Truck Accident Attorneys in San Diego, California

January 1, 2026 / Comments Off

1. Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, delivery truck accidents, tanker truck 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, 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: San Diego personal injury law firm with significant experience in trucking accident litigation. The firm has recovered millions of dollars for truck accident victims. Attorneys are admitted to practice in California state and federal courts.

Location: 2667 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 301, San Diego, CA 92108

Contact: (619) 233-5020 | https://www.jurewitz.com

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

2. The Law Firm of Susan Handel

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, big rig accidents, delivery truck accidents, bus accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries.

Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, wide turn accidents, blind spot accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on collisions, brake failure accidents, tire blowout 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, accident reconstruction, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims.

Background: San Diego truck accident attorney with extensive experience in trucking litigation. Susan Handel has access to trucking accident experts and significant knowledge of vehicle codes and regulations applicable to commercial vehicles.

Location: 110 West A Street, Suite 1075, San Diego, CA 92101

Contact: (800) 564-1164 | https://www.handellaw.com

Consultation: Free initial consultation, no fee unless recovery.

3. Singleton Schreiber

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, delivery truck accidents, tanker truck accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions.

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, hazardous material 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: Personal injury firm with offices in San Diego and throughout California. The firm handles trucking accident cases and has achieved significant recoveries for clients.

Location: 450 B Street, Suite 1700, San Diego, CA 92101

Contact: (619) 771-3473 | https://www.singletonschreiber.com

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement.

4. McClellan Law Firm

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, delivery truck accidents, construction vehicle accidents, bus accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries.

Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, override accidents, wide turn accidents, blind spot accidents, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, brake failure accidents, tire blowout accidents, driver fatigue 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, wrongful death claims, punitive damage claims.

Background: San Diego personal injury firm handling trucking accident cases throughout Southern California. The firm has over 30 years of experience representing injury victims.

Location: 2700 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 208, San Diego, CA 92108

Contact: (619) 462-7000 | https://www.mcclellan-law.com

Consultation: Free consultation available, contingency fee basis.

5. Mission Personal Injury Lawyers

Background: San Diego personal injury law firm focusing on trucking accident litigation. The firm provides personal attention to clients and handles cases throughout San Diego County.

Location: 2515 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 350, San Diego, CA 92108

Contact: (619) 777-5555 | https://www.missionpersonalinjury.com

Consultation: Free consultation, 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. 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 require $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.

No Damage Caps: California does not impose caps on economic or non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, including truck accident cases. 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline to file a truck accident lawsuit in San Diego?

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. Missing these deadlines typically bars your claim. Consulting with an attorney promptly is important because critical evidence can disappear and 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 mostly 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 35% at fault for the collision, you would recover $130,000. 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. This is one of the most plaintiff-friendly negligence systems in the country.

Who can be held liable for a truck accident in San Diego?

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, cargo loading companies 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 San Diego 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 San Diego truck accident case take to resolve?

The timeline varies depending on the complexity of the case, severity of injuries, and willingness of insurance companies to negotiate. Some cases settle within several months, while complex cases involving multiple defendants, serious injuries, or disputes about liability may take one to three years or longer if they proceed to trial. San Diego’s location along Interstate 5 and Interstate 8 sees significant commercial truck traffic, and cases involving major trucking companies often involve substantial insurance policies and corporate legal teams. The two-year statute of limitations is the deadline to file suit, not to complete the case.