Key Notes
- A Sweet James client received a $700,000 settlement after a semi-truck struck their vehicle during an unsafe lane change on the 710 Freeway in Long Beach, California.
- The collision caused neck, back, and left shoulder injuries when the truck driver failed to check that the lane was clear before merging.
- Sweet James attorney Robert C. secured the settlement for the client.
- California law requires drivers to verify a lane is clear before changing lanes, and trucking companies can be held liable when their drivers cause crashes.
- If a commercial vehicle changed lanes into you on a California freeway, you may have grounds for a claim even if traffic was heavy.
Sweet James Accident Attorneys recently secured a $700,000 settlement for a driver injured when a semi-truck struck their vehicle during an unsafe lane change on the 710 Freeway in Long Beach, California. The client suffered neck, back, and left shoulder injuries after the truck driver failed to ensure the lane was clear before merging. Attorney Robert C. represented the client and negotiated the settlement with the trucking company’s insurance carrier.[1]
The crash happened in heavy, slow-moving traffic on the northbound 710 Freeway in Long Beach. Both vehicles were moving with the flow of traffic when the truck driver attempted to change lanes. The client had already established their position in the lane and was traveling at the same speed as surrounding traffic. The truck driver began to merge without checking whether the lane was clear. The right side of the truck collided with the rear driver’s side of the client’s vehicle, causing the client to lose control momentarily and sustain immediate pain.[1]
What does California law say about unsafe lane changes on the freeway?
California Vehicle Code Section 22107 requires every driver to signal and verify that a lane change can be made safely before moving over.[2] The statute says you cannot move right or left on a roadway until you have determined that the movement can be made with reasonable safety. When a driver changes lanes without looking or without making sure the adjacent lane is clear, that driver violates Section 22107 and can be held liable for any collision that results.
Commercial truck drivers are held to an even higher standard. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require truckers to operate with extreme caution and to account for larger blind spots, longer stopping distances, and the greater damage a heavy truck can cause.[3] In Long Beach and across California, trucking companies are responsible for the conduct of their drivers on the job. When a truck driver causes a crash during work hours, the company that hired that driver typically bears financial responsibility under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior.[4]
In this case, the truck driver’s failure to check the lane before merging directly caused the collision. The point of impact, the traffic conditions, and the sequence of events all supported the client’s account. Our attorneys gathered evidence including traffic-camera footage, the police report, and witness statements from other drivers on the 710 Freeway that day. That evidence made clear who was at fault, and the trucking company’s insurance carrier agreed to settle rather than go to trial.[1]
What injuries did the client suffer, and how did those injuries affect daily life?
The client sustained injuries to the neck, back, and left shoulder. In the days following the Long Beach collision, pain and stiffness made it difficult to work, sleep, or perform ordinary tasks like lifting groceries or turning to check a blind spot while driving. Medical providers diagnosed soft-tissue damage and prescribed a course of physical therapy and pain management. The client required months of treatment before reaching maximum medical improvement.[1]
Neck and back injuries are common in freeway collisions involving large trucks, because the force of a heavy vehicle striking a passenger car can jolt the occupant’s spine and shoulder structures even at moderate speeds. These injuries often do not heal quickly. The client in this case faced not only physical pain but also lost income during recovery, emotional distress from the trauma of the crash, and the inconvenience of arranging transportation while the vehicle was being repaired. All of those losses were documented and included in the demand we presented to the insurance carrier.[1]
Why did the insurance carrier agree to pay $700,000?
Insurance companies evaluate every claim by weighing the strength of the liability evidence, the severity of the injuries, the credibility of the medical records, and the likelihood that a jury would award even more money at trial. In this Long Beach truck collision, the liability evidence was strong. The truck driver’s unsafe lane change violated California law and federal trucking regulations. The client’s injuries were real, well-documented, and required months of treatment. The out-of-pocket costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering added up to a substantial sum.
Our attorneys presented a detailed demand package that included medical records, billing statements, employment records showing lost income, photographs of the vehicle damage, traffic-collision reports, and expert opinions on the truck driver’s violation of safe-driving rules. Faced with that evidence, the carrier recognized the risk of a larger verdict and agreed to settle for $700,000 before trial.[1]
Steve Mehr, Founding Partner of Sweet James Accident Attorneys, said, “When a commercial truck driver changes lanes without looking, the consequences can be devastating. This client was doing everything right, but still ended up injured because someone else made a careless decision. We made sure the trucking company and its insurer took full responsibility, and we’re proud to have secured a settlement that helps our client move forward.”
When a commercial truck driver changes lanes without looking, the consequences can be devastating. This client was doing everything right, but still ended up injured because someone else made a careless decision. We made sure the trucking company and its insurer took full responsibility, and we’re proud to have secured a settlement that helps our client move forward.Steve Mehr – Founding Partner at Sweet James Accident Attorneys
What should you do if a truck hits you during a lane change in Long Beach or anywhere else in California?
First, seek medical attention immediately, even if you feel only minor soreness. Some injuries do not show symptoms for hours or days. Second, document the scene if it is safe to do so: take photographs of vehicle positions, damage, skid marks, and road conditions. Exchange information with the truck driver and note the name of the trucking company displayed on the vehicle. Third, call the police and insist on a written report. Fourth, gather contact information from any witnesses. Finally, speak with an experienced truck-accident attorney before giving a recorded statement to any insurance company.
California law gives you two years from the date of the collision to file a personal-injury lawsuit, but evidence disappears quickly.[5] Trucking companies often pull driver logs, maintenance records, and electronic data from the truck within days of a crash. The sooner you involve an attorney, the sooner that evidence can be preserved and your claim can be built on a solid foundation.
Sweet James Accident Attorneys has recovered over $1 billion for injured accident victims across California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and Georgia. Our team of more than 400 legal professionals fights for you so you don’t face the aftermath of a serious collision alone. Millions of dollars are recovered every week on behalf of clients who trusted us to stand up to large insurance carriers and demand full accountability. If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident on a California freeway, call us at (800) 900-0000 for a free consultation. We charge no fees or costs unless we win your case.
About the Author
This article was prepared by the legal team at Sweet James Accident Attorneys, a personal injury law firm representing accident victims in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and Georgia. For more information or a free case evaluation, call (800) 900-0000 or visit sweetjames.com.
Sources
[1] Sweet James case records, 2026.
[2] California Vehicle Code Section 22107, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH§ionNum=22107
[3] Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, 49 CFR Part 392, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-392
[4] California Civil Jury Instructions (CACI) No. 3700 et seq., Vicarious Responsibility of Employer, https://www.justia.com/trials-litigation/docs/caci/3700/
[5] California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=335.1
[6] California Civil Code Section 1714, comparative fault, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionNum=1714
