Truck Accident Attorneys

Specialized representation for victims of commercial truck and tractor-trailer accidents

Overview

At Keosian Law LLP, our truck accident attorneys provide dedicated representation for individuals who have been injured in collisions with commercial trucks, tractor-trailers, and other large commercial vehicles. We understand the devastating impact these accidents can have on victims and their families.

Truck accident cases are uniquely complex, involving federal regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and powerful trucking companies with teams of attorneys and investigators. Our firm has the experience, resources, and determination to level the playing field and fight for the full compensation our clients deserve.

With our extensive knowledge of state and federal trucking regulations, access to industry experts, and proven track record of success against major transportation companies, we provide effective advocacy for truck accident victims throughout California.

Types of Truck Accidents We Handle

• Rear-end collisions
• Jackknife accidents
• Rollover accidents
• Wide turn accidents
• Underride & override accidents
• Blind spot accidents
• Tire blowout accidents
• Cargo spill accidents
• Hazardous material incidents
• Fatigued driver accidents
• Distracted driving crashes
• Multi-vehicle truck accidents

Our Approach to Truck Accident Cases

Truck accident cases require a specialized approach that addresses their unique complexities:

Immediate Investigation

Comprehensive Liability Analysis

Regulatory Expertise

Expert Collaboration

Aggressive Advocacy

Federal Trucking Regulations and Your Case

Understanding how federal regulations impact your truck accident case is crucial for establishing liability:

Hours of Service (HOS) Rules

FMCSA regulations strictly limit how long truck drivers can operate without rest. Violations of these rules often indicate driver fatigue, a leading cause of truck accidents. We carefully analyze electronic logging device (ELD) data to identify HOS violations that may have contributed to your accident.

Driver Qualification Requirements

Commercial drivers must meet specific qualification standards, including proper licensing, training, medical certification, and clean driving records. We investigate whether the trucking company properly vetted the driver and maintained required qualification files.

Vehicle Maintenance Standards

Trucking companies must conduct regular inspections and maintenance of their vehicles. We review maintenance records to determine if mechanical failures due to negligent maintenance contributed to your accident.

Drug and Alcohol Testing

Commercial drivers are subject to strict drug and alcohol testing requirements. We examine whether proper testing was conducted and if the driver had a history of substance abuse that the company should have identified.

Cargo Loading Regulations

Improperly loaded or secured cargo can cause devastating accidents. We investigate whether federal cargo securement standards were followed and identify all parties responsible for loading and securing the cargo.

Our familiarity with these complex regulations allows us to identify violations that might otherwise go unnoticed, strengthening your case and helping to establish negligence on the part of the trucking company and other responsible parties.

Thorough Crash Investigation Process

Our thorough investigation process includes:

• Rapid Response: We quickly dispatch investigators to document the accident scene before evidence is lost or altered. This includes photographing the vehicles, skid marks, road conditions, and debris patterns.
• Evidence Preservation: We immediately send spoliation letters to the trucking company demanding they preserve all relevant evidence, including:
  • Electronic logging device (ELD) records
  • Black box data (ECM, EDR)
  • Dash cam footage
  • GPS tracking data
  • Driver qualification file
  • Drug and alcohol testing results
  • Inspection and maintenance records
  • Load securement documentation
  • Bills of lading and weight tickets
  • Communication records between driver and company
• Witness Interviews: We identify and interview all witnesses while their memories are fresh, documenting their accounts of the accident.
• Expert Analysis: We engage specialized experts including:
  • Accident reconstructionists who use scientific principles to determine how the crash occurred
  • Trucking safety experts who can identify regulatory violations
  • Biomechanical engineers who analyze how the forces of the crash caused specific injuries
  • Medical experts who document the extent and long-term impact of injuries
• Background Investigation: We research the trucking company's safety record, previous violations, and accident history to establish patterns of negligence.

This comprehensive approach allows us to build a strong evidentiary foundation for your case, often uncovering critical facts that might otherwise remain hidden.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in California

Truck accidents on California highways—from the I-405 through Los Angeles to the I-5 corridor—are frequently caused by preventable negligence. Our attorneys investigate every contributing factor to identify all liable parties and maximize recovery for victims.

• Driver Fatigue: Despite federal Hours of Service regulations limiting driving time to 11 hours within a 14-hour window, many truckers and their employers routinely violate these rules. Falsified logbooks and disabled electronic logging devices are common evidence our attorneys uncover during litigation. Fatigued driving is as dangerous as impaired driving, with reaction times dropping dramatically after extended hours behind the wheel.
• Distracted Driving: Commercial drivers operating mobile phones, GPS devices, dispatching equipment, or eating while driving a vehicle weighing up to 80,000 pounds creates extreme risk for surrounding motorists. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules prohibit texting and hand-held phone use, but enforcement is inconsistent.
• Improper Loading: Overloaded or improperly secured cargo can shift during transit, causing rollovers, jackknife accidents, and cargo spills. Shippers, loading dock operators, and freight brokers may share liability when improper loading contributes to an accident.
• Mechanical Failures: Brake failures, tire blowouts, steering malfunctions, and coupling device defects frequently cause catastrophic truck accidents. Federal regulations require regular pre-trip inspections, periodic maintenance, and detailed repair records—failures in these systems create strong evidence of negligence.
• Inadequate Training: Trucking companies that fail to properly train drivers on vehicle operation, cargo securement, defensive driving techniques, and emergency maneuvers bear direct responsibility when inadequately trained drivers cause accidents.
• Impaired Driving: Commercial drivers are held to a stricter standard—a blood alcohol content of 0.04 percent or higher violates federal law, half the limit for passenger vehicle drivers. Drug and alcohol testing is mandatory after accidents, but some carriers fail to implement proper testing programs.

Compensation in Truck Accident Cases

Due to the severe nature of commercial truck collisions, compensation in these cases is often substantial. Our Los Angeles truck accident attorneys pursue every category of damages available under California law:

• Medical Expenses: Emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation, physical therapy, prescription medications, and future medical care including life care plans for catastrophic injuries.
• Lost Income: Current lost wages, diminished earning capacity, loss of employment benefits, and future income loss when injuries prevent returning to the same occupation or any gainful employment.
• Pain and Suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium for spouses and family members.
• Property Damage: Vehicle repair or replacement, personal property destroyed in the collision, and rental vehicle costs during the claims process.
• Punitive Damages: When the trucking company or driver engaged in particularly reckless conduct—such as knowingly allowing fatigued or impaired drivers on the road—California law permits punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior.

Unlike passenger vehicle accidents, truck accident cases often involve multiple insurance policies with combined limits in the millions. Federal law requires commercial carriers to maintain minimum insurance of $750,000, and many carry policies of $1 million or more. Our attorneys identify every available insurance policy and liable party to maximize your recovery.

Multiple Liable Parties in Truck Accidents

One of the most important distinctions between truck accident cases and standard auto accidents is the number of potentially liable parties. Our investigation may reveal liability against:

• The Truck Driver: For negligent driving, Hours of Service violations, impairment, or distraction.
• The Trucking Company: For negligent hiring, inadequate training, pressuring drivers to violate safety regulations, or failing to maintain vehicles.
• Cargo Loaders and Shippers: For improper loading, overloading, or failing to secure hazardous materials.
• Vehicle and Parts Manufacturers: For defective brakes, tires, steering components, or coupling devices under product liability theories.
• Maintenance Companies: For negligent repairs or failure to identify critical safety defects during inspections.
• Government Entities: For dangerous road conditions, inadequate signage, or defective highway design that contributed to the accident.

Each additional liable party represents a potential source of compensation. Our thorough investigation process identifies every responsible entity, ensuring victims receive the maximum recovery available.

Our Truck Accident Claim Process

From the moment you contact Keosian Law LLP, our Los Angeles truck accident attorneys take immediate, decisive action to protect your claim. Our proven process is designed to preserve critical evidence, establish liability, and build the strongest possible case for maximum compensation.

1. Free Case Evaluation:We begin with a no-cost, no-obligation consultation to understand how the collision happened, the injuries you suffered, and the impact on your life. No attorney fees or costs unless we recover for you.
2. Evidence Preservation: We immediately issue spoliation letters demanding the trucking company preserve electronic logging device data, black box records, driver logs, maintenance files, and dash-cam footage before they can be altered or destroyed.
3. Independent Investigation: Our team works with accident reconstruction specialists, trucking-industry experts, and medical professionals to determine exactly what caused the crash and identify every liable party.
4. Establishing Liability: We analyze compliance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations, Hours of Service rules, and California traffic law to prove negligence by the driver, carrier, and any other responsible entities.
5. Documenting Damages: We coordinate with treating physicians, economists, and life care planners to fully document your medical needs, lost income, and long-term costs.
6. Negotiation and Trial: We pursue aggressive settlement negotiations with the trucking company's insurers, and when they refuse to offer fair value, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial before a California jury.

Throughout the process, we keep you informed and handle every detail of the claim so you can focus on your recovery.

Why Choose Keosian Law for Your Truck Accident Claim

Commercial trucking companies and their insurers have vast resources and teams dedicated to minimizing what they pay injured victims. Choosing the right legal advocate is the single most important decision you will make after a serious truck accident.

• Proven Trial Experience: As a Southern California trial firm, we prepare every case as if it will be decided by a jury—and insurers know we will follow through, which drives stronger settlements.
• No Fees or Costs Unless We Recover: No attorney fees or costs unless we recover for you.
• Deep Regulatory Knowledge: We understand the federal and California regulations that govern commercial carriers and know how to turn violations into compelling evidence of negligence.
• Personalized Attention: As a boutique firm, we give every client direct access to experienced attorneys—never shuffling your case to a call center or paralegal.
• Resources to Take On Anyone: We retain leading accident reconstruction, engineering, and medical experts to match the resources of even the largest trucking companies.

If you or a loved one was injured in a collision with a commercial truck anywhere in California, contact Keosian Law LLP today for a free, confidential consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about our legal services and processes.

Who can be held liable in a truck accident case?

• The truck driver
• The trucking company that employs the driver
• The owner of the truck or trailer
• The cargo loading company
• Truck manufacturer or parts manufacturers
• Maintenance providers
• Government entities responsible for road maintenance

What makes truck accident cases more complex than car accidents?

• Severity of injuries is often greater due to the size and weight disparity
• Multiple liable parties may share responsibility
• Federal regulations add layers of complexity
• Trucking companies have rapid response teams and experienced defense attorneys
• Evidence like electronic logging devices and black box data requires specialized knowledge
• Insurance policies often have higher limits with more at stake

What federal regulations apply to commercial trucks?

• Hours of Service (HOS) rules limiting driving time to prevent fatigue
• Drug and alcohol testing requirements
• Commercial Driver's License (CDL) standards
• Vehicle maintenance and inspection requirements
• Cargo loading and securement regulations
• Electronic logging device (ELD) requirements
• Size and weight limitations

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

What types of evidence are important in truck accident cases?

• Electronic logging device (ELD) data showing driver hours
• Black box data recording speed, braking, and other vehicle operations
• Driver qualification files and training records
• Truck maintenance and inspection records
• Driver cell phone records
• Drug and alcohol testing results
• Dash cam or traffic camera footage
• Accident scene photos and measurements
• Witness statements
• Police reports
• Cargo loading documents

How are damages calculated in truck accident cases?

• Current and future medical expenses
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Property damage
• Rehabilitation costs
• Home modifications
• In-home care

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Disfigurement
• Loss of consortium

How much does it cost to hire a truck accident lawyer in California?

Why should I act quickly after a California truck accident?

• Electronic logging device and black box data can be overwritten or legally destroyed within months
• Trucking companies dispatch rapid response teams to the scene within hours to build their defense
• Witness memories fade and physical evidence at the crash site disappears
• California's two-year statute of limitations (and six-month deadline for government claims) limits your window to file

What should I do immediately after a truck accident?

• Call 911 and report the accident so an official police report is created
• Seek medical attention immediately, even if injuries seem minor
• Photograph the vehicles, the scene, road conditions, and any visible truck company markings or DOT numbers
• Collect contact information from the driver, witnesses, and the trucking company
• Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company's insurer
• Contact an experienced truck accident attorney before accepting any settlement offer

Client Testimonials

See what our clients have to say about our legal services and results.

"After my collision with a commercial truck, I was facing enormous medical bills and couldn't work. Keosian Law's truck accident team secured a settlement that covered all my expenses plus future care."

Robert M.

Truck Accident Client

"The trucking company denied responsibility for my accident until Keosian Law uncovered violations in the driver's hours of service logs. Their thorough investigation made all the difference."

Jennifer L.

Injury Victim

"I was intimidated by the trucking company's legal team until I hired Keosian Law. They leveled the playing field and fought relentlessly for my rights, resulting in a settlement far beyond what was initially offered."

Michael T.

Truck Accident Survivor