If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a collision with a semi-truck or tractor-trailer in San Francisco or anywhere in California, the claim usually involves federal regulations, electronic data, and multiple corporate defendants. At Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers we focus on serious traffic-accident injuries. We move quickly to preserve the evidence that decides these cases and pursue every responsible party.
Why Choose Sally Morin Law for Your Semi-Truck Accident Case
We are a five-star rated, all-female California personal injury firm that has represented seriously injured clients since 1997. Our practice is limited to cases involving broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, injuries requiring hospitalization or surgery, and other life-changing harm.
Semi-truck cases are different from ordinary car claims. They turn on hours-of-service compliance, vehicle maintenance, electronic logging data, and the corporate relationships among the driver, the motor carrier, and sometimes a broker. We treat those issues as central from day one.
Named truck-related results include:
- $889,000 – Truck accident settlement
- $250,000 – Truck accident settlement
- $95,000 – Truck accident settlement
- Additional six-figure recoveries in commercial-vehicle and high-impact cases
Fee promise: We work on a pure contingency fee. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. We also negotiate medical liens so more of the recovery stays with you.
Notable Semi-Truck and Commercial Vehicle Results
$889,000 – Truck Accident Settlement
Significant recovery in a truck collision case.
$250,000 – Truck Accident Settlement
Settlement arising from a truck-related injury claim.
$95,000 – Truck Accident Settlement
Additional truck accident recovery.
Related commercial-vehicle result
$485,000 – Bicycle versus commercial vehicle collision.
FMCSA Regulations, Hours of Service, and Maintenance
Interstate trucking is governed by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules in addition to California law. Two areas matter most in injury claims.
Hours of service
FMCSA limits how long a driver may operate without required rest. Violations of the 11-hour, 14-hour, and 70-hour rules (and the corresponding rest requirements) are frequent factors in fatigue-related crashes. Electronic logging devices make these violations easier to prove when the data is preserved.
Maintenance and vehicle condition
Carriers must maintain systematic inspection, repair, and maintenance programs. Brake failures, tire failures, lighting defects, and other mechanical problems often appear in the maintenance file or out-of-service records. We request those records early.
Other core rules
- Duty of ordinary care (Civil Code § 1714)
- Pure comparative negligence
- California Vehicle Code rules on speed, following distance, lane changes, and right-of-way
- Two-year statute of limitations for most personal-injury claims (CCP § 335.1)
- Owner and vicarious liability principles that can reach the motor carrier
Trucking Company and Broker Liability
A semi-truck crash rarely stops the driver. The liability chain often includes:
- The driver
- The motor carrier that employed or dispatched the driver
- A freight broker that arranged the load
- In some cases, the trailer owner, cargo interests, or maintenance contractors
Motor carriers can be held responsible for the driver’s negligence and, separately, for negligent hiring, training, supervision, or retention. Brokers may face liability when they place loads with unsafe or underinsured carriers. We identify every entity in the chain and every available insurance policy.
San Francisco and Bay Area context
Major freeways (US-101, I-280, I-80, I-580, I-880) and urban delivery routes carry heavy truck traffic. High-speed impacts, underride risks, and multi-vehicle pileups are common patterns. Cases arising in San Francisco are typically filed in San Francisco Superior Court. Other Bay Area collisions may be in the appropriate county court. California Highway Patrol reports are common on freeway collisions.
Black Box, ELD Data, and Spoliation Letters
The most important evidence in a truck case is often electronic and time-sensitive.
Electronic logging devices (ELDs) and engine control modules (“black boxes”)
Modern trucks record speed, braking, engine hours, GPS location, and hours-of-service data. This information can confirm or refute fatigue, speeding, hard braking, and the sequence of events. Carriers and their insurers know the data exists. If it is not requested promptly, it can be overwritten or lost.
Spoliation letters
We send written preservation demands early. These letters put the carrier and related parties on formal notice to retain the truck, the electronic data, driver logs, maintenance files, dash-camera footage, and any other relevant evidence. Failure to preserve after notice can support spoliation sanctions and adverse inferences.
Immediate steps after a semi-truck collision
- Seek medical care immediately.
- Call 911 and obtain the police or CHP report. Note the truck company name, USDOT number, and trailer information.
- Photograph the vehicles, license plates, company markings, and scene.
- Collect witness information.
- Avoid recorded statements to the trucking company’s insurers without legal advice.
- Contact counsel experienced in trucking claims as soon as practical so preservation letters can go out.
What our firm handles
- Immediate evidence-preservation demands
- Requests for ELD data, ECM downloads, driver logs, and maintenance records
- Identification of the motor carrier, broker, and all insurance layers
- Full medical documentation and future-care analysis
- Negotiation of medical liens
- Litigation when a fair settlement cannot be reached
Typical timeline
These cases often take longer than ordinary car claims because of data retrieval, multiple defendants, and the severity of injuries. We move the investigation forward while treatment continues.
Frequently Asked Questions – Semi-Truck Accidents
Who can be held liable in a semi-truck crash?
The driver, the motor carrier, and in some cases a freight broker or other entities in the transportation chain.
What is an ELD and why does it matter?
An electronic logging device records a driver’s hours of service and related data. It is often central to proving fatigue or hours-of-service violations.
What is a Spoliation letter?
A formal written demand that the trucking company and related parties preserve the truck, electronic data, logs, and other evidence. We send these early.
Do trucking companies carry higher insurance limits?
Commercial policies are often larger than personal auto policies, but limits still vary. We identify every available layer.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Most claims must be filed within two years. Early action is critical for preserving electronic data.
What if the truck driver was an independent contractor?
The motor carrier may still face liability depending on the degree of control and the facts of the relationship.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault?
Yes. California’s pure comparative negligence rules still allow recovery, reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
What Clients Say
Related Truck and Commercial Vehicle Resources
Contact a California Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one was injured in a collision with a semi-truck or tractor-trailer, speak with our team. We will send preservation letters for black-box and ELD data, identify the carrier and broker, and pursue every available source of recovery.
Meet Our Team
Get the settlement you deserve
Since 1997, Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers have helped clients recover compensation for serious injuries from car, motorcycle, scooter accidents, and more. Contact our expert team for help with your California injury case.
Our Location
We serve clients throughout Oakland and the East Bay from our San Francisco headquarters.