If you were hit by a semi-truck in California and suffered a catastrophic injury, were hospitalized, or need surgery, your case may involve substantially more than the truck driver alone. The trucking company, employer, vehicle owner, maintenance company, cargo company, contractors and multiple commercial insurance policies may all need to be investigated.

These are not ordinary car accident cases.

A serious commercial truck crash can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, multiple fractures, internal injuries, permanent disability, surgery, months of hospitalization and lifelong medical needs.

If you or someone you love was seriously injured by a semi-truck, 18-wheeler, big rig or commercial truck in California, call The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus at 818-784-8544 right now for a free consultation.

Don’t wait. Waiting can hurt your case.

Learn more about our California truck accident representation.

Why Catastrophic Semi-Truck Accident Cases Are Different

A collision involving an 18-wheeler or commercial truck is fundamentally different from a typical two-car crash.

The injuries are often more severe.

The evidence is more technical.

The insurance coverage can be more complicated.

And there may be several businesses responsible for what happened.

A catastrophic California truck accident case may require an investigation into:

• The truck driver’s conduct
• Driver training and qualifications
• Hours worked and driver fatigue
• Electronic driving records
• Truck inspection records
• Maintenance and repair history
• Brake and tire condition
• Vehicle ownership
• Trailer ownership
• Cargo loading and securement
• Hiring and supervision practices
• Company safety policies
• Commercial insurance coverage
• Umbrella or excess insurance
• Electronic vehicle data
• Dash-camera footage
• Surveillance video

That is why serious truck accident claims should be investigated immediately.

1. Who Can Be Liable After a Semi-Truck Accident in California?

The truck driver may be only the beginning.

Depending on the evidence, potentially responsible parties can include:

The Truck Driver

A driver may be responsible for conduct such as:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Unsafe lane changes
• Following too closely
• Driving while fatigued
• Driving under the influence
• Failing to properly inspect the vehicle
• Violating traffic or trucking safety requirements

The Trucking Company

The carrier may potentially face liability based on the driver’s conduct and, depending on the circumstances, its own actions.

That can include allegations involving:

• Negligent hiring
• Negligent training
• Negligent supervision
• Negligent retention
• Unsafe company practices
• Failure to maintain vehicles
• Allowing an unsafe driver or vehicle onto the road

Maintenance and Repair Companies

Commercial motor carriers are subject to federal inspection, repair and maintenance requirements.

If worn brakes, defective tires, steering problems or another mechanical failure contributed to the crash, maintenance records can become critical evidence.

Cargo or Loading Companies

Improperly loaded or secured cargo can affect a truck’s stability, braking and handling.

When cargo shifts, falls from a trailer or contributes to a rollover, the companies involved in loading or securing the shipment may need to be investigated.

Other Commercial Entities

Depending on the facts, a case may also involve vehicle owners, leasing companies, contractors, parts manufacturers or other businesses connected to the truck’s operation.

The goal is simple:

Identify every party that contributed to the crash and every potentially available source of compensation.

2. What If You Need Surgery After a Truck Accident?

If you need surgery after a California truck accident, your claim may involve significant present and future damages.

Surgery may be required for:

• Herniated or damaged spinal discs
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Broken bones
• Shoulder injuries
• Knee injuries
• Hip injuries
• Internal injuries
• Nerve damage
• Traumatic orthopedic injuries
• Spinal cord injuries

The value of a case is not determined simply by the fact that surgery occurred.

Instead, the entire impact must be evaluated, including:

• Hospital bills
• Surgical expenses
• Rehabilitation
• Physical therapy
• Future medical care
• Additional procedures
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Permanent restrictions
• Disability
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of normal life

Read our complete guide: Surgery After a Truck Accident in California.

3. What If You Were Hospitalized After a Semi-Truck Accident?

Being hospitalized after a commercial truck crash is a major sign that the claim needs to be treated as a serious-injury case from the beginning.

Do not allow an insurance adjuster to evaluate a catastrophic case before your doctors even know the full prognosis.

You may still be facing:

• Surgery
• Additional imaging
• Specialist treatment
• Rehabilitation
• Home assistance
• Future procedures
• Permanent impairment
• An inability to return to your previous job

An early settlement cannot be reopened simply because your injuries later turn out to be worse than expected.

Before resolving a serious truck accident claim, the long-term medical and financial consequences should be understood.

4. Why Commercial Insurance Matters After a Truck Accident

A catastrophic truck accident may involve insurance coverage far beyond a typical passenger-car claim.

Depending on the case, there may be:

• Commercial automobile coverage
• Employer coverage
• Trailer or vehicle-owner coverage
• Umbrella coverage
• Excess liability coverage
• Contractor coverage
• Maintenance-company insurance
• Other applicable commercial policies

This matters enormously when injuries involve brain damage, spinal injuries, paralysis, multiple surgeries or permanent disability.

A catastrophic injury can create millions of dollars in lifetime losses.

Finding every applicable insurance policy can therefore be just as important as proving who caused the crash.

5. Negligent Hiring and Training Can Change a Truck Accident Case

A catastrophic truck case should not stop with one question:

“What did the driver do wrong?”

The investigation should also ask:

“Why was this driver behind the wheel?”

Relevant questions may include:

1. Was the driver’s background properly investigated?
2. Did the company review the driver’s qualifications?
3. Did the driver have prior safety violations?
4. Was proper training provided?
5. Did the company know about dangerous driving behavior?
6. Was the driver being properly supervised?
7. Did company practices encourage unsafe driving?

When a trucking company’s own conduct contributed to the collision, negligent hiring, training, supervision or retention theories may become important parts of the case.

6. Truck Maintenance Records Can Be Critical Evidence

Federal motor-carrier rules require commercial vehicles under a carrier’s control to be systematically inspected, repaired and maintained.

That makes records extremely important after crashes involving:

• Brake failure
• Tire failure
• Steering problems
• Lighting defects
• Suspension failures
• Mechanical breakdown
• Other unsafe equipment

A serious investigation may seek maintenance histories, inspection reports, repair invoices and records concerning known defects.

This is one reason injured people should act quickly.

Records, electronic data and physical evidence can become harder to obtain as time passes.

7. Evidence a California Truck Accident Lawyer May Seek Immediately

Catastrophic truck claims can depend heavily on evidence that injured people may never know exists.

Important evidence can include:

• Police reports
• Photographs
• Witness statements
• Truck dash-camera footage
• Nearby surveillance video
• Electronic logging device data
• Vehicle electronic data
• Driver qualification records
• Hours-of-service information
• Inspection reports
• Maintenance records
• Repair history
• Employment and training records
• Dispatch information
• Cargo documentation
• Cell-phone evidence
• Insurance policies

The earlier this evidence is identified and preserved, the better.

Read what to do immediately after a California truck accident.

8. How Much Is a Catastrophic Truck Accident Case Worth in California?

There is no honest one-size-fits-all settlement number.

A catastrophic truck accident may be worth considerably more than a minor accident because the losses can continue for decades.

Case value may depend on:

• Severity of the injury
• Number and type of surgeries
• Length of hospitalization
• Permanent impairment
• Future medical treatment
• Lifetime care requirements
• Lost income
• Lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Strength of liability evidence
• Number of responsible defendants
• Available commercial insurance
• Whether the case is prepared for trial

A person requiring spinal surgery and lifelong medical care has a fundamentally different claim from someone who fully recovers within several weeks.

Read: How Much Is a Truck Accident Case Worth in California?.

Catastrophic Injuries We Handle After California Truck Accidents

The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus represents seriously injured people suffering injuries such as:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Severe neck and back injuries
• Multiple fractures
• Internal organ injuries
• Amputations
• Nerve damage
• Permanent disability
• Severe orthopedic injuries
• Injuries requiring multiple surgeries
• Wrongful death

Learn more about our catastrophic injury representation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Serious California Truck Accidents

I was hit by a semi-truck in California. Do I need a truck accident lawyer?

If you suffered serious injuries, hospitalization, surgery or permanent impairment, speaking with an experienced truck accident lawyer quickly can be important because commercial truck cases frequently involve technical evidence, corporate defendants and multiple insurance policies.

Who can I sue after being hit by an 18-wheeler?

Depending on the evidence, potentially responsible parties may include the truck driver, trucking company, employer, truck owner, maintenance provider, cargo company or another business whose negligence contributed to the collision.

Can I sue the trucking company for negligent hiring?

Potentially. If evidence shows that a trucking company negligently hired, retained, trained or supervised a driver and that conduct contributed to the crash, company-level negligence may become part of the case.

What if bad truck maintenance caused my accident?

Maintenance and inspection records should be investigated. Federal motor-carrier rules require covered commercial vehicles to be systematically inspected, repaired and maintained.

Does surgery increase the value of a truck accident case?

Surgery can demonstrate the seriousness of an injury and can substantially increase medical expenses and other damages, but there is no automatic settlement amount. The full value depends on all injuries, future care, liability, insurance and long-term consequences.

I am still in the hospital. Can a lawyer come to me?

Yes. If your injuries prevent you from traveling, contact The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus at 818-784-8544 to discuss your situation.

How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in California?

California generally provides two years from the injury for many personal injury lawsuits, but exceptions and shorter deadlines can apply depending on the parties involved. Do not assume you have two years in every situation.

Hit By a Semi-Truck in California? Call 818-784-8544 Now

A catastrophic truck accident can change your health, career, finances and family in seconds.

The trucking company may already have its insurer, investigators and attorneys protecting its side.

Protect yours.

The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus has represented injured Californians since 1987 and handles serious truck accident and catastrophic injury claims throughout Los Angeles County and California.

If you were:

• Hit by a semi-truck
• Hospitalized after a truck accident
• Told you need surgery after a truck accident
• Seriously injured by an 18-wheeler
• Left permanently disabled after a commercial truck crash

Call 818-784-8544 right now for a FREE consultation.

No upfront attorney fee. You pay attorney fees only if compensation is recovered for you.