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Semi-truck accidents in California are fundamentally different from car accidents — they involve federal regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, black box data that disappears within 30 days, and insurance policies that can reach $1 million or more. Under federal FMCSA regulations (49 CFR Part 390 et seq.) and California Civil Code §1714, trucking companies and their drivers are held to a higher standard of care than ordinary drivers. Violations of federal safety regulations — hours of service limits, brake inspections, weight limits, drug testing — can constitute negligence per se, making the trucking company automatically liable. Under CCP §335.1 you have 2 years to file, but act immediately — evidence disappears fast. Call Sky Law Group 24/7 at (844) 475-9529. Hablamos Español. Multiple Liable Parties in Semi-Truck Accidents Unlike car accidents that typically involve two drivers, semi-truck accidents regularly implicate multiple parties who may all share financial responsibility: The Truck Driver Individual truck driver negligence includes: driving while fatigued (violations of federal hours of service limits under 49 CFR Part 395), distracted driving, impaired driving (FMCSA requires regular drug and alcohol testing), speeding or reckless driving, improper lane changes, failure to check blind spots, and inadequate pre-trip inspection. The Trucking Company (Vicarious Liability) Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, trucking companies are vicariously liable for the negligent acts of their employee-drivers. Beyond vicarious liability, trucking companies face direct negligence claims for: negligent hiring (failing to check driving records), negligent training, negligent supervision, and maintaining fatigued or impaired driver schedules. The […]