A collision with a commercial truck is not just a bigger car accident. The trucking company, not only the driver, is usually a defendant. Federal and California safety regulations set standards the carrier has to meet. And the evidence that proves what happened, from electronic driving logs to dashcam footage, can be overwritten within weeks unless someone demands it be preserved.
Who Can Be Responsible
The driver for negligent driving. The motor carrier for the driver's conduct while on the job, and separately for negligent hiring, training, supervision, or entrustment of the truck. The company that loaded the cargo if a shifting or overweight load caused the crash. A maintenance contractor if a mechanical failure was the cause. Each defendant usually has its own insurance policy.
The Rules Trucking Companies Have to Follow
Interstate carriers are governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, including limits on driving hours (49 C.F.R. Part 395), drug and alcohol testing (Part 382), commercial driver qualifications (Part 383), and vehicle inspection and maintenance (Part 396). California applies its own motor carrier safety rules under Vehicle Code section 34500 and following. A violation of these rules can be evidence of negligence.
Why the First Weeks Matter
Federal rules only require carriers to keep driver logs for six months and inspection reports for three. Electronic logging device data, engine control module data, dispatch records, and camera footage can be lost sooner. We send a written preservation demand to the carrier and its insurer as early as possible so that evidence is not destroyed.
Insurance
Interstate carriers hauling ordinary freight must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage under federal law, and California requires the same minimum for most commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds under Vehicle Code section 34631.5. That is far more than a typical driver's policy, which matters when injuries are serious.
Deadline
Most California truck accident claims must be filed within two years of the crash under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a government vehicle was involved, a claim must be presented to the public entity within six months under Government Code section 911.2.
If you were injured in a truck accident in Los Angeles, contact Yadegar Law Firm, PC today for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your options.