California Trucking Accident Lawyer
Injured in a Truck Accident? Here’s What You Need to Know
Trucking accidents are among the most devastating collisions on California’s roads. When massive vehicles like semi-trucks, freight carriers, Amazon delivery vans, or construction rigs are involved, the damage can be catastrophic. If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking crash, Golden Coast Trial Attorneys, PC is here to help. Our team has years of experience representing both injury victims and, previously, the trucking companies and insurers themselves. We know the playbook — and we now use that knowledge to fight for the people who need it most.
Whether your accident involved a big rig, box truck, garbage truck, school bus, Cybertruck, or commercial van, we will fight to hold all responsible parties accountable and get you the compensation you deserve. Read on to learn what steps to take after a crash, how our attorneys can protect you, and why hiring the right team makes all the difference.
What to Do After a Trucking Accident
The moments after a truck crash are overwhelming. Trucking accidents often cause more severe injuries and chaos than typical car accidents. Here’s what to do:
- Stay Calm and Get to Safety: Truck collisions can cause fires, spilled cargo, or blocked roadways. Move to a safe location if possible, and activate your hazard lights.
- Check for Injuries and Call Emergency Services: If anyone is injured — including yourself — call 911. Due to the severity of trucking accidents, it’s crucial that police and medical teams arrive quickly. Make sure a police report is filed.
- Gather Information: Trucking accidents often involve multiple parties. Be sure to collect:
- The truck driver's name, employer, and commercial driver’s license number
- The truck’s USDOT number
- Insurance info for both the truck and driver
- Witness contact info
- Photos/videos of vehicle damage, license plates, road conditions, cargo spills, signage, and injuries
- Don’t Admit Fault or Make Guesses: Anything you say may be used by trucking companies later to reduce your claim. Stick to facts when speaking to police or other drivers.
- Get Medical Attention Immediately: Trucking accidents often result in hidden or delayed injuries. Go to the ER or an urgent care clinic even if you feel “okay.” Documentation is key for your health and your legal claim.
- Call Golden Coast Trial Attorneys, PC – 833-9LAWNOW: Our legal team will act fast to preserve evidence, protect your rights, and launch an investigation before the trucking company’s legal team gets too far ahead.
Why Hiring a Lawyer Is Critical in Trucking Accident Cases
Unlike car accidents, trucking companies and their insurers have entire legal teams whose job is to minimize your payout. Time is not on your side. They often deploy investigators to the scene immediately and begin building a defense the moment a crash is reported.
That’s why hiring a skilled California truck accident attorney is essential:
- We Level the Playing Field: Commercial carriers and insurers have vast resources. Our attorneys have successfully gone up against major freight haulers, logistics giants, and national insurers — and won.
- We Know Their Tactics: Our firm includes attorneys who used to defend trucking companies and their insurers. We know how they deny liability, shift blame, or hide records — and we know how to stop them.
- We Preserve Crucial Evidence: Trucking companies may delay or withhold black box data (electronic logs), maintenance records, driver logs, or dispatch communications. We immediately send preservation notices and take legal steps to obtain the truth.
- We Understand Complex Regulations: Truck drivers and companies must follow strict federal and state laws. We understand these regulations inside and out — including FMCSA guidelines — and will use them to hold negligent drivers and companies accountable.
- We Maximize Compensation: Our lawyers use medical records, expert opinions, and real-world verdict data to determine the full value of your case. We know the true cost of long-term care, surgeries, disability, and suffering.
Types of Trucking Accidents We Handle
We’ve represented clients in every kind of trucking accident. Common cases include:
- Rear-End Collisions – Often caused by a truck’s long braking distance.
- Jackknife Accidents – When the trailer swings out and forms a 90-degree angle.
- Rollover Crashes – High center-of-gravity and speed can cause trucks to overturn.
- Underride Accidents – When a car slides under a trailer; often deadly.
- Blind Spot Accidents – Due to the truck’s large “no-zone” areas.
- Wide-Turn Crashes – Trucks swing wide, colliding with adjacent vehicles.
- Overloaded or Unsecured Cargo – Causes loss of control or road hazards.
- Brake Failure Accidents – Caused by faulty maintenance or overheating.
- Fatigued Driving Crashes – Despite regulations, some drivers drive too long.
- Drunk or Drugged Driving by Truckers – Though rare, still a serious risk.
We handle crashes involving:
- Semi-trucks / 18-wheelers / Big rigs
- Amazon, FedEx, and UPS delivery vans
- Garbage trucks and waste management vehicles
- School buses
- Construction trucks
- Freight haulers and box trucks
- Work vans and utility trucks
- Cybertrucks and electric commercial vehicles
Wherever the accident occurred — freeway, city street, residential neighborhood, warehouse, construction zone, parking lot — we are ready to take on your case.
California Trucking Accident Trends and Industry Facts
California is home to some of the busiest highways and freight routes in the country. With major logistics hubs like the Port of Los Angeles, thousands of trucks are on our roads every day — including interstate big rigs, Amazon delivery vans, and municipal work trucks.
- Truck crashes often result in more severe injuries and fatalities than car crashes due to the sheer size and weight of commercial vehicles.
- Driver fatigue, overloaded cargo, brake failure, and tight delivery deadlines continue to be top causes of commercial vehicle accidents.
- The rise of last-mile delivery services (Amazon, FedEx, grocery delivery) has added more pressure and congestion to urban streets.
- Rural highways and mountain passes in California also see a high rate of rollover and brake-related crashes due to steep grades.
At Golden Coast Trial Attorneys, we stay current on industry trends and leverage our deep background in trucking law to fight back against negligent corporations.
Common Injuries in Truck Accidents
Because of the size disparity between trucks and passenger vehicles, injuries are often catastrophic. We handle trucking cases involving:
- Spinal Cord Injuries & Paralysis – Often permanent, requiring lifetime care
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – From concussions to cognitive disability
- Amputations – Loss of limbs due to crush injuries or surgical removal
- Burns & Disfigurement – From fires, chemical spills, or skin friction
- Crush Injuries – When a vehicle collapses on the body
- Internal Organ Damage – Life-threatening and often hard to detect at first
- Broken Bones & Orthopedic Trauma – May require surgery or implants
- Wrongful Death – For fatal accidents, we represent grieving families
Even seemingly minor crashes with delivery trucks can result in serious neck, back, or soft tissue injuries that disrupt your life.
Truck Accident Compensation Explained
Victims of trucking accidents may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of consortium or companionship
- Funeral and burial expenses (in wrongful death cases)
- Punitive damages (for reckless behavior like DUI or falsified logbooks)
Because trucks are often covered by commercial insurance policies, the available compensation is usually higher — but insurers fight harder to protect it. There may be multiple parties liable, including the truck driver, their employer, a freight broker, a maintenance company, or even the vehicle manufacturer.
Our legal team knows how to investigate, identify all sources of liability, and pursue the maximum compensation under California law.
Our Inside Knowledge as Former Trucking Defense Attorneys
At Golden Coast Trial Attorneys, PC, we offer something most law firms can’t: former defense-side experience. Before we fought for injury victims, our attorneys represented trucking companies, delivery fleets, and the insurance companies that cover them.
We understand:
- How trucking companies try to shift blame
- The “delay and deny” strategy used by insurers
- How logbooks, black box data, and driver history are manipulated or hidden
- What evidence matters most in court
Now, we use this insider knowledge to build powerful, winning cases for injured Californians.
Contact Golden Coast Trial Attorneys, PC Today
Trucking companies and insurers act fast after an accident — you need a team that acts faster.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a trucking accident anywhere in California, call Golden Coast Trial Attorneys, PC at 833-9LAWNOW for a free consultation. We’ll listen to your story, explain your rights, and fight for every dollar you’re owed.
There’s no fee unless we win. Let our experienced attorneys handle the legal battle — so you can focus on healing.
