Truck Accident Attorney Serving San Diego County and North County

When a commercial carrier's negligence changes your life, you need counsel who understands federal trucking regulations, multi-party liability, and how to move before the trucking company's investigators do.

Why Commercial Truck Cases Are Different From Standard Auto Claims

Commercial truck accident claims carry a level of legal complexity that standard motor vehicle cases do not. Federal Department of Transportation regulations govern how long a driver may operate without rest, how cargo must be secured, and what maintenance records a carrier must keep. When a violation of those regulations contributes to a crash, it opens liability that extends far beyond the driver behind the wheel.

 

In California, a truck accident claim can name multiple parties simultaneously: the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, the vehicle maintenance contractor, or any combination of these depending on how the crash occurred. Under respondeat superior, an employer can be held liable for the negligent acts of its employee while that employee is performing job duties. I investigate every potentially responsible party before filing — because settling with the wrong defendant, or settling too soon, can permanently close the door on the full recovery you are entitled to.

 

The freight corridors in this region see significant commercial truck volume. I-5 near Camp Pendleton, Highway 78 through Vista and San Marcos, and I-15 between San Diego and Riverside are among the routes where serious commercial truck collisions occur with regularity. If your crash happened anywhere in San Diego County or Riverside County, I am prepared to take the case.

The Trucking Company Is Already Building Its Defense

Today Is the Day to Build Yours

Trucking carriers and their insurers do not wait. Within hours of a serious accident, they dispatch their own investigators to the scene, preserve evidence favorable to their position, and begin constructing a narrative. Their goal is to limit exposure — and the longer you wait to retain counsel, the more ground you concede before your case has even begun.

 

Evidence in commercial truck cases is time-sensitive in ways that standard auto cases are not. Driver logbooks — which record hours of service and rest stop compliance — can be altered or destroyed. Electronic logging device data, black box records, and onboard camera footage all exist on retention schedules that may be shorter than you expect. A preservation demand letter sent early in the process can compel a carrier to hold that evidence. Without one, it may be gone before you know to ask for it.

 

I represent truck accident victims on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless I prevail on your behalf. The upfront cost of hiring an attorney should never be the reason a seriously injured person delays taking action. Contact me before evidence disappears and before the other side has shaped the record.

Calculating What Your Claim Is Actually Worth

A commercial truck accident can produce injuries that generate medical costs for years — spinal damage, traumatic brain injury, orthopedic trauma, and rehabilitation that extends well beyond the initial hospitalization. Accepting a settlement offer before the full picture of your future care is understood is one of the most consequential mistakes a truck accident victim can make. A settlement is permanent. Once signed, it closes.

 

I work with medical and economic experts to calculate the complete scope of damages before any offer is evaluated. That includes projected future treatment costs, lost earning capacity, diminished quality of life, and the full value of non-economic harm. The trucking company's insurer will present a number designed to resolve the claim as efficiently as possible for them — not to make you whole. My job is to ensure you understand what your claim is actually worth before you decide anything.

What I Handle in Truck Accident Cases

Truck accident cases I represent include:

 

  • 18-wheeler and tractor-trailer collisions on California highways and interstates
  • Semi-truck accidents involving federal hours-of-service violations or logbook falsification
  • Crashes caused by improperly loaded or unsecured cargo
  • Collisions involving commercial vehicles with deferred or inadequate maintenance
  • Multi-party trucking negligence claims against carriers, lessors, and contractors
  • Wrongful death claims arising from fatal commercial truck accidents
  • Insurance bad faith claims when a carrier's insurer acts improperly in the claims process

 

If you were injured by a commercial truck anywhere in San Diego County or Riverside County — including North County, East County, and South County — I am prepared to evaluate your case at no cost and no obligation.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I sue both the truck driver and the trucking company in California?
    Yes. California law allows you to name both the driver and the employing carrier as defendants in the same action. Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, a trucking company can be held liable for the negligent conduct of its driver when that driver was acting within the scope of employment at the time of the crash. Depending on the facts, additional parties — such as cargo loaders, vehicle lessors, or maintenance contractors — may also bear liability.
  • What is the statute of limitations for a truck accident claim in California?
    In most cases, California gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If the crash resulted in a fatality, the surviving family has two years from the date of death to bring a wrongful death claim. Certain exceptions apply — for example, claims involving a government entity require a government tort claim to be filed within six months. Do not assume you have time to spare. Contacting an attorney early preserves evidence and keeps every option open.
  • What is a semi-truck accident attorney who works on contingency, and what does that mean for me?
    A contingency fee arrangement means you pay no attorney fees unless your case results in a recovery. My fee is a percentage of the amount recovered — if I do not prevail, you owe me nothing for my time. This model exists specifically so that serious injury victims are not priced out of legal representation when they need it most.
  • How is a truck accident case different from a regular car accident claim?
    Commercial truck cases involve federal DOT regulations, carrier insurance policies that can be substantially larger than standard auto policies, and multiple potentially liable parties. They also involve categories of evidence — electronic logging device data, driver qualification files, vehicle inspection records — that do not exist in a standard auto claim. This complexity is why specialized representation matters, and why acting quickly to preserve that evidence is critical.
  • What if the trucking company's insurer contacts me before I have an attorney?
    Do not give a recorded statement or accept any offer before speaking with an attorney. Adjusters are trained to gather information and resolve claims at the lowest possible cost. Anything you say in an early conversation can be used to limit or deny your claim. Retaining counsel first ensures that all communication with the carrier and its insurer goes through me — and that your rights are not inadvertently waived in a conversation you did not realize was consequential.