Fresno Truck Accident Lawyers

Why Fresno Truck Accident Victims Choose BD&J

If you were hurt in a truck crash, you’re likely dealing with pain, medical bills, missed work, and pressure from insurance companies, all while trying to figure out what to do next. Truck cases are different from car crashes because they often involve Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, driver logbooks, and multiple companies that may share responsibility.

If you need a truck accident attorney Fresno residents trust, or a crash victim can turn to for help, we’re here for you.

Contact us for a free, confidential case evaluation. Call us 24/7.

Our Fresno truck accident attorneys at BD&J have recovered more than $3 Billion* in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. Not only are we driven to obtain significant results for our clients, but we are also passionate about defending the rights of the wrongfully injured. When you trust our legal team with your case, you can rest easy knowing you are in caring, competent hands.

Why Fresno Truck Accidents Are So Severe

On California roads, an 18-wheeler can legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and that size difference can make collisions catastrophic. (Federal weight limit: Federal Highway Administration, Freight Transportation: Regulations.)

In Fresno, heavy commercial traffic moves through key freight corridors like Highway 99, Highway 41, Highway 168, SR-180, Golden State Boulevard, and Ventura Avenue—routes where congested merging, long stopping distances, and frequent lane changes can increase crash risk.

Nationwide, large-truck crashes kill thousands of people every year. (NHTSA, Large Trucks.) Each year, approximately 4,000 people die in the United States from accidents involving buses, commercial vehicles, or semi-trucks. While trucking accidents only make up about 4% of all motor vehicle accidents, roughly 8% of all fatal collisions involve trucks. This means trucking accidents are far more likely to be fatal than most other types of motor vehicle crashes.

Before we explain the most common types of collisions, it helps to know that working with an 18-wheeler accident lawyer Fresno crash victims can rely on often means digging into driver logs, company records, and federal safety compliance, not just a police report.

Most accidents involving semi-trucks fall into one of the following categories:

• Jackknife accidents
• Rear-end accidents
• Rollover accidents
• Brake failure incidents
• Blind spot accidents

Whether the accident was caused by an error made by the driver or the trucking company, even the smallest mistakes can have serious repercussions. If you were injured in an accident involving a truck, it is important that you contact a legal representative who can investigate the circumstances of your crash and determine who may be held liable. In most trucking accidents, either the driver or employer is liable, although other parties may also be responsible.

Common causes of trucking accidents include:

• Driver fatigue: If a driver pushes past safe limits or falsifies logs, fatigue can slow reaction time and lead to dangerous mistakes, including hours-of-service violations under FMCSA rules.
• Driver intoxication: Alcohol, drugs, and even certain medications can impair judgment and coordination, and commercial drivers are held to strict safety standards under federal regulations.
• Improper loading of the truck bed or trailer: When cargo is overloaded, unbalanced, or not properly secured, it can shift in transit, increasing rollover and jackknife risk and pointing to loader or company negligence.
• Inadequate truck inspection: Skipped or rushed inspections can leave dangerous conditions undiscovered, and inspection records can become key evidence when FMCSA compliance is questioned.
• Poorly maintained truck: Worn brakes, tires, lights, or steering components can cause preventable crashes, and maintenance logs often help prove where safety breakdowns occurred.
• Manufacturing error regarding the truck or vehicle part: Defective components (like brakes, tires, or coupling devices) can fail without warning and may support claims against manufacturers and others in the distribution chain.
• Negligent driver hiring practices: If a company hires unqualified drivers, ignores red flags, or fails to check safety history, that hiring negligence can be a direct cause of a serious commercial crash.
• Inadequate driver training: Large trucks require specialized training for turning, braking distance, lane changes, and hazard response, and a lack of training can show company-level negligence.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Fresno Truck Accident?

Truck collisions often involve more than one at-fault party. Depending on what happened and what the records show, liability may fall on:

• The truck driver: For unsafe driving, distraction, speeding, impairment, or hours-of-service violations that contribute to fatigue-related errors.
• The trucking company (motor carrier): For negligent hiring, training, supervision, dispatch pressure, unsafe scheduling, or failing to follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations and recordkeeping requirements.
• The cargo loader: For improper loading, unsecured cargo, or overweight loads that shift and destabilize the trailer.
• A maintenance provider: For negligent inspections, repairs, or missed defects that lead to brake failure, tire blowouts, or mechanical breakdowns.
• A manufacturer: For defective truck parts or systems (including brakes, tires, underride guards, or coupling devices) that contribute to the crash.
• A freight broker: If broker decisions contribute to unsafe carrier selection or unreasonable delivery deadlines that encourage unsafe driving practices.
• A leasing company: If the truck was leased, and poor upkeep, inspection failures, or unsafe equipment contributed to the collision.
• A government entity: If dangerous roadway design, missing signage, or poor maintenance contributed. Note that special rules and shorter deadlines may apply.

What to Do After a Truck Accident in Fresno

If you’re able, taking the right steps early can protect both your health and your claim:

• Call 911: Report the crash and request police and medical assistance.
• Get medical care right away: Accept evaluation at the scene and follow up promptly, as some serious injuries are not obvious at first.
• Take photos and video: Document vehicle positions, damage, skid marks, debris, cargo, road conditions, and visible injuries.
• Collect witness information: Get names, contact details, and brief statements if possible.
• Avoid recorded statements to insurers: Don’t guess about speed, fault, or injuries. Let your attorney handle communications.
• Act fast to preserve evidence: Trucking evidence can disappear quickly, including logbooks, ELD data, dash cam footage, and maintenance records. Early legal action can help secure it.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

The impact of a collision with a large truck often results in significant injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries: Ranging from mild concussions to severe brain damage, TBIs can lead to long-term cognitive impairments.
• Spinal cord injuries: Spinal cord injuries can range from partial to complete paralysis and be costly and complex to treat. 
• Fractures and broken bones: The force of a truck collision can result in multiple fractures. This may require surgeries and prolonged recovery periods.
• Internal injuries: High-impact crashes can cause damage to internal organs, leading to life-threatening conditions.
• Burns: Accidents involving trucks carrying flammable materials can result in severe burns, often requiring long-term treatment.
• Fatal injuries and wrongful death: When a crash is fatal, your family may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim.

These injuries affect your physical health and can also create overwhelming emotional and financial pressure for you and the people who depend on you.

What Compensation a Fresno Truck Accident Lawyer Can Recover

After a truck crash, you may be entitled to compensation that reflects not only what you’ve already lost, but also what your injuries may cost you in the future, including when an insurer pushes an early settlement before the full value of your injuries and long-term losses is known.

Depending on your case, compensation may include:

• Medical expenses: Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, medication, and follow-up treatment.
• Future medical care and long-term rehabilitation: Ongoing treatment, therapy, specialist care, in-home support, and other long-term needs.
• Lost wages: Income you miss while you recover.
• Loss of earning capacity: If your injuries reduce your ability to work or force a career change.
• Pain and suffering: The physical pain and day-to-day impact of your injuries.
• Emotional distress: Anxiety, trauma symptoms, sleep disruption, and other mental and emotional harms tied to the crash.
• Property damage: Repairs or replacement of your vehicle and other damaged property.
• Home or vehicle modifications: Accessibility changes that may be necessary after a catastrophic injury.
• Loss of consortium: Damages related to loss of companionship or support due to your injuries.
• Wrongful death damages: If you lost a loved one, your family may be able to recover compensation related to a fatal crash through a wrongful death claim.

To help you win the compensation you deserve, your semi-truck accident lawyer can work closely with you to examine how your life has been impacted by the accident. 

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim?

California deadlines depend on who you’re filing against. The table below is a simplified overview:

Start your claim today to avoid missing these time frames. 

How We Investigate Fresno Truck Accidents

When investigating an accident, our Fresno truck accident attorneys will look at all available evidence in support of your claim, as well as all possible avenues of compensation. Truck cases often turn on compliance with federal safety rules and recordkeeping, especially driver logs and company records required under FMCSA standards.

A typical truck accident investigation will involve:

• Reviewing dispatch records, hours-of-service logs, dashboard cameras, personnel records from the trucking company, truck maintenance logs, cell phone records, and other relevant information from the trucking company, including evidence of hours-of-service violations
• Obtaining access to the truck’s event data recorder (EDR), also known as a “black box,” which records things like the vehicle’s speed, gas pedal position, brake application, lane departure, acceleration/deceleration, GPS data, and more
• Assessing physical evidence at the accident scene, such as tire skid marks and debris, as well as damage to your vehicle, the truck, and other involved vehicles and nearby infrastructure (if applicable)
• Recording official statements from the truck driver, any witnesses to the crash, trucking company employees, and other involved parties
• Analyzing truck and truck part recall databases to determine if the truck or a component was defective, which may have led to the crash
• Working with accident reconstruction experts when needed to model what happened and connect the evidence to the cause of the collision

After gaining a clear picture of everything that happened before, leading up to, and during the crash, our attorneys can begin building a solid case covering all of your damages.

How a Fresno Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help After a Crash

The aftermath of a truck accident can be overwhelming. From distress and injuries to loss of earnings, there are many ways your life can be impacted. A skilled personal injury attorney provides invaluable assistance by:

• Investigating the accident: Collecting and analyzing evidence, such as dispatch records, maintenance logs, and black box data, to establish fault
• Negotiating with insurance companies: Engaging with insurers to pursue fair settlements that reflect the true extent of your damages
• Representing you in court: Advocating on your behalf in court to secure the compensation you deserve
• Providing legal guidance: Offering advice on legal rights and options, ensuring you make informed decisions throughout the process

At BD&J, our Fresno truck accident attorneys are dedicated to supporting victims through every step of their recovery journey, striving to achieve the best possible outcomes.

How to Get Started with BD&J

1. Reach out for a free, confidential case evaluation: Share what happened, and we’ll help you understand your options.
2. We investigate and preserve key trucking evidence: We move quickly to secure records, identify all responsible parties, and document your damages.
3. We pursue maximum compensation: We handle negotiations and, if necessary, prepare your case for trial to demand full value.

FAQs

Who can be held liable in a Fresno truck accident?

Depending on the facts, liability may include the truck driver, trucking company, cargo loader, maintenance provider, manufacturer, broker, leasing company, and/or a government entity.

What should I do right after a truck accident?

Call 911, get medical care, take photos/video, gather witness information, avoid recorded insurer statements, and act quickly to preserve trucking evidence like logbooks/ELD data and maintenance records.

What compensation can I recover after a truck accident?

You may be able to recover compensation for medical bills (including future care), lost income and loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, property damage, rehabilitation, and—when applicable—home or vehicle modifications and wrongful death damages.

How long do I have to file a Fresno truck accident claim?

Most personal injury claims generally must be filed within 2 years (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1), but claims against government entities typically require an administrative claim within 6 months (Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2).

What if I was partly at fault?

California’s comparative negligence rules may still allow you to recover compensation even if you were partly at fault, though your recovery can be reduced by your percentage of responsibility.

Seek Maximum Compensation for Your Injuries

If you’re hurt and overwhelmed, you don’t have to take on a trucking company and its insurers alone. BD&J brings decades of experience to complex truck cases and has recovered more than $3 billion* for clients. If you need a truck accident attorney Fresno crash victims can rely on, contact us for a free, confidential case evaluation. Call us 24/7.