Truck Accident Lawyer — CA
California Truck Accident Lawyer.
Catastrophically injured in a semi-truck or 18-wheeler crash in California? Cross & York represents victims under California's pure comparative rule. No fee unless we win.
Quick answer
How long do you have to file a truck accident claim in California?
In California, most truck accident injury claims must be filed within 2 years of the crash, and wrongful death claims within 2 years. California follows a pure comparative rule, which controls how shared fault reduces compensation. Exceptions apply, and evidence such as ELD logs and ECM data can disappear far sooner, so act early.
Cross & York represents people across California who have been catastrophically injured in collisions with tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, and commercial vehicles. California's ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach drive massive interstate truck volume on I-5 and I-10. State-specific FMCSA enforcement and CARB emission rules add layers to carrier compliance. We pursue every responsible party — the driver, the motor carrier, the trailer owner, the shipper, and the maintenance provider — to recover the full value of medical bills, lost income, pain, suffering, and where the conduct is reckless, punitive damages.
Statute of Limitations
2 years
2 years wrongful death
Fault Rule
Pure Comparative
Damages Cap
No cap on compensatory damages in most cases.
How California's laws shape your truck accident case
California uses pure comparative fault — your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, never barred. That single rule does more to determine the value of a California truck accident case than any other variable except the severity of injury. Carriers and their insurers know it — and they exploit it.
We frequently see defense lawyers try to push fault percentages onto injured drivers — alleging the victim was speeding, distracted, or following too closely — because shifting even a few percentage points can dramatically change the value of the case in California.
California's major freight corridors
California's ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach drive massive interstate truck volume on I-5 and I-10. State-specific FMCSA enforcement and CARB emission rules add layers to carrier compliance. Most catastrophic crashes we see in California happen on these high-volume routes:
California city pages
What every California truck accident victim should do first
- Get full medical care. Hospital, not urgent care. Many serious truck-crash injuries (brain, spinal, internal) do not present symptoms for 24–48 hours.
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company — including your own — before talking to a lawyer.
- Preserve evidence. Photographs of the truck, DOT/MC numbers, the scene, your injuries, and your clothes.
- Call a truck-injury lawyer within days, not weeks. A spoliation letter has to reach the carrier before ELD logs, ECM data and dashcam footage are gone.
Truck crash types we handle in California
- 18-wheeler accidents
- Jackknife truck accidents
- Truck driver fatigue crashes
- Underride accidents
- Brake failure truck accidents
- Truck accident wrongful death
Frequently asked questions — California
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in California?
California generally requires personal injury claims to be filed within 2 years of the crash, with a 2-year deadline for wrongful death. Exceptions exist for minors, government defendants, and the discovery rule. Acting fast preserves evidence — ELD logs and dashcam footage often disappear within months.
What is California's comparative-fault rule?
California uses pure comparative fault — your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, never barred.
Are damages capped in California truck accident cases?
No cap on compensatory damages in most cases.
Does Cross & York handle California truck accident cases?
Yes. Cross & York represents catastrophically injured truck accident victims throughout California and nationwide, working with local counsel where required by state bar rules. There is no fee unless we win.
What evidence matters most in a California truck accident case?
The single most important early step is preserving ELD (electronic logging device) data, ECM "black box" recordings, dashcam footage, dispatch records, and the driver qualification file. A spoliation letter from your attorney puts the carrier on legal notice that this evidence must be retained.
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California truck accident? Call now.
You have 2 years in California — but evidence disappears within weeks. Talk to a truck-injury lawyer today.