Victim of a truck accident?

A collision with a commercial truck in Los Angeles is an entirely different category of legal claim. These incidents fall under a complicated umbrella of federal and state laws, and they frequently involve multiple responsible parties. The insurance companies defending these claims are built to protect their significant financial interests.

While you are healing, you shouldn’t have to spend your energy deciphering federal safety regulations or preparing to face a corporate legal department. As truck accident attorneys, our entire purpose is to handle this process for you.

Our team at Sweet James Accident Attorneys is ready to take on every part of your case. For answers about your situation and what to do next, call us for a free case evaluation at (800) 900-0000.

Key Takeaways for Los Angeles Truck Accident Claims

1. Multiple parties might be responsible. Unlike a simple car crash, fault may lie with the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, or even a parts manufacturer, which opens up multiple avenues for seeking compensation.
2. Deadlines are shorter than you think. While California’s personal injury deadline is generally two years, claims against government entities (like a city-owned truck) must be filed in as little as six months.
3. Evidence disappears quickly. Key information from a truck’s “black box” data recorder, driver logs, and maintenance records can be lost or destroyed if not legally preserved right away.

Why People Choose Sweet James Accident Attorneys for Truck Accident Cases in Los Angeles

When you’re recovering from a serious truck accident, you need a law firm with a clear record of achieving major results against large corporations and their insurers. At Sweet James Accident Attorneys, we have recovered over $2 billion for our clients, and we maintain a 98% success rate in the cases we accept.

We secured a landmark $17.4 million jury verdict for two people seriously injured by a city-operated truck, the largest in that county’s history. We consistently obtain multi-million dollar results because we prepare every single case with the expectation that it will go to trial.

Proven Results in High-Stakes Cases

Our history includes other substantial awards for victims of catastrophic vehicle accidents, including awards of $10.5 million and $6.5 million. Our personal injury attorneys, including founder James Bergener, are recognized by Super Lawyers, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and were named among the Top Law Firms in America for 2025. 

Our firm was founded to provide individuals with the same caliber of legal representation that large corporations command. We believe your ability to get justice shouldn’t depend on your financial situation.

• No Win, No Fee: You pay nothing unless we win your case. This allows you to pursue what’s right without any financial risk.
• Direct & Personalized Attention: We pair the resources of a large, modern law firm with the personal focus you need. You will never be just another case file to us.
• A Respected LA Presence: We’re known as the “Heavy Hitters” for a reason. Our office is at 16133 Ventura Blvd Suite 700, near Downtown LA and right in the Financial District.

Compensation in a Los Angeles Truck Accident Claim

The goal of a personal injury claim is to restore financial stability after an accident turns your life upside down. The law allows you to seek compensation for every loss you have suffered, both the obvious and the hidden. These losses, known as “damages,” fall into two main categories.

Economic Damages: The Measurable Costs

This is direct repayment for your verifiable financial losses. Think of it as reimbursement for every dollar the accident has taken from you. These are the tangible expenses that come with receipts and invoices.

Examples Include:

• All related medical bills (both past and future)
• Lost income from time you were unable to work
• Reduced earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your former job
• Property damage to your vehicle
• Out-of-pocket expenses, like costs for transportation or in-home help

Non-Economic Damages: The Human Cost

Some injuries don’t show up on a bill. These damages are meant to address the non-financial harm the accident inflicted on your quality of life. They are meant to acknowledge the personal toll of your injuries, the kind that can’t be calculated with a simple invoice.

Examples Include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Disfigurement or scarring

How California’s Comparative Fault Rule Works

California uses a legal rule called “pure comparative negligence.” Simply put, this means you can recover compensation even if you are partially at fault for the accident. Your final payment will be reduced by your percentage of fault. 

For example, if you are found to be 10% responsible for a crash, your compensation would be reduced by 10%. Insurance companies often try to shift blame to reduce their payout. Our role is to protect you from being assigned an unfair share of fault, keeping the focus on the truly responsible parties.

What Are the Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Los Angeles?

Investigations into truck accidents often reveal that the collision was not a random event, but the predictable result of specific failures. A comprehensive study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) identified several recurring reasons these crashes happen.

• Driver Error: This is the most frequent cause, branching into several categories. It could be a simple recognition failure, like being inattentive or distracted. It might also be a decision error, such as driving too fast for road conditions, misjudging the speed of other vehicles, or following too closely.
• Brake Problems: Brake failure or poorly maintained brakes are a leading factor in truck collisions. Given the immense weight of a commercial truck, fully functional brakes are non-negotiable for safety. A loaded tractor-trailer traveling at 55 mph can take up to 400 feet to stop, which is about the length of a football field.
• Driver Fatigue: Federal regulations limit the number of hours a driver can be on the road to prevent exhaustion. However, pressure to meet deadlines sometimes leads to violations, and a tired driver’s reaction time and judgment are severely impaired. Fatigue was a factor in 13% of the accidents in the FMCSA study.
• Unfamiliarity with the Road: Truck drivers navigating the dense and complex interchanges of Los Angeles for the first time are at a higher risk of causing a collision. Last-second lane changes or confusion about exits can lead to disaster.
• Improperly Secured Cargo: A load that shifts during transit can throw off the truck’s balance, leading to a loss of control or a rollover. This is typically the fault of the cargo loaders or the trucking company for failing to follow proper procedures.

Where and Why Truck Accidents Happen in Los Angeles

Los Angeles County’s freeway system serves as a central hub for the nation’s trucking industry, with countless trucks moving goods from the massive Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The constant mix of heavy commercial vehicles and everyday passenger cars creates uniquely hazardous driving conditions.

Certain highways and interchanges have earned a reputation as hotspots for serious collisions. The combination of intense congestion, difficult interchanges, and high speeds leads to thousands of accidents every year.

The Most Dangerous Corridors

The pure volume of traffic in Los Angeles makes some routes more dangerous than others, particularly when large trucks are added to the equation.

• Interstate 5 (I-5): As a main north-south artery, the I-5 carries an enormous amount of commercial traffic. Its Los Angeles stretches are consistently ranked among the most hazardous in California.
• Interstate 10 (I-10): Connecting Los Angeles to the rest of the country, the I-10 is a key route for long-haul trucking. Driver fatigue and excessive speed are common factors in crashes along this freeway.
• Interstate 710 (I-710): This freeway connects the ports to inland warehouses and sees tens of thousands of truck trips daily. The interchange with the SR-60 is a known collision hotspot due to the high concentration of heavy-duty trucks.
• Interstate 405 (I-405) & Interstate 110 (I-110): These freeways suffer from perpetual congestion, creating a risky environment where commuter and commercial traffic constantly interact.

Dangerous Intersections

Many of the city’s most dangerous intersections, such as S. Figueroa Street and Slauson Avenue, are located near freeway ramps where the traffic patterns of trucks and passenger cars clash. The continuous merging and exiting of vehicles of different sizes and speeds is a recipe for disaster.

A Truck Accident Is Not Just a Big Car Accident

The issues in a commercial truck accident case are far more layered than in a typical car crash. The immense size and weight of a semi-truck change the physics of a collision, leading to much more severe injuries and damage. 

Beyond the physical destruction, the number of potential defendants and the regulations they must follow place these cases in a separate legal category.

Multiple Liable Parties: Who Is Responsible?

In a standard car wreck, blame usually falls on one driver. Something a skilled car accident lawyer is accustomed to evaluating. In a truck accident, the net of responsibility is cast much wider, and our investigation explores all potential angles:

• The Truck Driver: Did they violate traffic laws or federal hours-of-service rules designed to prevent fatigue?
• The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier): Did they fail to properly train their driver, cut corners on vehicle maintenance, or implicitly encourage unsafe driving to meet deadlines?
• The Maintenance Company: Were the truck’s brakes, tires, or other critical equipment properly inspected and serviced?
• The Cargo Shipper/Loader: Was the truck loaded improperly, making it top-heavy, unstable, or overweight?
• The Truck Manufacturer: Was there a defect in the truck itself, such as a faulty steering component or braking system?

Federal and State Regulations

The commercial trucking industry is governed by a dense network of laws designed to keep the public safe.

• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR): These federal rules set the minimum standards for everything from driver qualifications and work hours to vehicle maintenance and inspection protocols. A violation of these rules can serve as powerful evidence of negligence.
• California Vehicle Code: California imposes its own rules on commercial trucks, including a statewide 55 mph speed limit and specific lane restrictions on certain highways.

Our team knows how to use these regulations to identify every responsible party and hold them accountable.

The Evidence That Builds a Strong Truck Accident Case

A successful claim is built on strong evidence. While photos and police reports are a start, truck accident cases depend on securing technical data and corporate records that paint a full picture of what happened. 

Our first move is to send a formal spoliation letter, which is a legal demand that the trucking company preserve all relevant evidence for the lawsuit.

• The “Black Box”: Most commercial trucks have an event data recorder (EDR), or “black box,” that records information like speed, braking, and steering inputs in the seconds before a crash. This data is one of the most objective pieces of evidence available.
• Driver Logs: Federal law requires drivers to log their hours to prevent fatigue. These records, now mostly electronic, can show if a driver was on the road longer than legally allowed.
• Maintenance and Inspection Records: Trucking companies must keep detailed records of all maintenance, inspections, and repairs. These documents can reveal a history of mechanical problems or neglected safety issues.
• Driver Qualification File: A trucking company is required to maintain a file on each driver showing their employment history, driving record, training, and drug and alcohol testing results. This file might show that the company hired a driver who was not qualified.
• Post-Crash Drug and Alcohol Tests: The law often requires drivers to undergo drug and alcohol testing after a serious collision. The results can be direct evidence of impairment.
  

  Let Us Handle the Legal Work So You Can Focus on Healing

  Our purpose is to take that weight off your shoulders, provide clear answers, and pursue the maximum compensation available to you under the law. We will handle the investigation, the deadlines, the paperwork, and the negotiations.

  The first conversation is free, and there is no obligation. Call Sweet James Accident Attorneys at (800) 900-0000 today to discuss your case and find out how we can help you move forward.