A crash with a semi, delivery truck or other commercial vehicle isn’t just a bigger car accident. The truck is many times heavier than your car, the injuries are usually more serious, and on the other side is a trucking company with its own insurer and lawyers, who start working on the case right away.
The Law Offices of Brent W. Caldwell represents people hurt in truck crashes throughout Orange County. Before he represented injured people, Brent worked for insurance companies and large corporate defendants, so he knows how a trucking company’s insurer will look at your claim. The consultation is free, and there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
57
fatal crashes involving a large truck, 2019–2023
58
people killed in those crashes
I-5, SR-91, SR-57
the roads where they happened most
Federal crash records show 57 fatal crashes involving a large truck (over 10,000 pounds) in Orange County from 2019 through 2023, and 58 people died in them. That’s about one in every 19 traffic deaths in the county. Twenty-four of those crashes involved a semi (a truck-tractor). The roads that came up most often were I-5 (10 crashes), SR-91 (7) and SR-57 (7).
These numbers count only crashes in which someone died within 30 days. Crashes that left people injured aren’t included.
Big trucks have large blind spots (“no-zones”) beside the cab, directly behind the trailer and just in front of the bumper. A driver who changes lanes without checking them can push a car off the road.
A loaded truck needs much more distance to stop than a car. When a truck driver follows too closely in stop-and-go freeway traffic, the car in front takes the full impact.
Hard braking, speeding on a curve or ramp, or a load that shifts can fold the trailer sideways or tip the truck over, often blocking several lanes.
A car can slide under the side or back of a trailer. When that happens, the trailer can hit the car at windshield height, which is why these crashes are so often fatal.
Trucks swing wide to make right turns. Drivers, cyclists and people on foot can be caught between the truck and the curb.
A car crash usually involves one driver and one insurer. A truck crash can involve several companies, and finding all of them matters, because each one may have its own insurance.
Speeding, following too closely, unsafe lane changes, distraction, or driving while tired or impaired.
Companies are generally responsible for crashes their drivers cause on the job. A company can also be at fault on its own: hiring an unqualified driver, pushing schedules that break the hours-of-service limits, or skipping maintenance.
Cargo that is overloaded or not secured can shift, spill or tip a truck over.
Worn brakes, bad tires or a defective part can point to the company that serviced or built the truck (see our product liability page).
If a government vehicle was involved, or the road itself was dangerous, a written claim usually has to be filed with the agency within six months.
Commercial trucks run under safety rules that don’t apply to cars. When a driver or company breaks one, the violation can be strong evidence of fault.
Truck cases turn on records the trucking company controls, and some of them only have to be kept for months. The evidence we go after includes:
One of the first things we do in a truck case is send the company a written demand to preserve this evidence, so it is on notice not to lose or overwrite it while your claim is open.
Because of a truck’s size and weight, these crashes often cause the most serious injuries: brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, burns and, too often, death.
A claim can include medical bills now and in the future, lost income and earning capacity, care at home, and pain and suffering. When someone is killed, certain family members may bring a wrongful death claim.
California uses comparative fault. If the trucking company argues you were partly to blame, that can reduce your compensation by your share of fault, but it doesn’t bar your claim.
Tell us what happened, and we’ll tell you whether we can help and what comes next.
No attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. We advance the costs of building your case, and your written fee agreement explains how fees and costs are handled.
Brent has been licensed since 2003 and worked for insurance companies before representing injured people. He served 10 years on the board of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association.
Usually the trucking company’s liability insurer, and sometimes others too: a shipper’s, a repair shop’s, or a public agency. Your own policy may also help, for example medical payments coverage, or underinsured motorist coverage if the truck’s insurance isn’t enough.
Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1). If a public agency is involved, a written claim usually has to be filed within six months (Government Code 911.2). Don’t wait for those deadlines: truck evidence can disappear much sooner. See California personal injury deadlines.
Yes. There are usually more parties and more insurance, federal and state safety rules apply, and the key evidence (logs, black box data, maintenance files) belongs to the trucking company. It takes faster action and more investigation.
The company the truck was operating for may still be responsible, and other parties may share fault. Who is responsible depends on the contracts and the facts, which is one reason to have a lawyer look at it early.
Be careful about giving a recorded statement or signing anything before you’ve had advice. The adjuster’s job is to limit what the company pays. See why to be careful with insurance adjusters.
Certain family members, such as a spouse or children, can bring a wrongful death claim. See who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in California.
If you or someone in your family was hurt in a crash with a truck anywhere in Orange County, call (714) 752-4670 or use the form on this page. We’ll listen, explain your options and tell you whether we can help.
We also have pages for truck crashes in Anaheim, Aliso Viejo and Brea, and a guide to how commercial truck accident claims work.