The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates commercial motor vehicles in interstate comm...
Commercial Truck Insurance Minimums: $750,000 and $5,00…FMCSA 49 CFR Section 387.9 sets minimum liability insurance requirements for commercial freight carriers. Unde...
Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Evidence in California …ELD records are among the most powerful evidence in commercial truck accident litigation. They establish hours...
FMCSA Hours of Service Rules: A Guide for California Ac…FMCSA 49 CFR Part 395 limits truck drivers to 11 hours of driving in a 14-hour window. HOS violations at the t...
Multi-Defendant Liability in California Freight Acciden…Semi-truck accident litigation typically involves multiple defendants: the motor carrier, the truck owner, the...
Event Data Recorders (Black Boxes) in Commercial Trucks…Most commercial trucks are equipped with EDRs that record speed, braking, throttle, and stability data in the ...
Negligent Hiring and Entrustment in California Truck Ac…Motor carriers that hire unqualified, unlicensed, or medically unfit drivers face direct negligence liability ...
Cargo Securement Failures and Falling Load Accidents in…FMCSA 49 CFR Part 393 Subpart I sets cargo securement standards for commercial vehicles. Both the motor carrie...
Brake Failure in Commercial Trucks: Liability and Evide…FMCSA 49 CFR Part 393 sets brake performance standards and 49 CFR Part 396 requires regular brake inspection a...
Statute of Limitations for California Freight Accident …Two years from the date of the accident under CCP Section 335.1 for most freight accident claims. Government e...
Port Drayage Truck Accidents in California: I-710 and P…The I-710 freight corridor carries the highest commercial truck volume per lane mile of any U.S. freeway. Port...
Respondeat Superior and Motor Carrier Liability in Cali…Motor carriers are vicariously liable for their drivers' negligence under respondeat superior when the driver ...
Damages in California Freight Accident Cases: Economic …Freight accident civil claims recover medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, property damage, an...
Punitive Damages in California Freight Accident CasesCalifornia Civil Code Section 3294 allows punitive damages against motor carriers when their conduct constitut...
Using FMCSA's SAFER Database in Freight Accident Litiga…The FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS) and SAFER database contain public safety data on all registered carr...
Hazardous Materials Truck Accidents in California: Lega…DOT/PHMSA regulations under 49 CFR Parts 171-180 govern hazmat transportation. FMCSA requires $5 million minim...
Comparative Fault in California Freight Accident CasesCalifornia's pure comparative fault from Li v. Yellow Cab Co. allows recovery even if the accident victim was ...
Evidence Preservation After a Freight Accident: A Timel…The hours and days after a freight accident are critical for evidence preservation. ELD records, EDR data, dis...
Owner-Operator Liability in California Freight Accident…FMCSA's statutory employee doctrine under 49 CFR Part 376 makes motor carriers vicariously liable for owner-op...
Wrongful Death After a Freight Accident: California Leg…California CCP Section 377.60 allows surviving heirs to file wrongful death actions against all negligent part...
Truck Underride Guards: Federal Standards and Product L…FMVSS 223 requires rear underride guards on most trailers. Side underride guards are not federally required. P...
How California Freight Accident Settlements Are Calcula…Freight accident settlement values depend on injury severity, FMCSA violation evidence, the carrier's prior sa...
Wide Turn Truck Accidents in California: Liability and …California CVC Section 21717 governs lane use for turns. FMCSA mirror requirements under 49 CFR Section 393.80...
Independent Contractors vs. Employees in Trucking: Why …Whether a truck driver is an employee or independent contractor affects the motor carrier's direct liability e...
Discovery in California Freight Accident Litigation: Wh…Key discovery in freight accident cases includes: ELD records, EDR data, dispatch logs, driver qualification f...
Expert Witnesses in California Freight Accident Litigat…Freight accident cases typically require: an FMCSA/commercial vehicle safety expert, an accident reconstructio...
Suing Caltrans or a Port Authority After a Freight Acci…Dangerous road conditions on state highways (Caltrans) or port areas (Port of LA, Port of LB) require a Govern...
Insurance Bad Faith in California Freight Accident Clai…California Insurance Code Section 790.03 and the implied covenant of good faith prohibit unreasonable denial o...
Economic Damages in Serious California Freight Accident…Catastrophic freight accident economic damages include: extensive medical care, lifetime care costs, vocationa...
The First 48 Hours After a Freight Accident: Critical S…The first 48 hours after a freight accident are critical. ELD data, EDR records, and carrier communications mu...
Why FMCSA Compliance Is Not an Absolute Defense in Cali…FMCSA regulatory compliance does not shield carriers from California civil liability. The standard of care in ...
Toxic Exposure Claims After Hazmat Truck Accidents in C…CCP Section 340.8 applies the discovery rule to latent toxic injuries from hazmat spills. The statute of limit...
How to Choose a Freight Accident Attorney in CaliforniaFreight accident litigation requires attorneys experienced in FMCSA regulations, ELD evidence, multi-defendant...
Contingency Fees in California Freight Accident CasesCalifornia freight accident attorneys work on contingency — no fee unless the case resolves in the client's fa...
Truck Rollover Accidents in California: Liability and E…Commercial truck rollovers involve speed-in-curves violations, cargo loading failures, tire defects, and brake...
Driver Fatigue Claims in California Freight Accident Li…Driver fatigue is estimated to contribute to 13% of commercial truck crashes. ELD records, dispatch logs, and ...
Proposition 51 and Multi-Defendant Freight Accident Cas…Proposition 51 (Civil Code Section 1431.2) makes defendants jointly and severally liable for economic damages ...
When Is the Cargo Shipper Liable for a California Freig…Cargo shippers bear liability when improper loading, incorrect hazmat classification, or improper sealing cont...
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity After a Serious Freight…Lost wages and future earning capacity are major components of freight accident economic damages. Forensic eco...
Night Driving and Commercial Truck Accidents in Califor…FMCSA studies show that commercial truck accidents increase significantly during night hours — particularly be...