San Jose Truck Accident Attorneys
San Jose truck accident attorneys at Alexander Law Group, LLP represent individuals and families affected by serious commercial truck crashes.
These cases often involve complex federal regulations, multiple liable parties, and high-value insurance policies that require a strategic, experienced approach. Our firm has recovered millions for truck accident victims in Santa Clara County and across California, and we understand what it takes to pursue full and fair compensation.
Contact us today at (408) 289-1776 for a free consultation. We handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing upfront.
What Makes a Truck Accident Claim Different from a Car Accident Case?
Truck accident cases in San Jose are fundamentally different from passenger vehicle collisions. The injuries tend to be more severe, the number of potentially liable parties is larger, and the legal framework includes federal regulations that do not apply to standard car accidents.
A fully loaded commercial truck may weigh 80,000 pounds. A passenger car weighs roughly 4,000. That size difference means the occupants of the smaller vehicle absorb the vast majority of the impact force.
Nationally, 5,472 people died in crashes involving large trucks in 2023, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data. The majority of those deaths, roughly 70%, were occupants of other vehicles rather than the truck itself.
The legal complexity also escalates. A car accident typically involves one at-fault driver and one insurance company. A truck accident may involve the driver, the trucking company, a cargo loading crew, a maintenance contractor, and a parts manufacturer, each with separate insurance coverage and separate legal teams.
How Alexander Law Group Handles San Jose Truck Accident Cases
The firm’s approach to truck accident litigation reflects decades of experience with these cases in Santa Clara County Superior Court and federal court.
Preserving Evidence Before It Disappears
Trucking companies are required to maintain certain records, but critical evidence may be lost or overwritten if it is not preserved quickly. Electronic logging device (ELD) data, onboard camera footage, dispatch records, and driver qualification files may all be relevant to a San Jose truck accident claim.
Our San Jose attorneys send preservation letters immediately after taking a case to put the trucking company on notice not to destroy or alter this evidence.
Investigating Federal Regulatory Violations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets rules that govern how trucking companies and their drivers must operate. Violations of these rules may establish negligence in a truck accident claim. Our attorneys investigate whether violations contributed to the crash and use FMCSA records to build the case.
Building a Case with Qualified Professionals
Truck accident cases often require accident reconstruction analysis, biomechanical engineering opinions, and trucking industry testimony. Our truck accident attorneys in San Jose retain qualified professionals and coordinate their work with the legal strategy from the beginning of the case, not after settlement talks stall.
Proven Results in Truck Accident Cases
Alexander Law Group has taken on trucking companies and their insurers in cases involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. Our results in truck accident cases include:
- $11 million for a father and daughter who suffered C-5/C-6 quadriplegic injuries after a tractor-trailer rear-ended their vehicle in dense freeway smog
- $8.1 million federal court jury verdict for a teenager who suffered brain damage when a tractor-trailer sideswiped his family’s car
- $2.4 million for the wrongful death of a 65-year-old engineer killed by a trucking company’s negligence
These results reflect the firm’s willingness to reject low settlement offers and prepare cases for trial when insurers refuse to offer fair compensation. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Call (408) 289-1776 to discuss your truck accident case with our San Jose team.
Ask Alexander Law Group
How much is my San Jose truck accident case worth?
The value of a San Jose truck accident case depends on the severity of injuries, the cost of current and future medical treatment, lost income, and the impact on daily life. Truck accident claims often involve larger insurance policies than car accident claims because federal law requires commercial carriers to maintain higher minimum coverage.
Do I need a lawyer if the trucking company’s insurance already contacted me?
Yes. The trucking company’s insurer is working to protect the company, not to compensate you fairly. Early contact from an adjuster often signals an attempt to settle the claim quickly and for less than it is worth. An attorney handles all communications, prevents you from making statements that may hurt your claim, and calculates the fair value of your losses.
What if the truck driver was an independent contractor, not a company employee?
The trucking company may still be liable. Under FMCSA regulations, a motor carrier that operates under its own authority is responsible for the safety of drivers operating under its permit, regardless of whether those drivers are classified as employees or independent contractors. California law also applies its own tests for determining employment relationships.
Which Federal Trucking Regulations Apply to My San Jose Case?
The FMCSA enforces rules that generally apply to interstate commercial trucking, while California applies many similar safety rules to intrastate trucking. When a trucking company or driver violates these regulations and someone is injured, those violations may serve as evidence of negligence in a lawsuit.
Key federal regulations that frequently arise in San Jose truck accident cases include:
- Hours-of-service rules that limit drivers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour on-duty window, with a mandatory 10 consecutive hours off duty before the next shift
- Electronic logging device (ELD) requirements that track driving hours and prevent falsification of paper logbooks
- Drug and alcohol testing requirements, including pre-employment screening, random testing, and post-accident testing for commercial drivers
- Vehicle inspection and maintenance standards that require regular brake checks, tire inspections, and documentation of repairs
- Cargo securement rules that specify how loads must be tied down, distributed, and inspected during transport
A violation of any of these rules does not automatically prove the trucking company caused a specific crash. But it does create evidence that the company or driver failed to follow mandatory safety standards.
Alexander Law Group’s San Jose truck accident lawyers use FMCSA compliance records, driver qualification files, and inspection reports to identify violations and connect them to the cause of the collision.
Who May Be Liable for a Truck Accident in San Jose?
Truck accident liability in San Jose may extend well beyond the driver who caused the crash. Multiple parties along the commercial trucking chain may share responsibility for the injuries a victim suffers.
The Trucking Company
The company that employs or contracts with the driver may be liable for negligent hiring, inadequate training, pressure to violate hours-of-service rules, or failure to maintain vehicles.
Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, an employer may also be responsible for the negligent acts of its employees performed within the scope of employment.
Trucking companies may also sometimes argue they are not responsible because the driver was an independent contractor rather than a company employee. Federal regulations undercut that defense. Under 49 CFR § 390.5, the FMCSA defines “employee” to explicitly include “an independent contractor while in the course of operating a commercial motor vehicle.”
The FMCSA’s own regulatory guidance confirms that the motor carrier is responsible for compliance with federal safety regulations by its driver employees, including those who are owner-operators. This broad federal definition means a trucking company may not escape liability simply by labeling a driver as an independent contractor.
The Truck Driver
The driver may bear personal liability for distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, or other traffic violations that caused the crash. However, individual drivers often carry limited personal assets. The trucking company’s insurance typically provides the primary source of recovery.
Cargo Loading Companies
Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo may shift during transit, causing the truck to roll over or jackknife. The company responsible for loading and securing the cargo may be liable if improper loading contributed to the crash.
Maintenance Contractors and Parts Manufacturers
Brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering malfunctions may trace back to negligent maintenance or a defective truck component. The maintenance provider or the parts manufacturer may face liability under negligence or strict product liability theories.
Government Entities
A dangerous road condition, missing signage, or poorly designed intersection maintained by the City of San Jose or Caltrans may contribute to a truck accident. Claims against government entities require filing an administrative claim within six months under California Government Code Section 911.2.
What Compensation Is Available After a San Jose Truck Accident?
Truck accident injuries often produce higher damages than standard car accident cases because the injuries tend to be more catastrophic. A San Jose truck accident claim may include both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages cover measurable financial losses such as:
- Emergency medical care, surgery, hospitalization, and ongoing rehabilitation
- Lost wages during recovery and reduced earning capacity from permanent injuries
- Future medical expenses projected by treating physicians and life care planners
- Vehicle replacement and damage to personal property
Non-economic damages address the less tangible but equally real consequences of a truck accident. Common categories of non-economic damages in San Jose truck accident cases include:
- Physical pain and discomfort from the initial injuries and through the course of ongoing treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation
- Emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress that may follow a violent collision with a commercial truck
- Loss of enjoyment of daily activities, hobbies, and routines that the injured person participated in before the crash
- Damage to family relationships, including loss of companionship, support, and intimacy with a spouse or partner
- Scarring, disfigurement, or permanent physical limitations that affect how the injured person moves through daily life
California does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. The amount depends on the severity of the injuries, the quality of the evidence, and how the harm has affected the injured person’s life over time.
In wrongful death cases, surviving family members may pursue compensation for funeral costs, lost household income, and loss of companionship. See California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60.
What Is the Filing Deadline for a San Jose Truck Accident Lawsuit?
California gives most truck accident victims two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. Missing this deadline typically eliminates the right to pursue compensation.
However, the practical deadline in a truck accident case is much shorter than the legal one. ELD data may be overwritten. Onboard cameras may record over old footage. Witness memories fade.
The sooner a San Jose large truck accident attorney begins preserving evidence and investigating the crash, the stronger the case becomes.
Common Questions About San Jose Truck Accident Claims
What types of trucks are involved in San Jose truck accident claims?
San Jose truck accident claims may involve any commercial motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds. This includes tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, tanker trucks, delivery vehicles, dump trucks, concrete mixers, and flatbed trucks. The specific type of vehicle affects the applicable federal regulations, the severity of injuries, and potentially liable parties.
What if the truck driver was cited by police, but the trucking company was not?
A police citation against the driver does not limit liability to the driver alone. The trucking company may still be responsible if it failed to properly screen, train, or supervise the driver, or if it pressured the driver to violate safety regulations. An attorney’s investigation often uncovers company-level negligence that a police report does not address.
Do truck accident cases take longer than car accident cases?
Generally, yes. Truck accident claims often involve more parties, more insurance layers, catastrophic injuries, and more complex evidence than a standard car accident. Federal regulatory records must be obtained and analyzed. Multiple insurance companies may need to be negotiated with simultaneously.
What if I was partly at fault for the truck accident?
California’s pure comparative negligence rule allows you to recover compensation even if you share some fault for the accident. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. Trucking companies and their insurers frequently try to shift blame onto the injured driver to reduce their payouts. An attorney may counter those arguments.
Talk to a San Jose Truck Accident Attorney About Your Case
Trucking companies and their insurers often begin building a defense within hours of a crash, sending investigators to the scene, securing electronic data, and contacting witnesses. The longer you wait to get legal representation, the more their advantage grows.
Alexander Law Group, LLP offers free consultations and handles truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Call (408) 289-1776 to speak with a San Jose truck accident attorney with the trial experience and federal regulatory knowledge to take on trucking companies and pursue the compensation you are owed.
San Jose Practice Areas
We Offer A Free Evaluation. Call Us.
No settlement; no charge. Period. Contact us to schedule a free consultation. We have offices in San Jose and throughout the Bay Area, and we frequently work with clients nationwide to achieve the results they need to move on. Call our firm at 888-777-1776, or send us an email.
Excellent Service
After an SUV rollover on a freeway claimed our daughter’s life, the highway patrol blamed her for the accident. We refused to accept that and hired Richard Alexander. Dick proved that a defective tire caused an already dangerous SUV to roll. Hear what Bob and Janet have to say about Dick.
~ Bob and Janet Pettit, wrongful death, Henderson, Nevada
Alexander Law Group, LLP – San Jose Office
Address: 99 Almaden Blvd., Suite 700, San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: 408-289-1776
