Los Angeles Truck Accident Attorney

If you suffered serious injuries in a truck accident in Los Angeles, contact the truck accident attorneys at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP to discuss your case. Our law firm has a history of securing record-setting verdicts for accident victims throughout Southern California.

At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, we understand the devastating impact of injuries and fatalities caused by negligence or misconduct. That’s why we dedicate our expertise to representing victims and their families in complex lawsuits, seeking justice and the compensation they deserve.

Our attorneys are consistently recognized for their excellence by peers, legal organizations, and prestigious publications nationwide. We hold the highest ranking (“Tier 1”) in various categories according to U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®, including Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation, Plaintiffs Product Liability Litigation, and Plaintiffs Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions. Additionally, the National Law Journal identifies us as a leading Plaintiff’s law firm in the country.

Meet Your Attorneys

Brian Panish

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

One of the country’s leading trial attorneys, Brian Panish has obtained some of the most significant jury verdicts in United States history on behalf of plaintiffs. His courtroom victories include a $4.9 billion record verdict in the landmark products liability case Anderson v. General Motors, six verdicts in excess of $50 million, 32 verdicts and over 75 settlements in excess of $10 million in personal injury, wrongful death and business litigation cases.

Adam K. Shea

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP founding partner Adam Shea is a nationally recognized trial lawyer with extensive experience and success representing individuals and families in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and across Southern California.

Rahul Ravipudi

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rahul Ravipudi is a partner at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP and has spent his legal career handling catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases involving commercial vehicles, pedestrians, industrial or construction accidents, as well as dangerous conditions of public and private property. Licensed to practice in Nevada and California, Mr. Ravipudi serves as leadership counsel in some of the largest plaintiffs personal injury cases in the country.

Successful Settlements for Accident Victims

The Los Angeles personal injury lawyer team at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP law firm has a strong record of success in litigation over car and truck accidents.

Our wins include a $36.5 million verdict for a woman injured when the car in which she was a passenger was hit by a big rig, a $34.5 million jury verdict for a man who suffered a below the knee amputation after being hit by a tractor-trailer while he was on a sidewalk, a $27 million verdict for a child killed by a municipal truck that ran onto a sidewalk; and a $20 million verdict for a woman who was seriously injured by a hit and run JB Hunt truck driver.

Together, our truck accident lawyers have won more than 150 verdicts or settlements of $1 million or more, including several that number in the tens of millions or higher.

You can view a few examples here:

1. Sheth v. Schneider National $36,482,302.56
2. Casillas v. Landstar Ranger, Inc. $34,555,220
3. Dominguez v. City and County of San Francisco $27,394,567
4. Nelsen v. Hillyard, Inc., et al. $21,067,093
5. Rivas v. JB Hunt $20,011,798.17
6. Tilton v. Southern California Gas Co. (Sempra Energy) $15,000,000
7. Korol v. General Parts $10,000,000
8. Doe v. Express Delivery Com. $9,600,000
9. Rennie v. FedEx $7,500,000

Los Angeles Truck Accident Resources & FAQs

• What is the Time Limit To File a Truck Accident Claim in California?
• Compensation Los Angeles Truck Accident Victims Can Recover
• What Is My Truck Accident Claim Worth?
• Our Successful Settlements for Truck Accident Victims
• What Are The Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents?
• Types of Truck Accidents
• Who is Held Liable for Truck Accidents?
• Truck Accidents Frequently Asked Questions

Why Do I Need a Truck Accident Lawyer?

If you or a loved one are involved in an accident with a semi-truck, it’s crucial to talk to a trucking accident attorney immediately. These accidents can result in severe injuries, and they’re not like everyday personal injury cases.

Trucking accidents involve multiple parties, including large corporations with their own legal teams and separate entities that employ truck drivers or handle cargo loading. Determining who is responsible for the accident requires expertise.

Because semi-trucks are much larger than passenger vehicles, accidents involving them often lead to serious injuries. That’s why having a skilled attorney who can fight for justice and fair compensation on your behalf is essential. They’ll help navigate the complexities of these cases and protect your rights.

What is the Time Limit To File a Truck Accident Claim in California?

The state of California sets an amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. This time limit is called a statute of limitations, failure to file a claim within this time limit means your right to recover compensation for your injuries will be lost. In California, the time limit to file a personal injury claim is two years from the date of the injury.

If you are filing a claim for property damage only after a truck accident in California, you have three years from the date of your collision to bring a claim against the at-fault party. If you wish to hold the government responsible, such as for a pothole or another road defect, you must file a claim within six months of the truck accident. There could be other exceptions to the rule that also change your time limit to file. It is important to contact an attorney right away.

If you don’t file a lawsuit within your time limit, you may give up your right to seek financial compensation for a truck accident in Los Angeles forever. With only a few exceptions, the courts do not give extensions or second chances.

A truck accident attorney from our law firm will be able to determine if you have a valid case and make sure you don’t lose your right to compensation.

Compensation Los Angeles Truck Accident Victims Can Recover

While the specific compensation amounts vary depending on the facts of each case, California law entitles accident victims to recover the full costs of their injuries when those injuries resulted another person’s negligence. Importantly, in trucking accident cases, there is no cap on the damages a plaintiff can seek. This means that you and your attorney can fully examine economic damages and non-economic damages to determine the appropriate compensation and vigorously pursue that amount.

Economic damages include any amounts of money that a victim has lost or spent because of an accident. In other words, these are damages that can easily be assigned a dollar amount, such as medical bills and lost wages. On the other hand, non-economic damages represent intangible losses, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Both types of damages are available trucking accident victims in California.

Specifically, some of the types of damages that victims can recover include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Future medical treatment
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Loss of companionship for the wrongful death of a loved one
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Punitive damages

All in all, a truck accident attorney can assist you in identifying the types of damages you may be eligible to claim. Working collaboratively, you and your attorney will gather the necessary documentation to substantiate your claims and then vigorously pursue them against the defendants involved in your case.

What Is My Truck Accident Claim Worth?

It is important to learn what your truck accident claim might be worth before you settle with an insurance company. Once you accept a settlement, you generally cannot reopen your case or seek a greater amount, even if you learn that you will have more extensive losses than you originally thought. You must be certain that the amount offered to you by an insurance company fairly and adequately compensates you for your losses. The best way to do this is by working with an attorney.

An attorney can help you accurately evaluate your truck accident case. Although there is no average truck accident settlement, an attorney can provide a personalized evaluation based on factors unique to your case. These factors include the seriousness of your injuries and property damage, the extent of other losses that you suffered in the accident, the number of defendants, and the amount of insurance coverage available.

While we do not guarantee results for any claim or client, we do promise to do everything that we can to optimize your odds of a successful settlement or judgment award. Our attorneys have achieved life-changing results in commercial truck accident cases in the past through the use of smart legal strategies and aggressive negotiation tactics. Below are examples of the results that we have achieved for previous clients.

Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Car accidents are complex events, and there are several elements that can influence the occurrence of a crash. The trucking industry comes with many elements and issues that can increase the risk of an accident. Most truck accidents come down to human error or negligence. Negligence means that a driver or another party did not use enough care, resulting in injuries or deaths to others. Some common causes of truck crashes include:

• Drowsy driving. Driver fatigue is an especially common problem in the trucking industry due to issues such as sleep apnea, tight schedules, long hours on the road and broken hours-of-service regulations.
• Alcohol and drug use by the truck driver. The maximum blood alcohol content (BAC) level for commercial drivers in California is 0.04 percent – half of the amount of a noncommercial driver.
• Distracted drivers. Distracted driving is as much an issue in commercial trucking as it is for standard vehicle drivers. If a truck driver tries to pass the time by texting, checking emails, watching videos, reading a book or engaging in other activities, he or she could cause an accident.
• Lack of driver experience. Operating a big rig requires special training and experience. Hiring an inexperienced or incompetent truck driver increases the risk of a crash.
• Failure to obey traffic rules. Traffic rules are in place to decrease the risk of collisions. Breaking a traffic rule, such as a truck driver running a red light, increases the odds of a crash.
• Speeding. Speeding can refer to driving over the speed limit as well as driving too fast for conditions, such as in dangerous weather. Speeding is common in trucking due to the pressures of the job and tight deadlines.
• Improperly loaded cargo. If a trucking company, cargo company or cargo loader fails to abide by the rules of cargo securement, it can lead to an imbalanced truck and a rollover accident, or a lost cargo load in transit.
• Defective parts or poor truck maintenance. A trucking company or maintenance crew could be responsible for a crash caused by poor fleet maintenance, such as bad brakes, tire blowouts or part malfunctions.

One or more parties could be responsible for causing a trucking accident. If you or a loved one suffered injuries and other damages in a trucking accident caused by negligence, schedule a free consultation with our truck accident lawyer in Los Angeles. We can carefully investigate your accident to determine cause and fault.

Types of Truck Accidents

The type of truck accident that you were involved in can yield information about fault and causation. If you were injured in a tire blowout accident, for example, this could point to the fault of the tire manufacturer for a defective tire or the trucking company for lack of tire maintenance.

The following are common types of truck accidents in Los Angeles, as well as their possible causes:

Rollover Accidents

Semi-trucks, often laden with heavy cargo, are prone to rollover accidents when sudden shifts in the cargo’s weight distribution occur. Factors such as abrupt braking, sharp turns, or impacts during accidents can trigger these rollovers. Even seemingly minor incidents can cause a semi-truck to overturn, leading to severe accidents due to their vulnerability to rollovers.

Jackknife Accidents

Jackknifing, unique to semi-trucks, happens when the truck’s cab and trailer pivot to an angle where they collide. Although the trailer is connected to the truck via a ball bearing system, the lack of additional connections increases the risk of jackknifing. In these accidents, the truck’s cab and trailer collide, often at acute angles, resulting in loss of control and potential collisions with surrounding vehicles.

Lane-Change Accidents

Lane-changing accidents occur when a truck enters a lane without ensuring it’s clear, often due to significant blind spots inherent in their size. These blind spots, also known as “No Zones,” make it challenging for truck drivers to detect vehicles on their side. Despite thorough training, improper lane changes occur, endangering other motorists.

Underride and Override Accidents

Underride and override accidents happen when a passenger car becomes trapped beneath a truck’s trailer or when the truck overrides a smaller vehicle. These incidents typically occur during collisions from the rear or front, respectively, owing to the substantial size disparity between trucks and passenger cars, especially smaller ones. Such accidents result in severe consequences for drivers and passengers.

Lost Load Accidents

A lost load accident occurs when a truck’s cargo is improperly loaded, leading to spillage or detachment. Cargo falling from trucks can directly impact vehicles or create hazardous road conditions. Following federal regulations and safety protocols for cargo loading is crucial to prevent these accidents. Negligence in adhering to these regulations can result in legal liability when accidents happen.

If the cause of your truck accident isn’t clear, our attorneys can conduct a thorough investigation to determine causation. We work with expert investigators and accident reconstructionists to analyze the accident and understand its dynamics. By meticulously piecing together the sequence of events, we can gather evidence to establish fault and liability on your behalf. Our goal is to provide you with comprehensive legal support and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Who is Responsible for Truck Accidents?

Determining fault in any personal injury lawsuit can be challenging, but it becomes even more crucial in cases involving semi-trucks. That’s why it’s essential to seek guidance from an experienced truck accident attorney when considering legal action.
Unlike typical car crash lawsuits, truck accident cases are much more complex. In addition to the victim and their insurance company, they can involve:

• The truck driver as an individual
• The truck driver’s insurance company
• The trucking company
• A cargo loading company
• A staffing agency who hired the truck driver
• The company which owns the trailer and the cargo
• The company which owns the truck
• A truck maintenance company

Federal statistics show that large trucks – like big rigs and 18-wheelers – are only three percent of the vehicles on our roads but are involved in 12 percent of traffic fatalities. Smaller and personal trucks share some of these dangers. They may not weigh 80,000 pounds, but they’re still taller and higher than many of the passenger cars on the road, giving them the potential to crush smaller vehicles in an auto accident.

Statistics show that pickups and other personal trucks are also more than twice as likely as smaller cars to have a fatal rollover accident. And recent-model pickups have seen a slew of recalls and product defects that can put their occupants at grave risk, including defective tires, door latches that don’t work, and improperly secured seat belts. A Los Angeles truck accident lawyer can help you recover compensation from the negligent person or company that caused your accident.

With numerous parties involved, determining fault in a trucking accident can be incredibly complex. A truck accident attorney plays a crucial role in conducting a thorough investigation to uncover the underlying causes of the accident.

Trucking operations are intricate and expansive, involving numerous entities. When pursuing legal action after a trucking accident, you’re essentially taking on a business entity rather than an individual. This presents both advantages and challenges for victims. On one hand, businesses typically have resources and insurance coverage to address liability claims. On the other hand, litigating against a corporation means facing a formidable team of lawyers.

Therefore, it’s imperative to engage a legal team with extensive experience in handling cases against companies and corporations. At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, we’ve been advocating for California truck accident victims for over 35 years. Our team possesses the knowledge and experience necessary to navigate these complex cases effectively. We understand the intricacies involved and are committed to securing the best possible outcome for our clients.

Speak with an attorney to discuss your case and determine how much your truck accident claim is worth.

Truck Accidents Frequently Asked Questions

What Are The Most Common Truck Accident Injuries?

Commercial truck accidents often cause more significant injuries than standard passenger vehicle collisions. The size and weight of a large truck can smash, crush or completely obliterate a smaller passenger car. This can cause catastrophic and life-changing injuries for the occupants of the smaller vehicle. At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, our Los Angeles truck accident attorney has experience representing victims with many different types of injuries.

Some of the most common injuries suffered in truck accidents include:

• Amputations and disfigurement
• Head, back, and neck injuries
• Cuts, lacerations and bruises
• Orthopedic injuries
• Permanent scarring
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Burns
• Broken bones
• Internal injuries
• Wrongful death

No matter what type of injury you or a loved one suffered in a truck accident in LA, our law firm can help. We understand how serious injuries have and will continue to affect truck accident survivors. We can connect you to a doctor, help you understand the elements of your claim, gather evidence, prove fault and take other steps toward achieving a fair resolution for your injury claim.

An experienced trial attorney can help you recover fair compensation for the losses you suffered in a semi-truck accident in California. Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP offers free, no-obligation initial consultations for accident victims, contact us to discuss your case and how we can help you hold a negligent party accountable.

What Makes Truck Accidents So Dangerous?

Trucks are an essential part of the American economy — but on the road, they can be deadly. Thanks to lax federal regulations and manufacturers that put profit first, personal trucks like pickups aren’t held to the same safety standards as passenger cars, even though they’re often used for the same purposes.

Large commercial trucks like tractor-trailers, big rigs, or eighteen-wheelers weigh up to 20 times as much as a passenger car, virtually guaranteeing that they’ll crush smaller vehicles in an accident.

Worse, some truckers and truck companies ignore safety regulations in an effort to maximize profits and make their deadlines. Victims of commercial truck accidents — those in or outside the truck — are likely to be killed or sustain brain damage, spinal injuries, amputations and other very serious injuries.

What to Do After a Truck Accident

If you are involved in a truck accident, follow these steps:

1. Ensure Your Safety and Call 911:

• Prioritize your safety and well-being. Even if you don’t feel immediate medical needs, call 911 for assistance.
• Remain calm and cooperate with emergency responders if you require medical attention.

2. Collect Evidence If You’re Able:

• If you’re not in need of immediate medical attention, gather evidence from the accident scene.
• Take photographs of the scene and the damage to vehicles involved.
• Record a detailed account of the accident as soon as possible, including any relevant information.

3. Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney:

• Once your medical needs are addressed, reach out to a skilled Los Angeles truck accident attorney.
• Seeking legal representation promptly is crucial, as insurance companies may start contacting you shortly after the accident.
• Refrain from discussing the accident with any insurance company apart from your own. Your attorney will handle communications with other parties on your behalf.

Need Help After an Accident? Contact Our Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyers

Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP offers free, no-obligation initial consultations for accident victims. Contact us to discuss your case and how we can help you hold a negligent party accountable. Our lawyers will address your concerns and make sure that you have everything you need during this difficult time.

Our personal injury attorneys are nationally recognized as leaders in auto part defects, auto and truck accident litigation, in part because they’ve won record verdicts and settlements. Partners Brian Panish and Adam Shea have made headlines with the nation’s largest defective tire verdict and the largest jury verdict of any kind in U.S. legal history.

We have the expertise, skills and resources to take on and win these complicated, lengthy cases. Our Los Angeles truck accident attorneys have repeatedly been honored as leaders among consumer-focused trial lawyers, and frequently speak and write to other attorneys about consumer law. Visit our California truck accident website for more information on truck accidents across the state.

Some of The Areas We Serve Around Los Angeles, CA

Downtown Los Angeles | Hollywood | West Hollywood | Beverly Hills | Santa Monica | Venice | Malibu | Pasadena | Long Beach | Glendale | Burbank | Culver City | Bel Air | Pacific Palisades | West Los Angeles | Highland Park | Manhattan Beach | Westwood | Silver Lake | Echo Park | Koreatown | San Pedro | West Los Angeles | Boyle Heights | Eagle Rock | Sherman Oaks | North Hollywood | Encino | Studio City