1. The Reeves Law Group
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, delivery truck accidents, tanker truck accidents, big rig accidents, bus accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions.
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, override accidents, wide turn accidents, blind spot accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on truck collisions, cargo spill accidents, hazardous material truck accidents, brake failure accidents, tire blowout accidents, driver fatigue 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, electronic logging device (ELD) data analysis, black box data retrieval, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, punitive damage claims, wrongful death claims.
Background: Los Angeles personal injury law firm with over 25 years of experience. The firm has recovered millions of dollars for truck accident victims. Attorneys are admitted to practice in California state and federal courts.
Location: 515 S. Flower Street, 18th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Contact: (213) 271-9318 | https://www.reaboratory.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery is obtained).
2. Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury cases, wrongful death from truck accidents, product liability involving trucks, construction vehicle accidents.
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, wide turn accidents, blind spot accidents, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, brake failure accidents, tire blowout accidents, driver fatigue accidents, cargo spill accidents.
Legal Services: FMCSR compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, vicarious liability claims, hours of service violation investigation, ELD data analysis, black box data retrieval, accident reconstruction, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, punitive damage claims.
Background: The firm has achieved numerous record-setting verdicts and settlements, including verdicts exceeding $100 million. Attorneys have been recognized by various legal organizations and have significant trial experience in trucking accident cases.
Location: 11111 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Contact: (310) 477-1700 | https://www.pfrlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation available, contingency fee basis.
3. The Dominguez Firm
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, delivery truck accidents, big rig accidents, bus accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries.
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, wide turn accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on collisions, brake failure accidents, driver fatigue accidents, overloaded truck accidents, cargo spill accidents.
Legal Services: FMCSR compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, hours of service violation investigation, ELD data analysis, black box data retrieval, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, property damage claims.
Background: The Dominguez Firm has recovered over $1 billion for clients since 1987. The firm handles trucking accident cases throughout Southern California. Bilingual staff available.
Location: 5055 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 360, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Contact: (800) 818-1818 | https://www.dominguezfirm.com
Consultation: Free consultation, no fee unless case is won.
4. Law Offices of Howard Craig Kornberg
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, delivery truck accidents, tanker truck accidents, construction vehicle accidents, bus accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents.
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, wide turn accidents, blind spot accidents, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, brake failure accidents, tire blowout accidents, driver fatigue accidents, cargo spill accidents.
Legal Services: FMCSR compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, hours of service violation investigation, ELD data analysis, black box data retrieval, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, punitive damage claims.
Background: Los Angeles personal injury attorney with experience handling complex trucking accident cases. The firm represents clients throughout Los Angeles County and Southern California.
Location: 9454 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 600, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Contact: (310) 997-0904 | https://www.howardkornberg.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement.
5. The Levin Firm
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, delivery truck accidents, big rig accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions.
Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, override accidents, wide turn accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on collisions, brake failure accidents, driver fatigue accidents, overloaded truck accidents.
Legal Services: FMCSR compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, vicarious liability claims, hours of service violation investigation, ELD data analysis, black box data retrieval, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, wrongful death claims.
Background: Personal injury law firm serving Los Angeles and surrounding areas. The firm has experience with trucking accident litigation and handles cases on a contingency fee basis.
Location: 601 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 3400, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Contact: (310) 500-0206 | https://www.thelevininjuryfirm.com
Consultation: Free consultation available, no fee unless recovery.
Truck Accident Laws and Regulations in California
Statute of Limitations: California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 provides a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from truck accidents. The deadline runs from the date of the accident. For wrongful death claims, the statute of limitations is also two years from the date of death.
Property Damage Claims: Claims for property damage resulting from truck accidents must be filed within three years of the accident date under California law.
At-Fault Insurance System: California operates under an at-fault insurance system. The party responsible for causing the accident is financially liable for damages. Injured parties can seek compensation directly from the at-fault driver’s or trucking company’s insurance.
Comparative Negligence: California follows a pure comparative negligence rule. An injured party can recover damages even if they were partially at fault for the accident. The recovery will be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to them. For example, if the injured party is found 40% at fault, they can still recover 60% of their total damages. Unlike some states, California does not bar recovery even if the plaintiff is 99% at fault.
Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements: California requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of $15,000 per person for bodily injury, $30,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $5,000 for property damage (15/30/5).
Commercial Truck Insurance Requirements: Commercial trucks operating in interstate commerce must carry minimum liability coverage as required by federal law. Trucks carrying non-hazardous freight over 10,001 pounds must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage. Trucks hauling hazardous materials may be required to carry $1 million to $5 million in coverage depending on the cargo type.
Vicarious Liability: Under California law, trucking companies can be held vicariously liable for accidents caused by their employee drivers under the doctrine of respondeat superior when the driver was acting within the scope of employment. California Vehicle Code Section 17150 also establishes owner liability.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations: Federal trucking regulations, including hours of service rules and vehicle maintenance requirements under 49 CFR, are applicable in California state courts. Violations of FMCSR regulations can be used to establish negligence per se in some circumstances.
No Damage Caps: California does not impose caps on economic or non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, including truck accident cases. However, punitive damages may be subject to judicial review for excessiveness.
Government Entity Claims: Claims against California state or local government entities require filing a written claim within six months of the incident under Government Code Section 911.2. Failure to file timely can bar the lawsuit.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage: While not required, California insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to policyholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline to file a truck accident lawsuit in California?
In California, you have two years from the date of the truck accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. For wrongful death claims, the deadline is two years from the date of death. If a government entity or government vehicle was involved, you must file an administrative claim within six months of the accident. Consulting with an attorney promptly is important because evidence degrades over time and critical trucking records may be lost.
How does California’s pure comparative negligence rule affect my truck accident case?
California’s pure comparative negligence system allows you to recover compensation even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Your damages will be reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For example, if you suffered $200,000 in damages but were found 25% at fault for the collision, you would recover $150,000. California does not bar recovery regardless of your fault percentage, meaning even a plaintiff who is 90% at fault can still recover 10% of their damages.
Who can be held liable for a truck accident in California?
Multiple parties may be held liable in a California truck accident case. These include the truck driver for negligent operation such as speeding, distracted driving, or driving while fatigued, the trucking company for negligent hiring, training, supervision, or for violating federal safety regulations, the owner of the truck if different from the trucking company, the cargo loading company for improperly secured loads, the manufacturer of defective truck parts or components, and maintenance contractors who performed inadequate repairs. California applies respondeat superior, holding employers liable for employee negligence committed within the scope of employment.
What types of damages can I recover in a California truck accident case?
You may recover economic damages including past and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and out-of-pocket costs. Non-economic damages may include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. California does not cap these damages in truck accident cases. In cases involving egregious misconduct such as drunk driving or intentional violation of safety regulations, punitive damages may also be available.
How long will my California truck accident case take to resolve?
The timeline varies depending on the complexity of the case and the willingness of insurance companies to negotiate. Some cases settle within several months, while others that proceed to trial may take a year or longer. Truck accident cases tend to be more complex than typical car accident cases due to multiple potentially liable parties, federal regulatory issues, and larger insurance policies. The statute of limitations gives you two years to file suit, but acting promptly helps preserve evidence and strengthens your case.