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 Accident Laws and Regulations in California

Statute of Limitations: California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including truck accidents. Injured parties must file a lawsuit within two years from the date of the accident. For property damage claims, the statute of limitations is three years. Claims against government entities (such as city, county, or state-owned vehicles or road maintenance issues) require filing a notice of claim within six months of the accident under Government Code section 911.2.

Fault System: California follows an at-fault system for automobile accidents. The party responsible for causing the accident is financially liable for resulting damages. This applies to truck accidents involving commercial vehicles.

Comparative Negligence: California follows a pure comparative negligence rule under California Civil Code Section 1714. Injured parties can recover damages even if they were partially at fault for the accident, with no threshold for recovery. Compensation is reduced by the plaintiff’s percentage of fault. For example, if a plaintiff is found 30% at fault and damages total $100,000, the plaintiff would recover $70,000. Theoretically, a plaintiff who is 99% at fault can still recover 1% of damages.

Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements: Effective January 1, 2025, California’s minimum auto insurance requirements increased to 30/60/15 under Senate Bill 1107 (Protect California Drivers Act). This includes $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage. These limits will increase to 50/100/25 in 2035.

Commercial Truck Insurance Requirements: Commercial trucks operating in interstate commerce must carry minimum insurance as mandated by federal law. For non-hazardous freight, the federal minimum is $750,000. For hazardous materials, minimums range from $1 million to $5 million depending on cargo type. Commercial trucking companies typically carry significantly higher coverage limits.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations: California courts recognize and apply Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) in truck accident litigation. These regulations govern hours of service, driver qualifications, vehicle maintenance, and cargo securement. Violations of FMCSR can establish negligence.

Hours of Service Regulations: Federal regulations limit commercial truck drivers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour workday following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Drivers must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving. Drivers are required to take at least ten hours off before driving again, with eight of those hours including sleeping in the driver’s berth. Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) are mandatory for recording hours of service.

Vicarious Liability: California law allows plaintiffs to pursue claims against trucking companies for the negligent acts of their employee drivers under the doctrine of respondeat superior. The trucking company can be held accountable for the negligence of its drivers as well as for its own negligence in areas such as maintenance, training, and hiring.

Punitive Damages: California allows punitive damages (also called exemplary damages) in truck accident cases where the defendant’s conduct demonstrates fraud, malice, or oppression. There is no statutory cap on punitive damages in California, though they must bear a reasonable relationship to compensatory damages.

Strict Liability: Under California’s strict liability law, designers, manufacturers, and companies involved in a product’s chain of distribution can be held liable if a defective product contributes to causing a truck accident.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline for filing a truck accident lawsuit in San Bernardino?

Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you have two years from the date of the truck accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. For property damage claims, the deadline extends to three years. If your claim involves a government entity (such as a city or county road maintenance issue contributing to the accident), you must file a notice of claim within six months of the accident under Government Code section 911.2. Missing these deadlines typically results in permanent loss of your right to seek compensation through the court system.

How does California’s pure comparative negligence law affect truck accident compensation?

California’s pure comparative negligence rule allows you to recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident, with no percentage threshold barring recovery. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For example, if you are awarded $500,000 in damages but found to be 20% at fault, you would receive $400,000. According to the American Trucking Association, truck drivers cause only about 20% of truck crashes, while car drivers are at fault in over 90% of head-on and opposite-direction sideswipe collisions. Since California is a comparative fault state, both drivers may seek compensation proportionate to the other party’s fault.

Which courts handle truck accident lawsuits in San Bernardino?

Truck accident personal injury lawsuits in San Bernardino are typically filed in the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino. Cases involving federal trucking regulations or parties from different states may qualify for federal court jurisdiction in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. San Bernardino County has seen a dramatic increase in major warehouses in recent years, resulting in significantly more truck traffic and accidents. Complex truck accident cases often involve extensive discovery periods for obtaining trucking company records, Electronic Logging Device data, and expert testimony.

Can multiple parties be held liable in a California truck accident case?

Yes, California law allows plaintiffs to pursue claims against multiple parties who contributed to a truck accident. The trucking company is typically liable for most accidents and is accountable for the negligence of its drivers as well as for its own negligence in maintenance, training, and hiring. Other potentially liable parties include cargo loading companies (for improperly secured loads), vehicle and parts manufacturers (under strict liability for defective equipment), maintenance providers (for negligent repairs), and highway authorities (for road defects or inadequate maintenance). California follows joint and several liability rules for economic damages.

What types of damages can be recovered in a San Bernardino truck accident case?

Truck accident victims in California can recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and out-of-pocket expenses. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, and disfigurement. California does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. Punitive damages may be available if the defendant’s conduct was fraudulent, malicious, or oppressive. Truck accident settlements can range from thousands to millions of dollars depending on the severity of injuries and circumstances of the case.