Why truck accident cases are different from car crashes
A loaded semi weighs up to 80,000 pounds, and the injuries in a truck collision are rarely minor. The legal case is different too. A truck crash usually involves several defendants, a motor carrier, a driver, sometimes a broker, a shipper, and a maintenance company, each with its own insurer and its own lawyer. Federal rules govern how long the driver could drive, how the truck was inspected, and what records must be kept. And the evidence that proves the case lives inside the truck, in the carrier’s files, and in data that is routinely erased.
Morales Law Firm treats a truck case as a litigation case from the first day, because that is how the carrier is treating it.
The evidence we lock down in the first week
- Electronic logging device and engine control module data. Speed, braking, hours on duty. Carriers can overwrite it unless a preservation letter arrives.
- Driver qualification file and hours-of-service logs. Federal rules limit drivers to 11 hours of driving in a 14-hour window; violations are common and provable.
- Inspection, maintenance, and load records. Bad brakes and overloaded trailers cause crashes on the grades of the 57 and 210.
- Dash-cam, forward-facing camera, and dispatch communications. Many fleets now record the cab and the road.
- CHP collision report and the Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team file for serious crashes on the freeway.
We send spoliation letters to every company in the chain within days of being hired, and we file suit early when a carrier will not cooperate, so the court can order the records produced.
Who pays after a truck accident
Interstate motor carriers must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage under federal rules, and many carry $1 million or more. That is the difference between a claim that can actually cover a surgery and a lifetime of care and one that cannot. We also look at the broker and shipper for negligent hiring, at the maintenance contractor for a failed repair, and at the trailer owner, which is often a separate company. Identifying every policy is the first job in a truck case, and it is the one most often skipped.
Damages in a San Dimas truck accident claim
Because injuries are serious, truck cases are often built around future needs: future surgery, long-term therapy, home modifications, and lost earning capacity, in addition to the medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering that every injury claim includes. We work with life-care planners and economists when the numbers justify it. Where a crash was fatal, the family may bring a wrongful death claim.
The deadline to file is two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, but the practical deadline is far shorter, because the evidence that proves fault disappears in weeks, not years.
In our experience, the trucking company’s adjuster who calls in the first 48 hours is not calling to help. The call is to get a statement before you have counsel and to gauge how serious your injuries look. Say nothing beyond your name, save the caller’s information, and let us make the next contact. That single decision often changes the value of the case.
Truck accidents around San Dimas
San Dimas sits on two of Southern California’s busiest freight corridors. The 210 carries traffic between the Inland Empire warehouses and the San Fernando Valley, and the 57 and 10 connect the ports and the rail yards to the distribution centers in Ontario, Fontana, and Rancho Cucamonga. Big rigs, box trucks, and delivery vans move through here all day, and the grades approaching the Glendora Curve, where the 57 ends at the 210 just west of the San Dimas line, are hard on brakes. We know the CHP Baldwin Park office that investigates these crashes and the local truck stops and yards where drivers and evidence can be found.
What to do after a truck accident
- Get medical care first. Serious injuries in truck crashes are often not obvious at the scene.
- Photograph the truck’s DOT number, license plates, trailer, and the company name on the cab before it is moved.
- Do not speak with the carrier’s representative or sign anything.
- Call Morales Law Firm as soon as you can, so we can send preservation letters before the data is gone.
If you were in a passenger car, our car accident page covers the basics of dealing with the other driver’s insurer. If the crash killed a family member, call us about a wrongful death claim.
Frequently asked questions
Who can be held responsible in a truck accident?
Often more than one party: the driver, the motor carrier, the trailer owner, the shipper or broker that hired the carrier, and the maintenance company. Each may have separate insurance, which is why identifying every defendant matters so much in a truck case.
How much insurance do trucking companies carry?
Federal rules require at least $750,000 in liability coverage for most interstate carriers, and $1 million or more is common. That is far more than the $30,000 minimum for a private California driver, which matters when injuries are severe.
What is a spoliation letter and why does it matter?
It is a formal demand that the trucking company preserve the truck’s electronic data, logs, and records. Without it, carriers routinely overwrite the data that proves speed, braking, and hours of service. We send them in the first week.
Can I sue if the truck driver was an independent contractor?
Usually yes. California law and federal regulations hold the motor carrier responsible for drivers operating under its authority, regardless of the contractor label. We also look at the company’s hiring and supervision.
What if my family member was killed in a truck crash?
Surviving spouses, children, and certain other family members can bring a wrongful death claim in California for funeral costs, lost financial support, and the loss of the relationship. The two-year deadline applies, and government claims are six months.
How long does a truck accident case take?
Longer than a typical car case, usually one to two years, because of the number of parties and the amount of evidence. Serious cases are often resolved at mediation after the carrier’s records are produced.
