Truck accidents are among the most devastating collisions on San Francisco’s roads and highways. When a fully loaded big-rig, semi-truck, or commercial vehicle strikes a passenger car, the results are often catastrophic — severe injuries, permanent disability, or death. Trucking companies and their insurers have teams of lawyers working immediately to protect their interests. You need an experienced trial attorney doing the same for you.
I represent victims of truck and commercial vehicle accidents throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. I have recovered over $25 million for injured clients and fight aggressively against trucking companies and their insurers for maximum compensation. Free consultation. No fee unless I win.
Why Trucking Accident Cases Are Complex
Unlike standard car accident cases, trucking accidents involve multiple potentially liable parties, federal regulations, and large corporate defendants with substantial legal resources. Key complexities include federal Hours of Service regulations governing driver rest requirements, commercial vehicle maintenance and inspection records, electronic logging device (ELD) and black box data that must be preserved immediately, trucking company hiring and training records, cargo loading and weight distribution records, and multiple insurance policies covering the driver, truck owner, and cargo.
Acting fast is critical — trucking companies dispatch investigators to accident scenes immediately to protect their interests. You need an attorney who moves just as quickly.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in San Francisco
- Driver fatigue from violations of federal Hours of Service regulations
- Distracted driving — phone use, GPS, dispatch communications
- Speeding or following too closely on US-101, I-280, and I-80
- Improper lane changes on freeway on-ramps and off-ramps
- Overloaded or improperly secured cargo causing rollovers or spills
- Brake failures and mechanical defects from poor maintenance
- Wide turn accidents at San Francisco intersections
- Blind spot collisions — trucks have large no-zones on all four sides
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Federal Regulations That Govern Truck Drivers and Companies
One of the biggest advantages in trucking accident cases is the extensive paper trail federal law requires. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates strict recordkeeping that becomes powerful evidence in your case:
Hours of Service (HOS) Regulations Truck drivers are limited in how many consecutive hours they can drive before mandatory rest periods. Violations — which are common and often deliberately concealed — are a leading cause of fatigue-related truck accidents. I subpoena electronic logging device (ELD) data, paper logs, and dispatch records to document violations.
Driver Qualification Files Trucking companies must maintain complete qualification files for every driver, including driving history, medical certificates, drug and alcohol testing records, and training documentation. A driver who should never have been hired or who had a history of violations represents direct evidence of company negligence.
Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Records Commercial trucks must be inspected regularly and all maintenance documented. Brake failures, tire blowouts, and mechanical defects caused by deferred maintenance are the trucking company’s liability — and the records prove it.
Drug and Alcohol Testing FMCSA mandates pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing. A positive post-accident test — or records showing a company failed to test as required — is significant evidence of negligence.
Cargo Securement Standards Federal regulations govern exactly how cargo must be loaded, distributed, and secured. Overloaded trucks, improper weight distribution, and unsecured loads that shift in transit are violations that cause rollovers and accidents.
I issue litigation holds immediately upon retention to prevent destruction of these critical records — and I know exactly what to look for.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Truck Accident?
Trucking accident cases often involve multiple defendants including the truck driver, the trucking company, the truck owner if different from the company, the cargo loading company, the truck or parts manufacturer if a defect contributed, and the company responsible for truck maintenance. As an experienced San Francisco trucking accident lawyer, I investigate all potential defendants to maximize your recovery.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
You may be entitled to compensation for emergency medical care, surgery, and hospitalization, future medical costs including long-term rehabilitation and home care, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress and PTSD, permanent disability or disfigurement, wrongful death damages if a loved one was killed, and property damage.
Truck accidents are among the leading causes of subdural hematomas — a serious traumatic brain bleed that can cause permanent cognitive damage, personality changes, and an inability to return to work.
How Trucking Companies Fight Accident Claims — And How I Fight Back
Trucking companies are sophisticated defendants with dedicated accident response teams. Here is what happens the moment a serious truck accident occurs — and how I counter it:
The Trucking Company Dispatches Investigators Immediately Within hours of a serious accident, the trucking company’s insurer sends investigators, accident reconstructionists, and attorneys to the scene. Their goal is to document evidence in the light most favorable to the company before you have counsel. I move just as fast — issuing preservation letters, hiring my own reconstructionists, and securing evidence before it disappears.
They Destroy or Conceal Records ELD data, black box data, and driver logs can be overwritten or deleted within days. I issue litigation holds immediately upon retention demanding preservation of all electronic records. Courts take spoliation of evidence seriously — and I use it against them when it occurs.
They Blame the Victim Aggressive comparative fault arguments — that you were speeding, in a blind spot, or made an unsafe lane change — are standard tactics. I reconstruct the accident with independent experts to establish the true sequence of events and counter every fault allegation with evidence.
They Claim the Driver Was an Independent Contractor The independent contractor defense is common and often unsuccessful in California. I analyze the full relationship between driver and company — including dispatch control, equipment ownership, and exclusivity — to establish employer liability under California’s strict ABC test.
They Offer Fast, Low Settlements Early settlement offers to seriously injured victims are designed to close claims before the full extent of injuries and damages is understood. I advise every client: never accept an early offer from a trucking company insurer without experienced counsel reviewing the full value of your claim.
Common Questions About Trucking Accident Claims in San Francisco
Call 911 immediately and request medical attention even if you feel fine — truck accident injuries including spinal trauma and traumatic brain injury often present hours or days later. If physically able, photograph everything — the truck, trailer, cargo, license plates, USDOT number on the cab door, road conditions, skid marks, and your injuries — before anything is moved. Get the truck driver’s name, CDL number, trucking company name, and insurance information. Collect names and phone numbers of all witnesses. Contact me immediately — black box (ECM) data, electronic logging device (ELD) records, and dashcam footage can be overwritten within days if not formally preserved through legal action. Time is critical in trucking cases.
Trucking cases are significantly more complex. Commercial trucks are governed by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations covering hours of service, weight limits, maintenance requirements, driver qualifications, and cargo securement. Violations of these regulations are powerful evidence of negligence. Trucking cases typically involve multiple liable parties — the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, the truck owner, and the manufacturer — each with their own insurance policies and legal teams. The evidence is also different — driver logs, inspection reports, maintenance records, and black box data must be subpoenaed quickly before they are altered or destroyed. These cases require an attorney with specific commercial vehicle litigation experience.
Generally two years from the date of your accident under California’s statute of limitations. However if a government entity is involved — such as a municipal vehicle, Caltrans truck, or road defect — the deadline may be as short as six months. More importantly, the practical deadline in trucking cases is much earlier — critical evidence like black box data, ELD records, and dashcam footage disappears within days or weeks. Contact me immediately after your accident so I can send a spoliation letter requiring the trucking company to preserve all evidence before it is destroyed.
Often yes — and California law makes this particularly favorable for victims. Under California’s AB5 law and the Borello test, trucking companies face a high legal bar to prove a driver is truly an independent contractor rather than an employee. Even when the driver is legitimately an independent contractor, the trucking company may still be liable under theories of negligent hiring, negligent entrustment, or negligent supervision. I analyze the full relationship between the driver and company to identify every avenue of liability and ensure you are not left with an underinsured or uninsured defendant.
Trucking cases routinely involve multiple defendants. Potentially liable parties include the truck driver for negligent operation, the trucking company for negligent hiring, supervision, or maintenance, the cargo loading company if improperly secured freight caused the crash, the truck or parts manufacturer if a mechanical defect contributed, and the government entity responsible for road maintenance if hazardous conditions played a role. Identifying every liable party is critical — truck accident damages are often catastrophic and a single defendant’s insurance policy may be insufficient to cover your full losses.
Truck accidents frequently cause catastrophic injuries due to the size and weight of commercial vehicles. Compensation can include emergency and ongoing medical treatment, future medical costs including long-term rehabilitation, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and permanent disability. Commercial trucking companies carry significantly larger insurance policies than individual drivers — often $750,000 to $1,000,000 or more — which means the potential recovery in a serious trucking case is substantially higher than a standard car accident claim. I offer free consultations to evaluate your specific situation.
Nothing upfront. I handle all trucking accident cases on a pure contingency-fee basis — you pay no attorney fees unless I recover compensation for you. No hourly charges, no upfront costs. My fee is a percentage of your final settlement or verdict, clearly explained in writing before you sign anything. If I don’t win, you don’t pay.
Serving Truck Accident Victims Throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area
Truck accidents on US-101, I-280, I-80, and San Francisco city streets affect victims throughout the region. Whether you were injured in the Richmond District, SoMa, near Civic Center, in the Marina District, Bernal Heights, the Sunset District, or anywhere in the Bay Area, I am ready to fight for you. View all areas I serve.
Why Choose Me
I have extensive trial experience fighting for injury victims against large corporations and insurance companies throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. I have recovered over $25 million for clients, I am recognized as a Super Lawyer 2021–2026, I am bilingual in English and Spanish, and I handle every case personally. No fee unless I win.
Contact a San Francisco Trucking Accident Lawyer Today
Call (415) 851-4557 for a free consultation. Available 24/7. No fee unless I win.
Related Practice Areas
If you were injured in another type of accident, I can help. I also represent clients in Motorcycle Accidents, Bicycle Accidents, and Car Accidents throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area.