Orange County Truck Accident Lawyer
Commercial truck accidents differ fundamentally from typical car crashes—the physics of an 80,000-pound vehicle striking a passenger car create devastating injuries, while the web of potentially liable parties requires sophisticated legal analysis. An Orange County truck accident lawyer investigates complex commercial vehicle crashes, preserves critical evidence like ECM data and driver logs, and pursues compensation while you focus on recovering from catastrophic injuries.
At Bentley & More LLP, we handle serious truck accident cases throughout Orange County’s major corridors, from I-5 and I-405 collisions to crashes on State Routes 55, 57, and 91, bringing decades of trial experience to cases involving semi-trucks, delivery vehicles, and construction trucks.
Whether you were hit by a big rig running on expired hours-of-service, struck by a delivery van making unsafe turns, or injured when a poorly maintained semi’s brakes failed on the Ortega Highway, our attorneys are ready to help. Contact us today for a free consultation: (949) 870-3800.
Key Takeaways
- Truck accident victims have two years to file personal injury claims in California, but only six months for government claims if city or county vehicles were involved
- Multiple parties may share liability, including the driver, trucking company, freight broker, maintenance provider, and equipment manufacturers
- Electronic evidence from ECM/”black box” data, ELD logs, and dashcams should be preserved immediately through spoliation letters
- California’s comparative fault law allows recovery even if you’re partially at fault, though compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility
- Catastrophic truck accident cases often involve multiple insurance policies, including primary coverage, excess policies, and umbrella coverage up to millions of dollars
Why Choose Bentley & More LLP for Your Orange County Truck Accident Case
Bentley & More LLP brings the resources and trial experience necessary for catastrophic truck accident cases. When other firms might consider a claim too complex or expensive to properly litigate, our founders, Greg Bentley and Keith More, bring their extensive trial and injury claim experience to the table. Our practice focuses on serious injury cases requiring extensive investigation and medical documentation, and we often battle against multiple corporate defendants with teams of lawyers.
What distinguishes our approach to truck accident cases:
- Immediate evidence preservation – We send spoliation letters to prevent destruction of ECM data, driver logs, dashcam footage, and maintenance records before they’re deleted or “lost”
- Multi-defendant litigation experience – Our attorneys pursue claims against drivers, motor carriers, brokers, shippers, and maintenance companies, understanding how liability flows through the transportation chain
- Catastrophic injury focus – We handle cases involving traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, and wrongful death, not minor fender-benders
- Trial-ready representation – Trucking companies know we’ll take cases to court rather than accept lowball settlements, motivating higher offers
- Resource investment – When necessary, we work with accident reconstructionists, trucking safety consultants, medical life-care planners, and economists to prove damages
From our Newport Beach offices, we serve injured victims throughout Orange County, understanding both the local trucking routes and the courtrooms where these cases are decided. Contact our Orange County truck accident attorneys at (949) 870-3800 for a free consultation about your case. We’ll review the circumstances, explain your legal options, and begin preserving evidence immediately to protect your rights.
Understanding Liability in Commercial Truck Accidents
Commercial truck accidents create complex liability webs that extend far beyond the driver behind the wheel. Understanding these relationships helps identify sources of compensation, which is particularly important when catastrophic injuries exceed single insurance policy limits.
The Trucking Company’s Responsibility
Motor carriers bear liability for their drivers’ negligence through vicarious liability, meaning the company that profits from trucking operations shares responsibility for resulting crashes. Under federal regulations, trucking companies can be held liable even when drivers are classified as independent contractors or owner-operators—the company whose name appears on the truck and holds the operating authority typically cannot escape responsibility by claiming the driver wasn’t an employee.
Beyond this automatic liability for drivers operating under their authority, trucking companies can face direct negligence claims for their own failures. Negligent hiring occurs when carriers employ drivers with poor safety records, expired commercial licenses, or histories of substance abuse. Negligent supervision involves pushing drivers to violate hours-of-service rules, failing to review logs, or ignoring safety violations.
Companies also bear responsibility for equipment maintenance. Failed brakes, worn tires, and malfunctioning lights can cause preventable crashes. When carriers skip inspections to keep trucks rolling and maximize profits, they share fault for resulting accidents.
Freight Brokers and Shippers
The modern trucking industry involves multiple companies arranging transportation, each potentially liable for negligent practices. Freight brokers who connect shippers with carriers may face liability for selecting unsafe carriers with histories of violations or inadequate insurance. Shippers bear responsibility for overloading trucks, improperly securing cargo, or mislabeling hazardous materials.
These cases require investigating the entire transportation arrangement and determining whether brokers performed the needed vetting. When brokers prioritize cheap rates over safety, choosing carriers with poor records, they share responsibility for resulting crashes.
Third-Party Maintenance, Leasing Companies, and Equipment Manufacturers
Many trucking companies outsource maintenance to third-party shops that may negligently service vehicles. When brake repairs fail, tires aren’t properly mounted, or critical safety systems malfunction due to poor maintenance, these shops face liability alongside the trucking company.
Truck and trailer leasing companies represent another potential source of liability, particularly when they retain maintenance responsibilities or lease out vehicles with known defects. When lease agreements include maintenance provisions, leasing companies share responsibility for mechanical failures causing crashes.
Product defect claims arise when truck components fail during normal use—brake systems that overheat and fail on downgrades, tires that suffer tread separation at highway speeds, or coupling devices that release unexpectedly. These strict liability claims against manufacturers may provide additional compensation sources beyond typical insurance coverage.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents on Orange County Roads
Orange County’s position as a major logistics hub, with ports, warehouses, and distribution centers, means heavy truck traffic on area roads. Any number of reasons can cause collisions; establishing liability is crucial to recovering a fair settlement.
Hours-of-Service Violations and Driver Fatigue
Despite FMCSA regulations limiting drivers to 11 hours within 14-hour windows and requiring 30-minute breaks, fatigue remains a leading cause of crashes. The pressure to meet delivery deadlines pushes drivers to falsify logs, disable electronic logging devices (ELDs), or use multiple logbooks to hide violations.
Fatigue-related crashes often occur during early morning hours, when exhausted drivers drift across lanes or fail to brake for slowing traffic. ELD data and cell phone records help prove drivers exceeded legal limits, establishing clear negligence that contributed to crashes.
Dangerous Driving Behaviors on Congested Corridors
Orange County’s congested highways create situations where truck driver errors cause catastrophic results:
- Following too closely – Trucks need 525+ feet to stop from highway speeds, yet drivers tailgate through Santa Ana and Anaheim traffic
- Unsafe lane changes – Failing to check blind spots before moving across multiple lanes on SR-55 or SR-57
- Speeding through construction zones – Racing through work areas on I-405 improvements or SR-91 express lanes
- Distracted driving – Texting, adjusting GPS, or eating while controlling 80,000-pound vehicles
- Impaired driving – Despite random testing requirements, some drivers use stimulants to stay awake or drive under the influence
These behaviors violate both California traffic laws and federal safety regulations, creating strong liability cases when crashes result.
Cargo-Related Accidents
Improperly loaded or secured cargo transforms trucks into deadly hazards. Overweight loads stress braking systems and make trucks unstable on curves like those on SR-74 (Ortega Highway). Unbalanced loads can cause rollovers on freeway ramps throughout Orange County. When cargo shifts during transport, trucks jackknife or lose control.
Hazardous material spills from tanker trucks create additional danger. Chemical burns, toxic exposure, and explosion risks multiply injuries beyond the initial impact. These cases often involve environmental cleanup costs and long-term health monitoring for exposure victims.
Catastrophic Injuries From Truck Accidents
The massive size and weight disparity between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles create devastating injury patterns that forever change victims’ lives. Truck accidents frequently cause multiple catastrophic injuries, forever altering the lives of those injured and their families. These injuries can cause substantial financial losses from immediate trauma care costing hundreds of thousands, to ongoing rehabilitation and lost earning capacity.
Examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Amputations
- Internal organ damage
- Severe burns
- Multiple fractures
- Wrongful death
When truck accidents prove fatal, surviving family members face both emotional devastation and financial uncertainty. California wrongful death claims allow spouses, children, and sometimes parents or siblings to recover economic damages, including the deceased’s lost earnings over their working lifetime, the value of household services they provided, and funeral expenses. Non-economic damages may be available to compensate for loss of love, companionship, comfort, and guidance.
Beyond physical trauma, truck accident survivors often develop severe psychological conditions. Post-traumatic stress disorder prevents many from driving again, while depression and anxiety stem from permanent disabilities and chronic pain. Family members suffer their own trauma witnessing loved ones’ struggles, requiring counseling and support services that factor into comprehensive damage calculations.
Preserving Critical Evidence After a Truck Accident
Time-sensitive evidence in truck accident cases requires immediate action to document and preserve information that proves what happened. Your trucking accident lawyer in Orange County can investigate the crash, help identify, and preserve this crucial evidence. This information helps strengthen your case and establish the facts of your accident.
Electronic Data and Driver Logs
Modern trucks contain Electronic Control Modules (ECMs) that record crucial data before crashes—speed, brake application, throttle position, and sudden deceleration events. This “black box” data shows whether drivers were speeding, when braking occurred, or if sudden movements contributed to jackknifes. However, this data can be overwritten within days during normal truck operations.
Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) track hours-of-service compliance, showing drivers’ duty status and rest breaks over previous weeks. Paper logs from older trucks provide similar information but require immediate collection to preserve their accuracy.
Our lawyers send spoliation letters immediately, creating legal obligations for all parties to preserve evidence relevant to your case.
Physical Evidence and Documentation
Critical documents that establish facts about your accident need formal preservation requests:
- Driver qualification files containing licensing history and safety records
- Maintenance records showing inspection schedules and repair histories
- Bills of lading documenting cargo weight and contents
- Dispatch communications revealing delivery schedules and route instructions
- Drug and alcohol test results from required post-accident screening
- Training records showing driver preparation and certification
Physical evidence from the truck itself—brake components, tires, safety equipment—requires documentation before vehicles return to service. Our truck accident attorneys can coordinate immediate inspections by qualified professionals who photograph and analyze vehicle conditions, creating detailed reports about the equipment involved in crashes.
Witness Statements and Surveillance
Independent witnesses may provide valuable accounts of events leading to crashes. Other commercial drivers who witnessed events through CB radio communications or dashcams can also offer helpful perspectives. Our team can locate and interview witnesses, documenting their observations while memories remain clear.
Surveillance footage from traffic cameras, business security systems, and other vehicles’ dashcams can provide objective records of how accidents occurred. This evidence helps establish facts when different accounts of events emerge. We work quickly to try to identify and preserve video evidence before automatic deletion cycles remove this crucial information.
Insurance Coverage in Truck Accident Cases
Federal law requires interstate truckers to carry minimum liability coverage of $750,000 to $5 million, depending on cargo type. Most reputable carriers maintain much higher limits through excess and umbrella policies, which provide additional coverage. These layered policies activate when damages exceed primary limits, crucial for catastrophic injury cases with lifetime care needs.
California-only carriers face different requirements but often maintain similar coverage levels to meet shipper requirements. Owner-operators might carry minimal coverage, making it essential to identify motor carriers’ vicarious liability and additional insurance.
Your auto insurance provides important coverage even in truck accidents. Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage applies when trucking insurance proves insufficient or when hit-and-run truckers flee scenes. Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage provides immediate funds for treatment without waiting for liability determinations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Orange County Truck Accidents
How Quickly Should I Contact a Truck Accident Attorney after My Crash?
You should try to contact an attorney as soon as possible, ideally within a day or two after the crash. Our lawyers can get to work immediately, preserving evidence, sending spoliation letters, and identifying liable parties. You have just two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, and only six months to file a claim if a county or city vehicle was involved. The sooner you call, the more time we have to preserve evidence and your legal rights.
What if the Trucking Company’s Insurance Adjuster Wants a Recorded Statement?
Never give a recorded statement to trucking company insurers without legal representation. You could be misunderstood or unknowingly make an error that harms your claim. Our attorneys can handle communications with the insurance company, protecting your interests during the claim process.
Can I Still Recover Compensation if I Was Partially at Fault for the Truck Accident?
Yes, California’s pure comparative negligence law allows recovery even if you’re partially at fault, though your compensation is reduced by your fault percentage. If fault is disputed, having legal representation becomes even more crucial. Our lawyers can investigate the cause of the accident and argue for fair compensation.
How Are Wrongful Death Claims Handled When Truck Accidents Prove Fatal?
California law permits surviving family members to pursue wrongful death claims for economic and non-economic losses. Spouses, children, and sometimes parents can recover funeral expenses, lost financial support calculated over the deceased’s working lifetime, household services value, and loss of companionship. These cases require proving not just negligence but calculating complex economic losses while presenting the profound personal impact.
What Makes Truck Accident Cases Different from Regular Orange County Car Accident Claims?
Truck accident cases involve federal regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and catastrophic injuries requiring extensive resources to properly litigate. Additionally, there is technical evidence like ECM data, driver logs, and regulatory compliance records not present in car accidents. These complexities demand attorneys with specific knowledge of trucking regulations and resources to battle corporate legal teams.
Secure Your Rights After a Catastrophic Truck Accident
Keith More, Orange County Truck Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been seriously injured in a truck accident on Orange County roads, Bentley & More LLP provides the sophisticated legal representation necessary for these complex cases. From our Newport Beach offices, we fight for injured victims from San Clemente to Anaheim, understanding both the devastating impact of truck crashes and the legal strategies necessary to secure meaningful compensation.
Federal regulations and California law provide strong protections for truck accident victims, but securing these rights requires immediate action and experienced representation. Contact an Orange County personal injury lawyer at Bentley & More LLP at (949) 870-3800 for a free consultation about your truck accident case. We’ll begin preserving evidence immediately, coordinate your medical treatment, and pursue compensation while you focus on healing from your injuries.