Personal Injury

Truck Accident Attorneys San Diego

Truck accidents are a different kind of case

An 80,000-pound tractor-trailer against a passenger car is a physics mismatch — the injuries are often catastrophic or fatal. But the bigger difference for your claim is legal: commercial trucking is governed by a web of federal FMCSA regulations on top of California law, and liability usually extends well beyond the driver. Handled right, that complexity works in your favor — it creates more sources of evidence and more insured parties to recover from. Handled slowly, key evidence disappears.

Preserve the evidence — before it’s gone

Trucking companies dispatch rapid-response teams to accident scenes within hours to build their defense. Meanwhile, the evidence that proves your case is on a destruction clock:

ELD / hours-of-service logs (proving driver fatigue) — federal rules require retention for only 6 months (49 CFR § 395.8(k)).
The electronic control module (“black box”) — speed, braking, throttle at impact — has no federal retention rule and can be overwritten by continued driving or wiped during routine repairs, often within days to weeks. This is why an immediate preservation letter matters most here.
Driver drug- and alcohol-test records — retained on a tiered schedule (negatives about 1 year; positives, refusals, and follow-ups 5 years — 49 CFR § 382.401).
Maintenance and inspection files — kept for 1 year in service, plus 6 months after the vehicle leaves the carrier’s control (49 CFR § 396.3(c)).
Cargo loading records and weigh-station data.
Dashcam and facility camera footage.

A spoliation / evidence-preservation letter sent immediately is often the single most important early step — and a reason to call a lawyer within days, not weeks.

Who is liable in a truck accident

Multiple parties often share fault, each with their own insurance:

The truck driver — impaired, distracted, speeding, or driving over hours-of-service limits.
The trucking company — negligent hiring, inadequate training, unrealistic delivery deadlines that push drivers to violate safety rules, or poor maintenance.
The cargo loader or shipper — improperly loaded or overweight cargo causing rollovers or jackknifes.
The truck or parts manufacturer — defective brakes, tires, or coupling (product liability).
A maintenance contractor — negligent repairs.

Identifying every liable party is where recovery is maximized — single-vehicle-case thinking leaves money and insurance coverage on the table.

The deadline — and why sooner is critical

The general California deadline is 2 years (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1), but the practical deadline is much shorter because trucking evidence is destroyed on regulatory retention schedules. If a government entity is involved — for example a municipal truck or a dangerous road — a 6-month claim-presentation deadline applies (Gov. Code § 911.2), followed by a separate short window to file suit.

Damages you can recover

Past and future medical care
Lost wages and lost earning capacity
Long-term attendant care
Pain and suffering, and disfigurement
Wrongful-death damages for surviving family

Wondering what your claim might be worth? Learn how injury case value is calculated in San Diego.

Types of truck accidents we handle

18-wheeler and tractor-trailer crashes, dump-truck accidents, garbage-truck accidents, delivery-truck accidents, and big-rig rollovers, jackknifes, underride collisions, and wide-turn or blind-spot (“no-zone”) crashes.

Common truck accident injuries

Traumatic brain and spinal-cord injuries, paralysis, multiple fractures, internal injuries, amputations, severe burns, and wrongful death. These are frequently lifelong injuries, which is why we build claims around future medical and care costs, not just today’s bills.

The experts we bring in

Accident-scene reconstructionists
Life-care planning experts
Economists
Medical experts
Trucking-industry / FMCSA-regulation experts

San Diego truck-corridor risk

Heavy commercial traffic runs the I-5, I-8, and I-15 freight corridors, plus routes to and from the border and the Port of San Diego.

In 2023, 392 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks in California — with 371 large trucks involved in fatal crashes, the second-highest total of any state. Nationwide that year, large-truck crashes killed 5,472 people and injured an estimated 153,452.

Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts — 2023 Data: Large Trucks (final; the national injury figure is an NHTSA estimate).

Why BKHC

We understand the federal regulations that govern tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers, we move fast to preserve black-box and log evidence, and we work with trucking-industry experts to prove both driver and company negligence. Contingency fee — no fee unless we win. Se habla español.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Who can be held liable in a truck accident?

Often several parties — the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, a maintenance contractor, and/or the manufacturer. Each may carry separate insurance, which is why identifying every responsible party maximizes your recovery.

Why do I need to act quickly after a truck accident?

Critical evidence — ELD logs, the black box, drug tests, maintenance records — is retained only for limited periods and can be lawfully destroyed. An early evidence-preservation letter locks it down before it disappears.

What federal rules apply to trucking accidents?

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations govern driver hours, drug testing, maintenance, and more. A violation is powerful evidence of negligence on top of California law.

Are truck accident claims worth more than car accident claims?

Often, because the injuries tend to be more severe and multiple insured parties may be liable — but every case depends on its facts. We build the claim around long-term and future costs, not just current bills.

What is a truck’s “black box,” and why does it matter?

Most commercial trucks have an electronic control module that records data such as speed, braking, and throttle in the moments before a crash — often the clearest proof of what happened. There is no federal rule requiring that it be preserved, so it can be overwritten or wiped during repairs within days. That’s why moving quickly to preserve it is so important.

What does it cost to hire BKHC?

Nothing up front. We work on contingency and are paid only if we recover for you — the initial consultation is free.

Quick answer

California commercial-truck crashes often involve multiple liable parties — the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, and the manufacturer. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules apply on top of California negligence law, opening evidence sources unavailable in ordinary car cases: ELD/hours-of-service logs, the truck’s electronic control module (“black box”), driver drug-test records, and maintenance files. This evidence can be destroyed on a schedule, so acting fast is critical. BKHC offers a free consultation with no fee unless we recover for you.

By BKHC Editorial · Updated July 2026