California Truck Accident Lawyers

These collisions often involve commercial freight carriers, overloaded vehicles, or drivers working long hours. When a large truck hits a smaller vehicle, the results can leave drivers and passengers with long recoveries, medical bills, and time away from work.

These cases require quick action to preserve records, locate witnesses, and determine who may be at fault. You can work with a California truck accident lawyer at Silva Injury Law to learn where your case stands and what steps to take next.

Contact a California trucking accident lawyer at Silva Injury Law, Inc. to learn how we can help you recover.

Get started by filling out our online form or calling (209) 600-4389 today for a free consultation.

Reasons to Hire Our Experienced California Truck Accident Attorneys

If you’ve never worked with an attorney before, your first thought might be to conduct a quick internet search for “California truck accident lawyers near me.”

 While that search may point you in the right direction, you may soon realize that it will likely yield more results than you can count. So how do you narrow your search to find the best semi truck wreck attorney for your case?

Not every firm has experience with commercial trucking cases, and not every lawyer knows what to look for when corporate defendants try to limit their responsibility.

But here are a few reasons why we think Silva Injury Law, Inc. is the best firm for you:

• Our team will always treat you like family;
• We work on a contingent fee basis, so you will never pay us a penny unless and until we are able to collect money for you;
• Our experienced trial attorneys will never take on a case that we aren’t prepared to present to a jury; and
• We offer free consultations to help you determine whether your case has merit before moving forward.

Contact us to speak with one of our big rig injury lawyers and see for yourself whether we’re the right fit for you.

California Truck Accident Statistics

Accidents involving trucks, including 18-wheelers, semis, and  freight haulers, remain a serious public safety issue in California.

According to the National Safety Council, California recorded 436 deaths from large truck crashes in 2022—more than any other state in the country. The state also reported 4,285 traffic fatalities overall that year, with truck-related deaths continuing to make up a large share of the total.

Many of these crashes involve trucks hauling cargo across highways like the 5 and the 101, where commercial traffic stays heavy throughout the day and night.

Fatigue, tight delivery schedules, and poor maintenance remain recurring factors in the data tracked by federal and state safety agencies.

Common Types Of Truck Accident Injuries

Crashes involving large trucks often leave people with more than broken bones or bruises. When a smaller vehicle absorbs the force of a multi-ton commercial truck, the injuries can change every part of someone’s daily routine.

Some of the more common injuries that result after a truck accident include:

• Broken bones,
• Lacerations,
• Spine and back injuries,
• Rib and torso injuries,
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI),
• Internal bleeding, and
• Paralysis.

Some injuries may not show immediate symptoms. Internal damage or brain trauma can take hours or even days to appear. That delay can lead to complications if someone doesn’t receive a complete medical evaluation after the crash.

In many cases, truck accident victims also suffer emotional damages such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of PTSD can include flashbacks, sleep disruption, mood swings, and heightened anxiety in traffic. For many people, the mental effects of a crash last far longer than any physical injury.

Our team at Silva Injury Law takes these injuries seriously. We review medical records, speak with care providers, and work with experts to document how a crash has affected your life.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in California

Large trucks carry risks that smaller vehicles do not. Their weight, stopping distance, and limited visibility increase the chances of a serious crash when something goes wrong. 

In California, several common factors tend to appear in truck accident investigations:

• Speeding. Truck drivers may exceed posted limits or drive too fast for road conditions, especially under delivery pressure. That loss of control increases the danger to everyone nearby.
• Fatigue. Long shifts and overnight driving wear drivers down. Some fall asleep at the wheel or miss warning signs around them.
• Distraction. Eating, texting, or using in-cab devices takes eyes off the road and hands off the wheel. Even a few seconds of distraction in a vehicle that size can lead to a crash.
• Improper turns or unsafe lane changes. Wide turns and large blind spots make it harder to maneuver safely. When drivers cut across lanes or swing out too far, smaller vehicles often get caught.
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Impaired drivers lose reaction time and judgment, increasing the chance of a crash. Trucking companies must follow strict testing and screening rules, but violations still occur.
• Following too closely;. A loaded truck takes much longer to stop. Tailgating at highway speed leaves little room to react.
• Driving on the wrong side of the road. These crashes often involve head-on collisions with devastating results. Fatigue, impairment, or poor signage may contribute.
• Failure to follow traffic signs and signals. Running stop signs or red lights puts everyone at risk. Large vehicles can’t stop as quickly, making missed signals especially dangerous.
• Equipment failure. Worn brakes, bald tires, or broken lights go overlooked in rushed inspections. Mechanical issues like these often show up in post-crash investigations.
• Unsecured cargo. When cargo shifts or spills, it throws the truck off balance—or lands in the road for others to hit.

These causes don’t always point to one driver. Investigators sometimes trace a crash to maintenance lapses, poor training, or company-wide shortcuts. Each factor deserves a closer look—and California law gives injured drivers the right to pursue legal action when negligence plays a role.

That legal right, however, comes with a deadline. Under California law, you generally have to file a personal injury claim two years from the crash date. Missing that deadline can cut off any chance to recover damages, no matter how solid the evidence is. The earlier a California truck accident lawyer reviews your case, the better the odds of protecting your claim and preserving key records.

How Truck Accident Investigations Work in California

Truck crashes don’t just involve two drivers and a police accident report. Investigations often include several layers—especially when a trucking company or commercial carrier is involved. A detailed review can uncover what happened long before the crash itself.

Commercial trucks operate under both state and federal rules. That means investigations can include hours-of-service logs, GPS records, dashcam footage, cargo manifests, driver qualifications, and prior inspection reports. The company usually holds these records—not the driver.

An experienced team will know how to request and review these records before they’re discarded or overwritten. In many cases, logs automatically reset every week, so it helps to act sooner rather than later.

Investigators may also examine black box data. Most commercial trucks now include electronic control modules that record braking, acceleration, and steering inputs in the moments before a crash.

Photos from the scene—skid marks, debris fields, or damage patterns—can also help reconstruct what happened. This kind of documentation often requires working with independent experts, especially when the crash involved multiple vehicles, occurred at night, or was in poor visibility.

The sooner these records are collected, the more they can reveal. A qualified California truck accident lawyer can help secure what’s needed and explain what’s missing. At Silva Injury Law, we proactively gather and review all of this evidence with one goal: to show what led to the crash and why accountability matters.

What Compensation Can a Truck Accident Lawyer in California Help Recover?

The injuries caused by a truck crash often lead to more than just medical bills. Many people face weeks or months out of work, followed by ongoing care that disrupts daily routines and personal responsibilities. These setbacks deserve a closer look—especially when someone else’s choices played a role.

A truck accident lawyer in California can help you identify what losses may qualify for compensation. 

While each case depends on the facts, most truck injury claims include:

• Medical expenses. Costs including hospital bills, ambulance fees, surgeries, follow-up care, physical therapy, and any specialized equipment your recovery may require.
• Lost income. If the crash forced you to miss work, a claim can account for wages you didn’t earn. In more prolonged cases, that includes future income based on your career and health status.
• Pain and suffering. Serious injuries cause physical discomfort and emotional strain, which compensation in this category accounts for.
• Emotional distress. Many truck accident survivors experience anxiety, depression, or trauma—especially those involved in high-speed or violent crashes.
• Loss of enjoyment. When injuries interfere with daily life or the ability to enjoy past hobbies, this may be part of a damages claim.
• Damage to your vehicle. You can also include the repair or replacement cost if the crash totaled your car.

Some cases may also involve punitive damages, but only when the truck driver or company acted with gross misconduct. These damages are rare and not available in every case. However, they may apply in situations involving intoxication or extreme recklessness.

The value of a claim depends on what the crash took from you. At Silva Injury Law, our goal isn’t to guess at a number. We work to document the reality and then hold the right parties accountable.

What to Do After a Truck Accident in California

A truck crash can leave you disoriented, injured, and unsure who to trust. Medical care should always come first—but once your safety is secure, taking the proper steps early can strengthen your legal position.

Here’s what to keep in mind after a collision with a commercial truck:

• Get medical care. Some injuries don’t show immediate symptoms. Getting evaluated by a doctor documents the damage early and protects your health.
• Request the police report. Officers often include diagrams, citations, and observations that help clarify what occurred at the scene.
• Keep your records. Save medical bills, repair estimates, photos, and anything connected to the crash. These documents help prove the value of your claim.
• Avoid giving recorded statements. You may get calls asking for your version of events. Declining to comment until you’ve spoken with legal counsel can prevent misinterpretations.
• Contact a lawyer. A truck accident attorney in California can begin investigating immediately. That includes preserving logs, examining maintenance records, and identifying every party involved.

Under California’s comparative fault rule, you can still pursue a claim even if you share some fault for the accident. However, the court may reduce your compensation based on your percentage of responsibility. That’s why it matters to gather facts early and speak with someone who understands how these cases work.

Contact Our California Truck Crash Law Firm Today

Truck crashes often leave people facing painful injuries, missed paychecks, and months of medical appointments—our firm steps in when others fail to take responsibility.

We’ve handled these cases across the state and don’t back away when the facts point toward the trucking company or anyone behind them. You’ll speak with someone who listens and prepares your case as though it may go before a jury. That includes securing records, reviewing logs, and documenting how the crash has changed your life.

When you work with an 18 wheeler wreck lawyer at Silva Injury Law, you get a legal team that values results and accountability—not shortcuts.

We believe in promoting healing through compassionate advocacy. For this reason, we will always do everything in our power to provide you with not only the best legal representation we possibly can, but we will also make sure that you feel understood and cared for throughout the process.

Ready to get started? Contact us online or call (209) 457-5776 today for your free, no-obligation case evaluation.

Our experienced legal team also handles other types of cases, including:

• Car Accidents,
• Motorcycle Accidents,
• Wrongful Death,
• Pedestrian Accidents,
• Bicycle Accidents,
• Drunk Driving Accidents, and
• Distracted Driving Accidents.