Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer

Injured by a big rig, port drayage truck or delivery truck in Los Angeles County? From the I-710 port corridor to the Grapevine, LA freeways carry some of the heaviest truck traffic in the nation. We take on trucking companies and their insurers for people who were seriously hurt.

On this page: Truck routes · Port trucks · Who is responsible · Evidence · Courts · Compensation · FAQ

Together, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach form the busiest container port complex in the United States. Thousands of drayage trucks move containers every day from the docks in San Pedro, Wilmington and Long Beach to rail yards in Commerce and Vernon and to warehouses across the region. Add the trucks serving LAX, the San Fernando Valley and the Grapevine, and Los Angeles County roads carry an enormous volume of heavy commercial traffic alongside some of the most congested commuter traffic in the country. Smith Trial Group represents people hurt and families who lost loved ones in Los Angeles County truck crashes.

High-Risk Truck Routes in Los Angeles County

• I-710 (Long Beach Freeway), the main truck route between the ports and the rail yards and warehouses of East LA, Commerce and the Inland Empire. Truck volumes on the 710 are among the highest in the state.
• I-110 (Harbor Freeway) and SR-47, linking the Port of Los Angeles with downtown and Terminal Island.
• I-5 (Golden State and Santa Ana Freeways), including the climb over the Grapevine and Tejon Pass, where long downgrades put stress on brakes.
• I-405 and I-605, which carry heavy truck traffic around LAX and between the South Bay and the San Gabriel Valley.
• SR-60 and I-10 heading east toward the Inland Empire warehouse corridor, and SR-14 through Santa Clarita and the Antelope Valley.
• Surface streets near the ports and rail yards, including Alameda Street, where trucks queue, make wide turns and share lanes with passenger cars, cyclists and pedestrians.

Port and Drayage Truck Crashes

Port trucking presents its own issues. Drayage drivers often work under pressure to make terminal appointments, and chassis and containers are frequently provided by third parties, so maintenance responsibility can be divided among several companies. Overweight or improperly secured containers, worn chassis tires and brakes, and unsafe lane changes in heavy traffic are common causes. Drayage companies sometimes classify drivers as independent contractors, but that label does not prevent the motor carrier, chassis provider or other companies in the chain from being responsible for their own conduct.

Who May Be Responsible

• The driver and the motor carrier operating under its federal authority.
• The owner or lessor of the tractor, trailer or chassis.
• A freight broker or shipper that hired an unsafe carrier.
• The company that loaded the container or trailer.
• A maintenance provider or parts manufacturer.
• A public agency, if a dangerous road condition contributed. See dangerous road conditions. Claims against public agencies generally must be presented within six months.

Building the Case

We act quickly to preserve electronic logging device and engine data, dashcam video, terminal gate records that show when a truck entered and left the port, dispatch records, driver qualification files, and maintenance and inspection records. Footage from businesses, Caltrans cameras and nearby vehicles is often overwritten within days. Federal hours-of-service, inspection and drug-testing rules give us a framework for showing where the carrier fell short. Learn more on our main truck accident lawyer page.

Los Angeles Courts

Truck accident lawsuits in Los Angeles County are filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, including the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown and courthouses in Long Beach and other districts. Some cases against interstate carriers are removed to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in downtown Los Angeles. Attorney Cardon Smith served as a federal law clerk and has litigated complex cases against large corporations and their insurers.

Compensation

Victims may recover past and future medical expenses, lost income and earning capacity, and damages for pain and suffering. For life-changing injuries, we work with medical, life-care and economic experts to measure the full lifetime cost. Families who lose a loved one may bring a wrongful death claim. We handle truck cases on contingency, so you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation. See also our Los Angeles personal injury lawyer page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible for a port truck accident?

Responsibility may fall on the driver, the motor carrier, the chassis or trailer provider, the company that loaded the container, a broker or shipper, or a maintenance company. Port cases often involve several companies, and each may have insurance.

What if the truck driver was classified as an independent contractor?

The motor carrier and other companies may still be responsible, both because of the federal rules governing carriers and because of their own negligence. A contractor label does not end the analysis.

How long do I have to sue after a truck accident in Los Angeles?

Generally two years from the date of injury for a personal injury lawsuit in California, and six months for a claim against a public agency. Evidence such as video and electronic data can be lost much sooner, so it is important to act quickly.

Do truck companies carry more insurance than regular drivers?

Yes. Interstate motor carriers generally must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, and many carry substantially more, including excess and umbrella policies.

What evidence matters most in a truck crash case?

Electronic logging and engine data, video, the driver’s qualification and testing records, dispatch and terminal records, and maintenance records are often critical. We send preservation letters early.

What does it cost to hire you?

Nothing up front. We work on contingency and you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation.