Truck Accident Lawyer Los Angeles
Truck Accident Lawyer Los Angeles - Auto accident attorneys at Trembach Law. Free consultation. Call (818) 514-7680.
California Car Accident Legal Representation
Experienced car accident attorneys handling all types of motor vehicle collisions in California. We handle rear-end collisions, head-on crashes, T-bone accidents, hit-and-run cases, drunk driving accidents, rideshare (Uber/Lyft) accidents, and uninsured motorist claims.
California auto insurance minimum: $30,000/$60,000/$15,000 (effective January 2025). We fight to recover full compensation beyond policy limits when possible.
Free consultation: (818) 514-7680.
Fees, Costs and Case Results
Where representation is offered on a contingency basis there is no attorney fee unless we recover, and the firm advances case costs — filing fees, expert witnesses and medical records — which are then repaid out of any recovery. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fee. The specific terms that apply to a matter are set out in the written fee agreement for that matter.
Where this site refers to a verdict, settlement or court order, that result was dependent on the facts of that case, and results will differ if based on different facts. Past results do not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other matter, and no particular outcome is promised or guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What federal trucking regulations apply to truck accidents in Los Angeles?
- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates commercial trucks. Key rules include hours of service limits (11 hours driving in a 14-hour window after 10 consecutive hours off), mandatory electronic logging devices (ELDs), drug and alcohol testing, regular vehicle inspections, weight limits (80,000 lbs gross), and driver qualification standards. Violations of any FMCSA regulation can be powerful evidence of negligence in your truck accident case.
- Who is liable in a truck accident - the driver, trucking company, or manufacturer?
- Truck accidents often involve multiple liable parties. The truck driver may be liable for fatigue, distraction, or impairment. The trucking company can be liable under respondeat superior, for negligent hiring, or for pressuring drivers to violate hours of service rules. The truck or parts manufacturer may be liable for defective brakes, tires, or steering systems. Cargo loading companies may be liable for overloaded or improperly secured freight. Our LA truck accident lawyers investigate all potentially liable parties to maximize your recovery.
- What are hours of service violations and how do they cause truck accidents?
- Hours of service (HOS) rules limit how long a truck driver can operate without rest. Drivers are limited to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour window and must take a 30-minute break after 8 hours. Trucking companies sometimes pressure drivers to falsify logs and exceed these limits to meet delivery deadlines. Fatigued driving is a leading cause of truck accidents on LA freeways like the I-10 and I-5. Electronic logging devices (ELDs) now make it harder to falsify records, but violations still occur.
- How do overloaded trucks cause accidents in Los Angeles?
- Federal law caps commercial trucks at 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. Overloaded trucks require longer stopping distances, put excessive stress on brakes and tires, have higher centers of gravity making rollovers more likely, and cause greater damage on impact. Trucks leaving the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach are frequently found to be overweight. Our attorneys subpoena weight tickets, bills of lading, and inspection records to prove overloading.
- What are blind spot (no-zone) truck accidents?
- Commercial trucks have four large blind spots called "no-zones": directly in front (up to 20 feet), directly behind (up to 200 feet), along the left side (one lane), and along the right side (two lanes). Truck drivers are trained to check mirrors frequently and use turn signals well in advance. When drivers fail to properly check blind spots before changing lanes or turning, devastating side-swipe and merge accidents occur on LA's congested freeways.
- What is a jackknife truck accident?
- A jackknife accident occurs when the truck's trailer swings outward at an angle to the cab, resembling a folding jackknife. This happens when the drive wheels lock up—often from hard braking, wet roads, or equipment failure. Jackknife accidents are extremely dangerous because the trailer can sweep across multiple lanes of traffic. They are common on LA freeways during rain, in construction zones, and in heavy traffic where sudden braking occurs.
- How are truck accident claims different from regular car accident claims?
- Truck accident claims differ in several critical ways: (1) Higher insurance minimums—$750,000 to $5 million vs. California's $15,000 minimum for cars, (2) Federal FMCSA regulations create additional standards of care, (3) Multiple liable parties including driver, trucking company, and manufacturer, (4) Electronic evidence from ELDs, dashcams, and GPS, (5) More severe injuries requiring larger damage calculations, (6) Trucking companies deploy rapid response teams to accident scenes to limit liability. You need attorneys experienced with trucking litigation, not just car accident claims.
- What insurance limits apply to commercial truck accidents?
- Commercial trucks carry significantly higher insurance policies than passenger vehicles. Federal minimums are $750,000 for general freight carriers and up to $5 million for hazardous materials haulers. Many trucking companies carry $1 million to $2 million policies. This means substantially more compensation is available for truck accident victims. However, trucking insurance companies aggressively defend these large claims. Our Los Angeles truck accident lawyers know how to negotiate against major trucking insurers.
Contact Trembach Law Firm
Trembach Law Firm, APC
27001 Agoura Road, Suite 350, Calabasas, CA 91301
Phone: (818) 514-7680
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