Truck Accident Attorney in California

Truck Accident Attorneys in Los Angeles: Aggressive Representation Against Trucking Companies

Truck accidents are among the most catastrophic personal injury events that occur on California’s roads. Commercial trucks — semi-trucks, big rigs, 18-wheelers, and large delivery vehicles — can weigh 80,000 pounds or more when fully loaded, dwarfing passenger vehicles in size, weight, and destructive force. When these vehicles collide with cars and motorcycles, the results are frequently catastrophic: severe traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, crushing injuries, amputations, and fatalities. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Los Angeles, Westwood Law is ready to fight for the justice and full compensation you deserve.

Our founding partners are UCLA School of Law graduates with deep experience navigating the complexities of truck accident litigation. We work on a contingency fee basis — you pay no attorney fees unless we win — and we provide direct, senior-attorney access throughout your entire case.

Why Truck Accident Cases Are More Complex Than Car Accident Claims

Truck accident cases involve a layer of legal and regulatory complexity that is not present in standard car accident claims. Commercial trucks are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which imposes detailed rules on driver hours of service, truck maintenance and inspection requirements, cargo loading and securement, driver qualification standards, and drug and alcohol testing. Violations of these federal regulations can constitute negligence per se — automatic fault — under California law.

Additionally, truck accident cases frequently involve multiple potentially liable parties beyond the driver: the trucking company that employed or contracted the driver, the shipper or cargo owner who loaded the truck, the company responsible for maintaining the vehicle, and the truck manufacturer if a mechanical defect contributed to the accident. Identifying all liable parties and holding them accountable requires thorough investigation and experienced legal analysis. Westwood Law conducts comprehensive investigations from the outset of every truck accident case we handle.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Los Angeles

Hours-of-Service Violations and Driver Fatigue

FMCSA regulations strictly limit the number of hours a commercial truck driver can spend behind the wheel before mandatory rest periods. These rules exist because fatigued driving dramatically increases accident risk. When trucking companies pressure drivers to meet delivery deadlines that require violating hours-of-service rules, or when drivers falsify their logbooks to conceal violations, the results can be deadly. Westwood Law subpoenas driver logs, electronic logging device (ELD) data, and GPS records to identify hours-of-service violations that contributed to your accident.

Improper Loading and Cargo Securement

Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can cause trucks to be dangerously top-heavy, increasing the risk of rollovers, or can result in cargo shifting mid-trip, causing sudden loss of vehicle control. FMCSA regulations impose detailed requirements for cargo securement, and violations of those requirements can result in liability for the shipper, loader, or trucking company. Westwood Law investigates cargo loading practices in truck accident cases to determine whether improper loading contributed to your injuries.

Vehicle Maintenance Failures

Commercial trucks are required to undergo regular inspection, maintenance, and repair under both federal and California law. Brake failures, tire blowouts, steering malfunctions, and lighting defects are among the most common maintenance-related causes of truck accidents. When a trucking company fails to properly maintain its fleet and a mechanical failure contributes to a crash, the company — and potentially the third-party maintenance provider — bears significant legal liability. Our attorneys obtain maintenance records and work with mechanical experts to document maintenance failures in truck accident cases.

Distracted and Impaired Truck Driving

Despite federal prohibitions on handheld cell phone use by commercial truck drivers, distracted driving remains a significant cause of truck accidents. Drug and alcohol use by commercial truck drivers — while less common than in the general driving population due to mandatory testing requirements — also contributes to serious accidents when it occurs. Westwood Law investigates electronic communications records, drug and alcohol testing results, and other evidence of driver impairment in every truck accident case we handle.

Negligent Hiring and Supervision by Trucking Companies

Trucking companies are responsible for conducting thorough background checks and qualification reviews before hiring commercial drivers, and for providing adequate training and ongoing supervision. When a trucking company knowingly hires a driver with a history of safety violations, or fails to conduct required background checks, the company can be held directly liable for accidents caused by that driver under the doctrine of negligent entrustment and negligent hiring. Westwood Law reviews driver qualification files and hiring records in every truck accident case to identify corporate negligence that contributed to your injuries.

Damages Available in Los Angeles Truck Accident Cases

Because truck accidents so frequently result in catastrophic and permanent injuries, the damages available to victims are often substantial. Economic damages include all medical expenses including long-term and lifetime care needs, lost wages, and diminished future earning capacity — which can be enormous in cases involving permanent disability. Non-economic damages include physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and loss of consortium for the victim’s spouse and family. In cases involving egregious corporate misconduct — such as a trucking company that knowingly violated safety regulations — punitive damages may also be pursued.

Westwood Law works with a team of medical, economic, and vocational experts to build comprehensive damage analyses that fully capture the life-altering impact of serious truck accident injuries. We do not accept inadequate settlements from well-funded trucking company insurers, and we are fully prepared to take cases to trial to achieve justice for our clients.

Why Choose Westwood Law for Your Truck Accident Case

Truck accident cases require a level of legal expertise, investigative resources, and litigation readiness that not all personal injury firms possess. At Westwood Law, our founding partners bring UCLA Law academic credentials combined with extensive practical experience handling complex truck accident litigation. We know how to go up against well-funded trucking companies and their insurers, and we have the determination and resources to do so effectively. We work on a pure contingency basis, advancing all case expenses, so there is no financial barrier to getting the best possible legal representation after a truck accident.

Frequently Asked Questions: Truck Accidents in Los Angeles

What evidence is most important in a truck accident case?

Key evidence in truck accident cases includes the truck’s electronic logging device (ELD) data showing driving hours, GPS tracking data, driver qualification files, maintenance and inspection records, drug and alcohol test results, cargo loading documentation, and black box event data recorder information. Much of this data is held by the trucking company, which may delete or overwrite it in the ordinary course of business. Westwood Law issues litigation hold letters and preservation demands immediately upon being retained to ensure that critical truck accident evidence is preserved before it can be destroyed.

Can I sue the trucking company, not just the driver?

Yes. In most truck accident cases, the trucking company is a primary defendant. Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, employers are vicariously liable for the negligent acts of their employees committed within the scope of employment. Additionally, trucking companies can be directly liable for their own negligent hiring, training, supervision, and maintenance practices. In cases involving owner-operators — independent contractors — the analysis is more complex, but the trucking company that engaged the driver may still bear liability depending on the degree of control it exercised over the driver’s work.

How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in California?

California’s two-year statute of limitations applies to truck accident personal injury claims. For claims involving any government entity — such as if a government vehicle was involved — the deadline to file a government tort claim is six months from the date of the accident. Given the importance of preserving electronic evidence that trucking companies may overwrite or delete, it is especially important to contact an attorney as soon as possible after a truck accident — ideally within days or weeks of the accident.

What insurance coverage is available in truck accident cases?

Commercial trucking companies are required by federal law to carry minimum liability insurance coverage significantly higher than standard automobile insurance minimums — typically between $750,000 and $5,000,000 depending on the type of cargo and operation. This means that the available insurance coverage in truck accident cases is generally much larger than in standard car accident cases, which is particularly important given the severity of injuries truck accidents typically cause. Westwood Law identifies all available insurance coverage in every truck accident case to maximize the recovery available to our clients.

What if the truck driver was an independent contractor, not an employee?

Trucking companies sometimes attempt to classify their drivers as independent contractors to limit their liability exposure. However, California law looks beyond the labels in a contract to examine the economic realities of the relationship. Under California’s ABC test and related standards, many drivers classified as contractors are actually employees for legal purposes. Even in cases involving true independent contractors, the company that engaged the driver may still bear liability under various legal theories. Westwood Law analyzes the driver-company relationship in every case to identify all available sources of liability.

Can I recover compensation if a family member was killed in a truck accident?

Yes. California’s wrongful death statute allows certain family members — including spouses, domestic partners, children, and other dependents — to bring a wrongful death claim when a loved one is killed due to another party’s negligence. Wrongful death damages include the financial support the deceased would have provided, the value of household services, loss of companionship, and funeral and burial expenses. Additionally, the deceased’s estate may bring a survival action to recover for the pain and suffering experienced by the victim before death. Westwood Law handles both wrongful death and survival actions on behalf of families who have lost loved ones in truck accidents.

Contact an Westwood Law Truck Accident Attorney Today

If you or a family member has been injured in a truck accident in Los Angeles or the surrounding region, do not wait to get legal help. Trucking companies begin their accident investigation immediately, and you need an experienced attorney on your side just as quickly. Westwood Law offers free consultations, works on contingency, and fights relentlessly for maximum compensation. Contact us today.