplawoffice.com

Consultation: Free initial consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery obtained)

2. Bostwick & Associates

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, tractor-trailer collisions, semi-truck accidents, delivery van accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, wrongful death, paralysis, amputation injuries

Case Types Handled: Rollover accidents, jackknife accidents, underride accidents, rear-end truck collisions, T-bone collisions, distracted driving accidents, fatigued driver accidents, speeding accidents, reckless driving accidents, negligent hiring cases, equipment failure accidents, improper maintenance accidents

Legal Services: Trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulation violation investigation, black box data analysis, driver log review, maintenance record investigation, manufacturer defect claims, third-party maintenance provider claims, cargo loading negligence claims, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations

Background: James S. Bostwick (CA Bar #42718), founder, over 45 years of trial experience, member of California and Hawaii State Bar Associations. Inner Circle of Advocates member (limited to top 100 plaintiff trial lawyers in U.S.), former President of International Academy of Trial Lawyers (limited to top 500 trial lawyers in U.S.), American Board of Trial Advocates member, Nationally Certified Medical Malpractice Specialist by American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. Named in Best Lawyers in America since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers Trial Lawyer of the Year 2012, featured in Forbes, Newsweek, and California Bar Journal. Firm recovered over $1 billion for clients. U.S. News Best Law Firms Tier 1 rated. Record verdicts and settlements in California, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Washington, and Colorado.

Location: 50 California Street, Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94111 (also Mill Valley office)

Contact: (888) 831-8448 | [email protected] | https://www.bostwickfirm.com

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis (no fee unless recovery obtained)

3. Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck collisions, 18-wheeler accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, taxi cab accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis

Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, T-bone collisions, rear-end collisions, lack of maintenance accidents, truck regulation violations, driver fatigue accidents, speeding accidents, hours of service violations

Legal Services: Federal and state trucking regulation compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, evidence preservation, accident reconstruction, black box data retrieval, driver log analysis, maintenance record review, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims

Background: Firm established 1980, over 40 years of experience. John M. Feder (CA Bar #83391), partner, admitted 1978, UC Hastings College of the Law J.D., former President of Consumer Attorneys of California (2014), former President of San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (2007), CAOC Presidential Award of Merit recipient (2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013), Super Lawyers since 2006, Best Lawyers in America since 2013, finalist for CAOC Attorney of the Year (2006, 2010), finalist for SFTLA Trial Lawyer of the Year (2007). Cynthia McGuinn, partner, Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year for Plaintiff Personal Injury Litigation (2012) and Product Liability Litigation (2019), Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rated. Timothy G. Tietjen, partner, CAOC Attorney of the Year finalist. Firm recovered over $500 million for clients. U.S. News Best Law Firms Tier 1 for San Francisco Personal Injury Litigation. Notable results include $47.5 million settlement for injured child, $24 million drunk driving car accident settlement.

Location: 417 Montgomery Street, Suite 910, San Francisco, CA 94104

Contact: (415) 940-7176 | [email protected] | https://www.rftmlaw.com

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no attorneys’ fees unless recovery obtained)

4. Venardi Zurada LLP

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, pedestrian accidents involving trucks, bicycle accidents involving trucks, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries

Case Types Handled: Semi-truck collisions, delivery truck accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, sideswipe accidents involving trucks, rear-end collisions with trucks, driver fatigue accidents, improper maintenance accidents, brake failure accidents, tire blowout accidents

Legal Services: Trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations investigation, evidence preservation, black box data retrieval, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, accident reconstruction coordination

Background: Mark L. Venardi (CA Bar #173140), founding partner, admitted 1994, UC Hastings College of the Law J.D., UC Berkeley B.A. 1991, graduate of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College (2013), certified mediator from Pepperdine University Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution, former partner at Holland & Knight LLP. Super Lawyers Northern California (2009-2024), Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating (2004-2024), National Trial Lawyers Top 100 (2013-2024), Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum member. Martin Zurada, partner, National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Civil Plaintiff division. Firm serves as Official Injury Attorneys of the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland A’s. Practice covers Northern California for over 35 years. Notable results include $28 million confidential settlement (HMO failure to supervise surgeon), $7.125 million settlement (boating accident spine fracture), $4.9 million arbitration award.

Location: 1418 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, CA 94612 (also serves San Francisco)

Contact: (833) 893-6763 | https://www.vzlawfirm.com

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis (only paid when client wins)

5. The Hassell Law Group, P.C.

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

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions with commercial trucks, head-on truck collisions, sideswipe accidents, rollover accidents, jackknife accidents, driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents, mechanical failure accidents, brake failure accidents

Legal Services: Trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations investigation, evidence preservation, black box data retrieval, driver log analysis, maintenance record investigation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, accident reconstruction

Background: Dawn L. Hassell (CA Bar #200080), managing attorney, admitted 1998, UC Hastings College of the Law J.D., Binghamton University B.A. (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, top 1% of class). Super Lawyers Northern California for 10 consecutive years (2014-2024), National Trial Lawyers Top 100, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum member, Attorney and Practice Magazine Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney. Undefeated record in trial and arbitration. Board of Directors member, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (2002-2012). Top Verdict recognition including Top 10 Truck Accident Settlements California (2022), Top 10 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlements California (2022, 2024). Firm established 1999, over 25 years serving Bay Area. Notable truck accident results include $12.5 million settlement for head-on truck collision victim, $1.75 million settlement for client rear-ended by commercial truck.

Location: 4079 19th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132

Contact: (415) 334-4111 | https://hasselllawgroup.com

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery obtained)

Proof of Insurance, Maintenance Duties and Speed Rules in San Francisco Truck Crashes

After a San Francisco truck crash, the carrier’s proof of insurance and its maintenance files are records an injured person can ask about. California’s speed statute applies to the truck driver as it does to every other driver.

Proof of Financial Responsibility

Under 49 CFR 387.7, a motor carrier may not operate until the required financial responsibility is in effect, and the proof is an MCS-90 endorsement, an MCS-82 surety bond, or an FMCSA self-insurance authorization. The proof is public information and must be produced on reasonable request. For a for-hire interstate carrier hauling nonhazardous property in a vehicle rated 10,001 pounds or more, 49 CFR 387.9 sets the floor at $750,000.

Maintenance and Its Records

Under 49 CFR 396.3, every motor carrier must systematically inspect, repair and maintain each vehicle subject to its control, keep maintenance records for 1 year where the vehicle is housed or maintained, and keep them for 6 months after the vehicle leaves its control.

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.

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.

San Francisco 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 30 percent of the fault on the injured driver: the recovery would be $350,000.

What if a city truck was involved?

Government Code § 911.2 requires an injury claim to be presented within six months after accrual, and § 910 requires the claimant’s name and address, the date, place and circumstances of the occurrence, a general description of the injury, the employee’s name if known, and either the amount claimed if under $10,000 or, above that, whether the claim would be a limited civil case.

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.