Semi-Truck Accidents

Orange County Truck Accident Attorney — Aggressive Representation for Serious Injuries

Truck accidents are among the deadliest collisions on California roads. When a fully loaded commercial truck weighing up to 80,000 pounds collides with a passenger vehicle, the results are often catastrophic — or fatal. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), over 5,700 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes nationally in a recent year, and California consistently ranks among the top states for truck accident fatalities.

If you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident in Orange County, the legal claims are far more complex than a typical car crash. Trucking companies deploy teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters within hours of a collision to protect their interests. You need an experienced truck accident attorney fighting just as aggressively on your side. Sky Law Group has recovered millions for truck accident victims across Orange County. Call (844) 475-9529 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Why Truck Accidents Cause Catastrophic Injuries

The physics of a truck collision make devastating injuries virtually unavoidable. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh 20 to 30 times more than a standard passenger car. At highway speeds, this weight disparity generates enormous force — the occupants of the smaller vehicle absorb nearly all of the impact energy. The size difference also means trucks have significantly longer stopping distances, often requiring 40% more distance to stop than a passenger vehicle traveling at the same speed.

Beyond the initial impact, truck accidents frequently involve secondary hazards. Jackknifed trailers can sweep across multiple lanes. Cargo spills — including hazardous materials — create additional dangers. Underride collisions, where a car slides beneath the truck’s trailer, are among the most lethal crash types, often shearing off the vehicle’s roof entirely.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Orange County

Truck accidents rarely happen for a single reason. Our investigation often reveals multiple contributing factors:

Driver Fatigue: Federal Hours of Service (HOS) regulations limit driving to 11 hours within a 14-hour window after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Despite these rules, pressure to meet delivery deadlines leads many drivers — or their employers — to falsify electronic logging device (ELD) records. Fatigued driving is a factor in approximately 13% of large truck crashes.

Distracted Driving: Texting, using dispatch devices, eating, or adjusting GPS systems while operating an 80,000-pound vehicle at highway speed is extraordinarily dangerous. Even a momentary lapse covers hundreds of feet.

Improper Loading: Overloaded or improperly secured cargo shifts during transit, altering the truck’s center of gravity and causing rollovers — particularly on curved freeway ramps and exits throughout Orange County.

Inadequate Maintenance: Federal regulations require regular inspection of brakes, tires, lights, and coupling devices. When trucking companies cut corners on maintenance to save costs, brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering malfunctions cause preventable collisions.

Speeding and Aggressive Driving: Large trucks traveling above safe speeds — especially on downhill grades like portions of the I-5 through Orange County — cannot stop in time to avoid collisions.

Impaired Driving: While drug and alcohol testing is mandatory for commercial drivers under FMCSA regulations, violations still occur. Stimulant use to combat fatigue is a persistent issue in the trucking industry.

Inexperienced or Unqualified Drivers: Some carriers hire drivers without adequate training or with poor safety records to fill driver shortages, putting everyone on the road at risk.

Poor Weather and Road Conditions: Fog along the I-5 corridor, rain on the 91 Freeway, and construction zones on the 405 all create hazardous conditions that demand extra caution from truck operators.

Severe Injuries in Truck Accident Cases

Due to the extreme forces involved, truck accident injuries tend to be far more severe than those in standard vehicle collisions:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): The violent impact can cause concussions, brain contusions, or diffuse axonal injuries. Many TBI victims face permanent cognitive, emotional, and physical impairments that require lifelong care.

Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis: Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis — paraplegia or quadriplegia — fundamentally altering the victim’s life and requiring millions of dollars in lifetime medical costs.

Crush Injuries and Amputations: The weight and force of a truck collision can crush extremities and vehicle compartments, leading to traumatic amputations or injuries requiring surgical amputation.

Internal Organ Damage: Blunt force trauma can rupture the spleen, liver, kidneys, or lungs. Internal bleeding may not be immediately apparent, making prompt medical evaluation critical.

Severe Burns: Fuel tank ruptures and hazardous material spills can cause fires and chemical burns, resulting in permanent scarring and disfigurement.

Multiple Fractures: Broken ribs, pelvic fractures, shattered femurs, and spinal compression fractures are common and often require multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation.

Wrongful Death: Tragically, many truck accidents are fatal. When a loved one is killed, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim for compensation.

Federal and California Trucking Regulations

Commercial trucking is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the country. When a trucking company or driver violates these regulations and causes an accident, it is powerful evidence of negligence:

FMCSA Hours of Service (49 CFR Part 395): Drivers may operate no more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, within a 14-hour driving window. A 30-minute break is required after 8 cumulative hours of driving.

Electronic Logging Devices (ELD Mandate): Since December 2017, most commercial motor vehicles must use certified ELDs to record driving hours, replacing easily falsified paper logs.

Drug and Alcohol Testing (49 CFR Part 382): Carriers must conduct pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up testing for controlled substances and alcohol.

Vehicle Maintenance (49 CFR Part 396): Carriers must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain all commercial vehicles. Drivers must complete pre-trip and post-trip inspections and document defects.

California Vehicle Code §35551: Sets maximum weight limits for commercial vehicles on California highways. Overweight trucks cause increased stopping distances and road damage.

Cargo Securement (49 CFR Part 393): Detailed rules govern how cargo must be loaded, secured, and contained to prevent shifting or falling during transport.

Multiple Liable Parties in Truck Accident Claims

Unlike a standard car accident where liability typically falls on one driver, truck accident cases often involve multiple responsible parties:

The truck driver may be liable for speeding, distraction, fatigue, or impairment. The trucking company (motor carrier) may be liable for negligent hiring, inadequate training, pressuring drivers to violate HOS rules, or failing to maintain vehicles. The cargo loading company may be liable for improper loading or overloading. The truck or parts manufacturer may be liable if defective brakes, tires, or other components caused or contributed to the crash. Maintenance contractors may be liable for negligent repairs. Even government entities may bear responsibility for dangerous road conditions.

Identifying all liable parties is critical because it expands the sources of insurance coverage available to compensate you fully.

Compensation Available in Truck Accident Cases

Truck accident claims typically involve significantly larger damages than standard auto accident cases due to the severity of injuries:

Medical Expenses: Emergency care, surgeries, hospitalization, rehabilitation, prescription medications, assistive devices, and estimated future medical costs — which can reach millions for catastrophic injuries.

Lost Income: Current lost wages plus diminished future earning capacity if injuries prevent you from returning to your previous occupation.

Pain and Suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Property Damage: Repair or replacement of your vehicle and personal property destroyed in the collision.

Loss of Consortium: Compensation for the impact on your relationship with your spouse or family.

Punitive Damages: In cases involving egregious conduct — such as falsified logs, knowingly operating unsafe vehicles, or impaired driving — California courts may award punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior.

Dangerous Truck Routes in Orange County

Orange County’s freeway system carries enormous volumes of commercial truck traffic, creating high-risk corridors:

I-5 (Santa Ana Freeway): The primary north-south corridor through Orange County handles heavy truck traffic between Los Angeles ports and San Diego. Congestion, merging traffic, and speed differentials between trucks and passenger vehicles create frequent collision scenarios.

SR-91 (Riverside Freeway): One of the most congested freeways in Southern California, the 91 carries significant truck traffic between the Inland Empire and coastal Orange County. Stop-and-go conditions combined with heavy trucks are a dangerous mix.

I-405 (San Diego Freeway): Construction zones, lane reductions, and dense traffic make the 405 through Irvine, Costa Mesa, and Fountain Valley particularly hazardous for truck-involved collisions.

SR-57 (Orange Freeway): Trucks traveling between the 91 and the 60 Freeway frequently traverse this route through Anaheim and Fullerton, with steep grades near the Brea area increasing rollover risk.

I-5/SR-55/SR-57 Interchange (The Orange Crush): This massive freeway interchange in the city of Orange is one of the busiest and most complex in Southern California. Trucks navigating multiple lane changes across merging and diverging ramps create extremely hazardous conditions.

Why Choose Sky Law Group for Your Truck Accident Case

Truck accident litigation demands resources and expertise that many personal injury firms simply do not have. At Sky Law Group, we understand how to investigate and build these complex cases. We work with accident reconstruction experts, trucking industry consultants, medical specialists, and economists to establish the full extent of liability and damages. We know how to obtain and analyze ELD data, driver qualification files, maintenance records, and dispatch communications before the trucking company can destroy or alter them.

Located in Orange, California, we serve truck accident victims throughout Orange County — from Anaheim and Fullerton to Irvine and Santa Ana. We handle every case on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win. Call (844) 475-9529 today or contact us online for your free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents

How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in California?
Under California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, if a government entity is involved (such as a city or Caltrans truck), you must file an administrative claim within six months. Critical evidence like ELD data and driver logs can be overwritten quickly, so contacting an attorney immediately is essential.

What should I do immediately after a truck accident?
Call 911 and seek medical attention, even if injuries seem minor — adrenaline can mask serious conditions. Document the scene with photos and obtain the truck driver’s name, CDL number, trucking company name, and insurance information. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney.

Who is liable in a truck accident — the driver or the company?
Often both. Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, the trucking company is typically liable for the driver’s negligent acts committed within the scope of employment. The company may also be independently liable for negligent hiring, training, supervision, or maintenance. Our investigation identifies all responsible parties to maximize your compensation.

How much is my truck accident case worth?
Truck accident claims are typically worth significantly more than standard car accident cases due to the severity of injuries and multiple sources of insurance coverage. Values depend on injury severity, medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and whether punitive damages apply. Many truck accident cases settle for six or seven figures. We evaluate your case for free — call (844) 475-9529.

What evidence is critical in a truck accident case?
Key evidence includes the truck’s electronic logging device (ELD) data, the driver’s qualification file, vehicle maintenance records, cargo manifests, dispatch communications, dashcam and surveillance footage, the police report, and black box (ECM) data from the truck. Much of this evidence is controlled by the trucking company and can be destroyed if not preserved promptly through a spoliation letter from your attorney.