Commercial truck crashes are different from ordinary car accidents because the driver may be only one part of the picture. A semi-truck, delivery vehicle, construction truck, or other commercial vehicle may be connected to a trucking company, employer, maintenance provider, cargo company, or other business whose actions also need to be investigated.
The San Jose truck accident lawyers at The Barnes Firm represent people injured in commercial vehicle crashes throughout San Jose and the Bay Area. Our attorneys can investigate the companies and individuals involved, preserve trucking records and electronic data, review available insurance coverage, and help pursue compensation supported by your injuries and losses.
Call (800) 800-0000 or contact The Barnes Firm online for a free case evaluation. There is no fee to get started, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you.
Why Should I Call a San Jose Truck Accident Attorney at The Barnes Firm?
Truck accident claims often involve multiple responsible parties, commercial insurance policies, company records, and evidence that may be controlled by the trucking business itself. The Barnes Firm can investigate those issues while helping you understand your legal options after a serious truck crash. Our firm offers:
- Representation for clients in San Jose and throughout the Bay Area
- Free case evaluations
- Local San Jose and Bay Area attorneys backed by more than 40 attorneys nationwide
- 500+ years of combined legal experience
- Over $2.5 billion recovered in verdicts and settlements for clients
- Experience with commercial truck and serious motor vehicle accident claims
- Resources to investigate trucking companies, drivers, maintenance providers, cargo issues, and other potentially responsible parties
- No upfront attorney fees, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you
Our attorneys can handle the investigation, insurance communications, and legal process while keeping you informed about your case.
Why Truck Accident Claims Can Be More Complicated
A truck accident claim can involve several layers of responsibility that are not present in a typical passenger-vehicle crash. Depending on the circumstances, an investigation may need to examine the conduct of the truck driver, trucking company, employer, maintenance provider, cargo loader, vehicle owner, or another business connected to the truck.
Commercial trucking operations may also generate records that can help explain what happened before the collision. Relevant evidence may include driver logs, electronic logging device data, maintenance and inspection records, cargo documents, dispatch information, dashcam footage, GPS or telematics data, and other vehicle or company records.
Some of this information may be controlled by the trucking company or another commercial entity, making early preservation of evidence particularly important.
What Causes Commercial Truck Accidents in San Jose?
Commercial trucks regularly travel through San Jose and the greater Bay Area on routes such as US-101, I-280, I-880, State Route 87, and surrounding arterial roads. Truck crashes may result from driver behavior, company practices, mechanical problems, cargo issues, or a combination of factors.
Potential causes include:
- Driver fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Unsafe lane changes
- Improper turns
- Following too closely
- Driving under the influence
- Brake or tire problems
- Inadequate inspections
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Improperly secured cargo
- Overloaded trailers
- Unsafe hiring or supervision practices
Who May Be Liable After a San Jose Truck Accident?
The truck driver may be responsible for a collision, but commercial truck cases often require a broader investigation.
Potentially responsible parties may include:
- The truck driver
- A trucking or motor carrier company
- The driver’s employer
- A delivery company
- The owner or lessor of the truck
- A maintenance or repair provider
- A cargo loading company
- A truck or parts manufacturer
- A contractor
- Another negligent driver
- A government entity in certain roadway-related cases
For example, a trucking company may become relevant if evidence shows problems involving driver scheduling, supervision, inspections, or maintenance. A cargo company may need to be investigated if an improperly loaded or unsecured shipment contributed to the crash.
Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle in San Jose
Truck accident claims are not limited to tractor-trailers. Commercial and work vehicles operate throughout San Jose neighborhoods, business districts, construction areas, and major transportation corridors.
The Barnes Firm handles claims involving:
- Semi-trucks and 18-wheelers
- Tractor-trailers and big rigs
- Delivery trucks
- Box trucks
- Construction trucks
- Cement trucks
- Garbage trucks
- Utility vehicles
- Tanker trucks
- Government trucks
- Other large commercial vehicles
These vehicles may be operated by national carriers, delivery companies, contractors, local businesses, or government agencies. The company relationships behind the vehicle can affect both liability and available insurance coverage.
Injuries and Compensation After a Truck Accident
Because commercial trucks are much larger than passenger vehicles, collisions can result in significant injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, burns, head and neck injuries, and other serious harm associated with truck crashes. A medical provider can evaluate your condition and determine what treatment may be appropriate.
Depending on the circumstances, a truck accident claim may include compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost wages, reduced future earning ability, property damage, pain and suffering, and other documented accident-related losses. When a truck crash results in a death, eligible family members may also have a wrongful death claim under California law.
How Long Do You Have to File a San Jose Truck Accident Claim?
California generally applies a two-year deadline to many personal injury lawsuits, but the applicable deadline can depend on the parties involved and the circumstances of the crash. Cases involving a government-owned truck or certain roadway conditions may involve different procedures and significantly shorter deadlines.
Timing can also affect the investigation. Trucking records, electronic data, video footage, and other evidence may become harder to obtain as time passes. A San Jose truck accident attorney can review the circumstances and help determine which deadlines may apply to your claim.
Contact a San Jose Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or someone you love was injured in a commercial truck accident in San Jose or elsewhere in the Bay Area, The Barnes Firm can review what happened and explain your legal options for free.
Our San Jose truck accident lawyers can investigate the trucking companies and individuals involved, seek relevant records, identify available insurance coverage, and help pursue compensation supported by your injuries and losses.
Call (800) 800-0000 or contact The Barnes Firm online for a free case evaluation. There is no fee to get started, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you.
Our team of attorneys want to hear from you.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, slip and fall, construction accident, or have suffered another type of personal injury contact our team today.
Free Case Evaluation or call us: (800) 800-0000Client Reviews
What our clients are saying about us
Chris Busch
Corinne D. Brophy, Esq. provided exceptional, diligent representation. She handled our case with genuine concern for my son’s well-being and maintained excellent communication throughout the process. I highly recommend her for her professionalism and dedicated advocacy.
San Jose Truck Accident FAQs
California has a deadline for truck accident claims. It is two years since the car accident date. This deadline is important because you lose your right to take legal action if you do not file within two years. The strength of your claim will not matter if you wait too long to file. Sometimes, this deadline is shorter, at six months, depending on the parties involved.
The damages you can recover for a truck accident will vary depending on your injuries and other losses. Common damages you can recover from a truck accident claim include:
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Medical bills
- Hospital bills
- Home and vehicle accessibility modifications
- Medication costs
- Therapy costs
Your medical treatment will heavily influence your damages and case worth. However, there are many damages that injury victims are unaware they can pursue. Your legal team can guide you on what they are and how to recover them.
The costs of hiring a lawyer depend on their contingency fee. They will have a percentage they take from your settlement. This percentage will vary by firm and how far your case goes.
Various parties can be held responsible for truck accidents in CA, including:
- Drivers
- Trucking Company
- Supplier
- Driver’s employer
- Truck trailer owner
- Parts manufacturer
- Maintenance company
- Other third parties
The primary way to show fault is by examining evidence. The goal is to find any signs of negligence from the driver or their employer. Sometimes, this involves FMCSA violations.
Most truck accident cases do not go to trial. They will often settle out of court with the insurance company. In rare cases, they do. Your San Jose truck accident lawyer will work to settle before trial and advise you on litigation risks.
There is a comparative fault rule in California. So, even if you were partially at fault for a collision, you can still pursue compensation. The court will issue percentages to both parties. Whoever has the higher percentage will pay for damages. Your fault percentage rate will reduce your reward. So, if you were 5% at fault, you would recover 95% of your damage award.
Yes, there are various regulations that truck drivers and their employers must follow. The biggest one is how long a driver can operate. They can only work for 11 total driving hours within a 14-hour window. This is after they have been off duty for at least 10 hours. They can drive for 60 hours total per week.
Written by The Barnes Firm, reviewed by Richard Barnes