Truck Accident Attorney — Los Angeles & Southern California

A truck accident in Los Angeles is not a standard personal injury case. When an 18-wheeler, semi-truck, commercial big rig, or delivery vehicle causes a crash, you are facing a trucking company, a fleet insurer, and a defense team that begins building their case within hours of the collision. Evidence disappears fast. Insurance adjusters make early contact to limit exposure. And the legal framework governing commercial trucking — federal FMCSA regulations, Hours of Service requirements, driver qualification standards, cargo securement rules — requires an attorney who handles these cases as a core practice, not occasionally. Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC has been fighting for truck accident victims in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California for over 30 years. We know how to find the evidence, identify every liable party, and build the case that gets you the full compensation you deserve.

Why Los Angeles Truck Accident Victims Choose Steven M. Sweat

Continuously recognized by Super Lawyers since 2012 — awarded to fewer than 5% of California attorneys. AVVO 10.0 Superb rating. National Trial Lawyers Top 100. Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum member, limited to attorneys who have obtained multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Our firm handles truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we recover for you. For guidance on finding experienced legal representation, see our guide on truck accident attorneys near me.

Representative Truck Accident Case Results

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its specific facts and circumstances.

Why Truck Accident Cases Are Different from Car Accident Cases

Insurance companies treat truck accident claims differently — and so should you. Here is what makes these cases uniquely complex, and why the quality of your legal representation directly determines your outcome.

Federal regulations create additional liability

Commercial trucking is governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), enforced by the FMCSA. Violations of these regulations — a driver who exceeded Hours of Service limits, a truck that failed its pre-trip inspection, cargo that was improperly secured — are direct evidence of negligence that goes beyond ordinary carelessness. For a full breakdown of the regulations that apply to your case, see our 18-wheeler accident lawyer guide.

Multiple parties may be liable

Unlike a two-car accident, a truck crash can involve the driver, the trucking company, a cargo shipper, a freight broker, a maintenance contractor, and a parts manufacturer — all simultaneously. California’s pure comparative fault system allows you to pursue every liable party. Missing even one defendant can leave significant compensation on the table.

Evidence has a short window

Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data, event data recorder (black box) information, dashcam footage, and driver qualification files can be overwritten, altered, or destroyed within days of a crash. Our firm sends spoliation letters — legal demands to preserve all evidence — to the trucking company and their insurer within hours of being retained.

Policy limits are dramatically higher

Federal law requires commercial carriers to carry minimum liability insurance of $750,000 for general freight and up to $5,000,000 for hazardous materials carriers. Many large carriers carry policies well in excess of these minimums. The stakes are higher — and so is the defense team’s motivation to minimize your claim.

FMCSA Regulations — The Evidence That Wins Truck Accident Cases

When a trucking company or driver violates federal safety regulations and a crash results, those violations are powerful evidence of negligence. The table below outlines the key regulations our attorneys examine in every truck accident case, the CFR citations, and the specific evidence we demand from the defendant.

Obtaining this evidence requires immediate legal action and, in many cases, court orders compelling production. Trucking companies and their insurers are not obligated to hand over this documentation voluntarily — and they typically do not. An experienced Los Angeles truck accident attorney knows how to compel it before it disappears.

Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle

Our firm represents victims of all types of commercial vehicle accidents throughout Los Angeles and Southern California. Each category below links to a dedicated page with case-specific information:

Major Truck Accident Corridors in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has some of the highest commercial truck traffic volumes in the United States, driven by the Port of Los Angeles — the busiest container port in the country — and the network of distribution centers, rail yards, and warehouses that serve the Southern California logistics industry. The following freeways account for the largest share of serious truck accidents in the region:

• I-710 (Long Beach Freeway): The primary truck corridor connecting the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach to the inland distribution network. One of the highest commercial truck density routes in the country.
• I-5 (Golden State / Santa Ana Freeway): Major north-south interstate carrying heavy freight through Los Angeles, Commerce, and the San Fernando Valley.
• SR-60 (Pomona Freeway): Key east-west corridor connecting Los Angeles to the Inland Empire, with heavy big rig traffic from distribution centers in Ontario and Chino.
• I-405 (San Diego Freeway): High-volume freeway through West LA, El Segundo, and South Bay — significant delivery truck and commercial vehicle traffic near LAX and the logistics corridor.
• I-10 (Santa Monica / San Bernardino Freeway): Major east-west artery connecting the Port complex to Inland Empire distribution hubs, with sustained heavy truck traffic throughout the day.
• US-101 (Hollywood / Ventura Freeway): North-south corridor through the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood with significant commercial vehicle traffic at peak hours.

For more information on freeway-specific truck accident claims, see our dedicated freeway truck accidents in Los Angeles page.

Injuries Our Firm Handles

The force disparity between a loaded commercial truck — which can weigh up to 80,000 pounds — and a passenger vehicle creates injury patterns that are categorically more severe than standard car accident injuries. Our firm has extensive experience representing victims with:

• Traumatic brain injuries — concussions, diffuse axonal injury, and severe TBI requiring neurosurgical intervention.
• Spinal cord injuries — partial or complete paralysis, herniated discs requiring surgery, and permanent functional limitations.
• Multiple fractures — femur fractures, pelvic fractures, rib fractures, and complex orthopedic injuries requiring extended surgical intervention.
• Internal organ injuries — traumatic injuries to the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs from blunt force impact.
• Severe burns — from post-collision fires involving fuel tankers or flammable cargo.
• Amputation — loss of limb from crush injuries or entrapment.
• Wrongful death — our firm represents the families of victims killed in truck accidents. See our wrongful death practice area for more information.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

A successful truck accident claim in California can include the full range of economic and non-economic damages permitted under California law:

• Medical expenses: All past and future costs of treatment, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, medications, medical equipment, and home health care.
• Lost wages: Income already lost during your recovery, including self-employment income.
• Lost earning capacity: Future earnings you will be unable to generate if your injuries prevent you from returning to your prior occupation.
• Pain and suffering: California does not cap pain and suffering damages in truck accident cases. These often represent the largest component of serious injury recoveries.
• Emotional distress: Anxiety, PTSD, depression, and other documented psychological consequences of the accident.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: The inability to participate in activities and relationships you enjoyed before the crash.
• Punitive damages: Available in cases involving egregious conduct — a carrier that knowingly kept an unqualified driver on the road, or a company with a documented pattern of Hours of Service violations.
• Wrongful death damages: Loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and funeral expenses for the families of victims killed in truck accidents.

What to Do After a Truck Accident in Los Angeles

1. Call 911 immediately. A police report — and ideally a CHP investigation — is essential. In serious crashes, CHP may conduct an independent commercial vehicle inspection and document regulatory violations.
2. Seek emergency medical care. Get examined the same day even if symptoms seem minor. Spinal and brain injuries frequently have delayed onset. Treatment gaps are used by insurers to undervalue claims.
3. Document everything at the scene. Photograph the vehicles, road conditions, skid marks, the truck’s DOT number, the carrier’s name on the cab, and the driver’s CDL information.
4. Do not speak to the trucking company’s insurer. Do not give a recorded statement and do not accept any early settlement offer. Initial offers in truck accident cases are almost always far below actual case value.
5. Contact a truck accident attorney immediately. ELD data overwrites in 30 days. Black box data can be deleted. Dashcam footage is typically stored for 72 hours or less. The sooner we are retained, the sooner we can preserve this critical evidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I sue the trucking company directly, or only the driver?

In most truck accident cases in California, you can sue both the driver and the trucking company. If the driver was an employee acting within the scope of their employment, the company is vicariously liable under respondeat superior. The company may also face independent liability for negligent hiring, negligent supervision, or violations of FMCSA regulations. In some cases — involving cargo shippers, freight brokers, maintenance contractors, or parts manufacturers — additional defendants may share liability. Our attorneys identify and pursue every potentially liable party from the first day of representation.

Q2: What is the statute of limitations for a truck accident lawsuit in California?

Under California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If a government vehicle was involved — a municipal truck or public utility vehicle — you must file a government tort claim within six months under California Government Code §911.2. However, the practical deadline is much shorter: ELD data, black box records, and dashcam footage can be permanently lost within days. Contact an attorney immediately after the crash, not in the weeks or months before the legal deadline.

Q3: What if the truck driver was classified as an independent contractor?

Trucking companies frequently attempt to classify drivers as independent contractors to shield themselves from vicarious liability. California courts and the FMCSA look past the contract label to the actual nature of the working relationship. If the carrier controlled the driver’s schedule, route, equipment, and performance standards, courts may find an employment relationship regardless of how the contract was written. California’s ABC test under AB 5 also applies in certain circumstances. Our attorneys analyze the full relationship and pursue the carrier regardless of how they have classified the driver.

Q4: How much is a truck accident case worth in California?

Truck accident settlements are significantly higher than standard car accident cases, for two reasons: the injuries are typically more severe, and commercial carriers are required by federal law to carry substantially higher insurance limits — $750,000 minimum for general freight, up to $5,000,000 for hazardous materials. Cases involving minor injuries may settle in the $75,000–$250,000 range. Cases involving surgeries, significant recovery periods, or permanent limitations typically settle between $500,000 and $2,000,000. Catastrophic injuries — spinal cord damage, severe TBI, permanent disability, or wrongful death — can produce multi-million dollar results. The specific value of your case depends on injury severity, liability clarity, available insurance coverage, and the quality of your legal representation.

Q5: How long does a truck accident case take to resolve in California?

Most truck accident cases with clear liability and documented injuries resolve within 12 to 24 months through negotiation, without requiring trial. Cases involving disputed liability, multiple defendants, catastrophic injuries, or wrongful death may take longer if the case proceeds to litigation. Our firm moves cases efficiently while never accepting an inadequate settlement to close the file quickly. Insurers for major carriers take more seriously those attorneys who are demonstrably prepared to go to trial — which is why our case results consistently exceed initial settlement offers.

Q6: How much does it cost to hire a truck accident attorney in Los Angeles?

Nothing upfront. Our firm handles all truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless and until we recover compensation for you. We also advance all case costs — investigation expenses, expert witness fees, accident reconstruction specialists, and court filing fees — and recover those costs only if we win. Your initial consultation is completely free. Hospital and home visits are available for seriously injured clients who cannot travel.

Contact a Los Angeles Truck Accident Attorney Today

If you or a family member was injured in a truck accident anywhere in Los Angeles or Southern California, contact Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC immediately. The trucking company’s insurer is already working on their defense. Evidence is already at risk. You need an experienced Los Angeles truck accident attorney on your side from day one.