Personal Injury — Truck Accidents
Injured in a Truck Accident?
From Ilona’s Desk
A Collision With an 80,000-Pound Truck
A Collision With an 80,000-Pound Truck
Is Not the Same as a Car Accident.
The injuries are more severe. The legal landscape is more complex. And the other side — the trucking company, their insurer, and their attorneys — moves faster after an accident than almost any other defendant I’ve seen in personal injury law. They dispatch investigators to the scene. They begin preserving evidence that favors them. They do all of this before most victims have even left the hospital.
Truck accident cases involve federal regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, commercial insurance policies worth millions of dollars, and physical evidence — black box data, driver logs, maintenance records — that can disappear or be destroyed if you don’t act quickly. I’ve handled these cases across California, Florida, Texas, Nevada, Colorado, and New York, and I know exactly what it takes to go up against a well-resourced trucking company and win.
If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a collision with a commercial truck, please call me today. Not next week — today. The earlier we get involved, the more we can do to protect your case.
We Handle These Cases
Common Truck Accident Injury Claims
Rear-End and Override Collisions
A fully loaded semi-truck takes the length of a football field to stop at highway speed. When a driver follows too closely or fails to brake in time, the results are catastrophic. These cases often involve driver fatigue and distraction.
Jackknife Accidents
When a truck’s trailer swings out at an angle, it can sweep across multiple lanes in seconds. Jackknife accidents often result from improper braking, speeding, or poorly maintained equipment — and they affect multiple vehicles simultaneously.
Underride Accidents
A smaller vehicle slides under the trailer of a truck during a collision. These crashes are among the most deadly in all of highway transportation — often caused by inadequate underride guards or rear lighting failures.
Truck Rollovers
Overloaded trucks, improper cargo loading, excessive speed on curves — when a commercial truck rolls, it creates a catastrophic hazard for every vehicle in its path. Multiple parties may share liability.
Cargo Spills and Load Failures
Improperly secured cargo that falls onto the highway causes serious accidents and injuries. Liability may extend to the loading company, the shipper, or the cargo owner — not just the driver.
Driver Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Violations
Federal law limits how long truck drivers can operate without rest. When a company pressures drivers to exceed those limits and an accident results, the violation itself becomes powerful evidence of negligence.
After the Accident
7 Steps That Protect Your Claim
Trucking companies send accident response teams to crash scenes. Their goal is to protect the company — not you. Here’s how to protect yourself from the moment the collision happens.
1
Get Emergency Medical Care Immediately
Truck accident injuries — spinal trauma, internal bleeding, traumatic brain injuries, crush injuries — are frequently life-threatening and may not be fully apparent right away. Accept emergency care at the scene and follow up with specialists as soon as possible. Your medical records begin your case.
2
Call 911 and Ensure a Police Report Is Filed
A detailed police report documenting the scene, the driver’s information, the truck’s company markings, road conditions, and any citations issued is essential. Make sure the report number is recorded before you leave or are transported.
3
Document the Scene as Thoroughly as Possible
Photos of both vehicles, the truck’s company name and DOT number, license plates, cargo, skid marks, road conditions, and your injuries. If you’re unable to do this yourself, ask someone at the scene to help before anything is moved.
4
Get the Truck Driver’s Information
Full name, commercial driver’s license number, trucking company name, insurance carrier, and the truck’s DOT and MC numbers displayed on the cab. These identifiers unlock the federal safety records and inspection history that may be critical to your case.
5
Identify Witnesses and Nearby Cameras
Other drivers, truck stop or highway cameras, dash cam footage from passing vehicles — evidence sources unique to highway accidents. Get witness contact information before people disperse and note the location of any visible cameras along the route.
6
Do Not Speak to the Trucking Company or Their Insurer
The trucking company’s insurer will contact you quickly — often within hours of the accident. They are not calling to help you. Decline all recorded statements and forward all communications to us. Everything said to the insurer before legal counsel is involved can and will be used to minimize your claim.
7
Contact an Attorney Before Critical Evidence Disappears
The truck’s black box (ECM) data, driver logs, maintenance records, and the trucking company’s internal communications are all evidence that can be requested and preserved — but only within a narrow window. Trucking companies are not required to hold this data indefinitely. Call us today so we can issue a preservation demand immediately.
What You May Recover
Trucking Companies Carry Multi-Million Dollar
Trucking Companies Carry Multi-Million Dollar
Policies. Your Claim Should Reflect Real Damages.
Commercial trucks are required by federal law to carry significantly higher insurance minimums than private vehicles — often $750,000 to $1,000,000 or more depending on the cargo. That coverage exists because the potential for serious harm is so much greater. Getting a settlement that genuinely covers your long-term needs — not just your immediate bills — requires an attorney who understands the full scope of these cases and won’t be pressured into accepting less.
In states where our firm is licensed — California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New York, and Texas — truck accident victims may be entitled to:
- Emergency care, surgery, and hospitalization costs
- Long-term rehabilitation and specialist treatment
- Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Permanent disability and loss of quality of life
Every case is different. Let’s sit down — free of charge — and I’ll give you an honest picture of what yours is worth.
$0
Upfront. Always.
Upfront. Always.
No Win, No Fee — Period.
You’re already dealing with enough. Our contingency fee model means we only get paid when you do. There’s no financial risk to getting the legal help you need right now.
Got Questions?
Truck Accident Claim FAQ
Who can be held liable in a truck accident — just the driver?
Rarely just the driver. Truck accident liability often extends to multiple parties simultaneously — the trucking company that employed or contracted the driver, the cargo loading company if improper loading contributed to the crash, the truck’s manufacturer if a mechanical defect played a role, and the company responsible for maintenance if the vehicle was not properly serviced. Identifying every liable party is one of the most important things we do in these cases — and it directly affects the total compensation available to you.
What is a truck’s black box and why does it matter to my case?
Commercial trucks are equipped with an Electronic Control Module (ECM) — commonly called a black box — that records data including speed, braking, throttle position, hours of operation, and GPS location in the moments before and during a crash. This data can confirm or contradict the driver’s account of what happened. Critically, trucking companies are not required to preserve this data indefinitely — it can be overwritten within days. We issue legal preservation demands immediately after being retained to make sure this evidence is secured.
What federal regulations apply to truck drivers and how do they affect my claim?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets strict rules governing hours of service, vehicle maintenance, driver licensing, cargo securement, and drug and alcohol testing. When a trucking company or driver violates these regulations and an accident results, those violations are powerful evidence of negligence — sometimes establishing liability almost on their own. Obtaining and reviewing driver logs and inspection records is a standard early step in any truck accident case we handle.
The trucking company’s insurer contacted me right away. What should I do?
Do not give a recorded statement, do not agree to anything, and do not sign any documents. Trucking company insurers are experienced, well-funded, and motivated to close your claim for as little as possible — as fast as possible. Their early contact is not a sign of goodwill. Call us before responding to anyone from the trucking company or their insurance carrier. We will handle all communications from that point forward.
What if the truck driver was an independent contractor, not a company employee?
Trucking companies sometimes classify drivers as independent contractors specifically to limit their liability exposure. Courts and regulators have increasingly pushed back on this — and in many cases, the company can still be held liable under theories of negligent hiring, negligent entrustment, or statutory employer liability regardless of how the driver was classified. This is a common issue in truck accident cases and one we examine closely from the start.
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim?
The statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of the accident in most states where we practice. But the practical deadline for building a strong case is much shorter — black box data, driver logs, maintenance records, and eyewitness accounts all deteriorate or disappear quickly. If a government entity is involved, notice requirements may shorten the window further. Please don’t wait. Call us today so we can begin preserving evidence immediately.
Do you handle truck accident cases in my state?
We’re licensed in California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New York, and Texas — all major interstate commerce corridors with high volumes of commercial truck traffic. Truck accident cases are among the most complex and high-value personal injury matters we handle. If you were injured in a collision with a commercial truck in any of those states, please reach out today. The sooner we get involved, the stronger your position will be.
Ready When You Are
Let’s Talk — Free, No Pressure,
Let’s Talk — Free, No Pressure,
No Obligation.
I know reaching out to an attorney can feel like a big step. It doesn’t have to be. Tell me what happened, and I’ll give you an honest picture of your options — no judgment, no sales pitch, just real guidance.
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