The Central Valley moves produce, freight and packages along Highway 99 and Interstate 5 every day. When a commercial truck is involved, the injuries are often serious and the insurance and corporate defenses are stronger. Evidence can disappear fast, so early action matters.
Common causes
- Driver fatigue and hours-of-service violations
- Overloaded or poorly secured cargo
- Poor vehicle maintenance, including brakes and tires
- Distracted or unqualified drivers
- Unsafe lane changes and wide turns
What you may be able to recover
Every case is different, and no outcome is guaranteed. Compensation in an injury claim can include:
- Medical bills, past and future
- Lost wages and reduced ability to earn
- Pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage, where a vehicle or belongings were harmed
California law to know
- Trucking companies may share responsibility for a crash through driver hiring, training, scheduling and maintenance, in addition to the driver.
- Federal motor carrier safety regulations set limits on driving hours and require records. Logs, inspection reports and electronic data can matter, and a lawyer can send a preservation letter early.
- The two-year injury deadline generally applies, with a six-month claim window if a government vehicle is involved.
What to do now
- Seek medical care and report the crash.
- Write down the company name and any DOT or USDOT number on the truck.
- Photograph vehicles, skid marks, cargo and road conditions.
- Do not speak with the trucking company's insurer about fault.
- Call us for a free consultation so evidence can be preserved.
Frequently asked questions
Who can be held responsible in a truck accident?
Possibly the driver, the trucking company, a cargo loader, a maintenance contractor or a manufacturer, depending on what caused the crash.
Why does evidence matter so much?
Driver logs and vehicle data are not kept forever. Prompt preservation requests help protect records that may show what happened.
Serving the Central Valley
The office is in North Fresno, and the firm helps injured people throughout the Valley.
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This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different. Attorney advertising.