Justice with an Experienced Orange County Truck Accident Attorney 

Do You Need an Orange County Truck Accident Lawyer?

If you have been injured in an accident involving a semi-truck or other commercial vehicle in Orange County, getting legal help is vital. Truck drivers often carry extensive insurance policies, and these insurance carriers are known for not compensating accident victims adequately. There is often more than one at-fault party in a collision, and you must understand all sides of the case.

Without the help of an Orange County semi-truck accident attorney, you may be left with mounting medical bills and lost income while you recover. Many accident victims in OC are confused about their rights and options, which leads them to accept insufficient settlements that do not truly cover the impact of the accident.

You don’t have to navigate these challenging days alone. At Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyers, we fight for you so you can focus on recovery. Count on us to pursue justice and any compensation you may be entitled to under California law. 

Commercial Vehicle Accidents in Orange County, CA

As a central hub for commuters, vacationers, and commerce between LA and San Diego, Orange County, California, sees a regular share of accidents involving semi-trucks and commercial vehicles, including these below:

• Fatality in crash involving sewage truck in Orange County – On September 23, 2024, the driver of a sewage vacuum tanker truck was killed when his vehicle overturned after colliding with a small SUV. The crash occurred at the intersection of West Sunflower Avenue and Fairview Road near the 405 Freeway. Police released a photo showing the truck on its side with debris scattered across the intersection.[1]
  
• Semi-truck crash with six vehicles in Orange County, California – On June 6, 2024, a semi-truck collided with a Toyota Prius and five other vehicles. The incident occurred around 8:54 am on the 405 Freeway, near the SR-73 connector. The semi-truck overturned, resulting in injuries. [2]

The Most Dangerous Orange County Intersections

In Orange County, CA, some of the most common intersections and roads where auto and commercial vehicle crashes occur include [3]: 

• Edinger Avenue and Beach Boulevard (highway 39) in Huntington Beach: This intersection, near a major shopping center and on/off ramps of the I-405 freeway, consistently has ongoing construction projects and traffic detours. It is ranked as one of the most dangerous in Orange County, with a high number of accidents and injuries.
• Imperial Highway: This road spans 40 miles and appears on consistent annual collision reports, including some with commercial vehicles.

How an Orange County Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer Can Help You

When you hire our Orange County truck accident attorneys, we will work tirelessly to get justice for you. Our Orange County truck accident law firm may take the following steps for your case:

• Get a no-cost, private consultation to address all your critical questions and concerns
  
• Thoroughly investigate your truck accident with all available resources, including accident reconstructions, expert testimony, and other necessary measures.
  
• Communicate directly with insurance companies, ensuring your rights are protected.
  
• Present your compensation demands to the trucking company, seeking a fair settlement to cover your losses.
  
• Ensure your lawsuit is filed promptly, adhering to all relevant California and Orange County regulations.
  
• Negotiate with the truck driver, trucking company, and other responsible parties to secure a fair settlement.
  
• Take your case to court, presenting it before a judge or jury if the liable parties refuse to negotiate fairly.

Throughout this process, our truck accident law firm in Orange County, CA works with you to help you understand the process. We aim to give you peace of mind by handling your case strongly so you can focus on your healing.d the process. We aim to give you the peace of mind that your case is being handled well, so you can focus on your healing.

Our Orange County Truck Accident Injury Lawyers Seek Compensation for Clients

Our experienced Orange County truck accident injury lawyers understand how much justice and fair compensation matter to our injured clients. Our attorneys work for our clients to recover compensation to cover nearly all of your potential costs and needs, including:

• Medical Expenses – covering your hospital stay, surgeries, doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, and medication. You may also deserve compensation for any necessary medical devices during your recovery.
  
• Future medical bills – Our Orange County 18-wheeler accident attorneys can help you calculate these potential costs, including ongoing care or in-home nursing if your injuries require it.
  
• Lost wages – You’ll likely miss time off work as you recover. Claiming lost wages allows you to focus on your healing rather than trying to get back on the job as quickly as possible.
  
• Lost income potential – Serious, permanent injuries may make it impossible for you to do your job like you did in the past, which can hurt your future income. You may be eligible for compensation for these lost future wages.
  
• Mental anguish – Truck accidents are traumatic, and your compensation should include payments to cover your pain and suffering. This claim can also provide money to cover therapy if you have challenges like PTSD after your ordeal.
  
• Pain and suffering – Pain and suffering is a way to put a dollar amount on the physical pain you have after your accident.
  
• Adaptations of your home – If you have a severe neck or spine injury, you may need to use a wheelchair. Your settlement should include money to cover the changes necessary to make your home accessible.
  
• Funeral expenses – If the accident is fatal, the family members left behind must cover funeral and burial expenses. This is another claim you can make with the help of an OC truck accident attorney.
  
• Property damage – In addition to injuries to the accident victim, truck accidents can cause property damage, including damage to the vehicle or items it contains.

OC Service Areas: Licensed Truck Accident Injury Lawyer in Orange County, CA

We serve cities throughout Orange County, including these locations:

In addition to representing truck accident victims throughout Orange County, we proudly serve as your experienced City of Orange Truck Accident Lawyers. Call us 24/7 to schedule your free case evaluation.

Outside of Orange County? See Our Additional Service Areas: California Truck Accident Lawyer

Our Pricing: We Use Contingency Fees for Our Orange County Truck Accident Lawsuits

During a free case evaluation, we’ll discuss how we pursue your justice and compensation using our effective contingency fee model. You pay no fees unless you win.

• If you win or settle your case, you will pay a certain percentage of the money you receive to the law firm
• If we do not make a recovery in your case, the law firm does not receive any payment from you
  

Many law firms in Orange County and throughout California charge clients a flat fee or hourly rate because they may not have the financial resources necessary to win highly complex semi-truck and commercial vehicle injury cases. Our Orange County truck accident law firm has the resources to successfully litigate your case and give you strong, effective representation.

With so many successful settlements and verdicts, experienced contingency fee lawyer Jordan M. Jones and team know from experience just how strongly our pricing system benefits injured clients.

Deadlines Matter: Statute of Limitations in California for Truck Accident Injury Cases

Under California’s statute of limitations, most truck accident claims in Orange County must be filed within two years of the date of the crash, but sometimes it is even shorter (for example if the truck is a government vehicle). While this sounds like a long period, when you are focused on your recovery, it can go by quickly. One of the benefits of getting an Orange County truck accident lawyer on your side is reducing the risk of missing this important deadline.

Orange County Government-Related Truck Injury Cases

When an Orange County truck accident involves a government-owned truck or a truck operated by a government employee, you must file a government claim within six months of the accident. If the government denies the claim or does not respond within 45 days, you can file a truck accident lawsuit in court, but you must do so within six months after the denial. If the government fails to respond within 45 days, you have up to two years from the date of the accident to file the lawsuit.

Types of Trucks Involved in Accidents

While much of the focus of Orange County truck accident law concerns semi-trucks, other types of trucks can cause serious accidents. Any commercial vehicle has the risk of multiple at-fault parties and the challenge of dealing with knowledgeable insurance companies. Some types of trucks can increase the risk of hazardous materials, increasing the likelihood of injuries and property damage.

Some of the types of trucks involved in serious Orange County truck crashes may include:

Types of Truck Accidents that Occur in Orange County

The types of injuries you suffer can vary depending on the nature of the truck accident. The type of accident in OC can also impact the claims you can make against the truck driver or trucking company. 

Some common types of truck accidents in Orange County include:

• Head-on collision – Perhaps the deadliest type of accident, a head-on collision occurs when your vehicle crashes directly into the front of the truck, nose to nose.
  
• Hit-and-run – For a hit-and-run, getting a license plate number is critical, if possible. This type of accident adds another legality to the claim because the driver breaks the law by fleeing the accident scene. If you cannot get the license plate number, try to get the DOT number on the door of the tractor or a picture of the trucking company logo.
  
• Jackknife accidents – Jackknifing occurs when the trailer of a big rig pushes the truck towing it to the side. This is one of the most common types of accidents, especially on deadhead, or empty, trailers, which can be harder to control in bad weather. It can cause the driver to lose control and crash into other drivers.
  
• Rear or Side Underride Crashes—This accident occurs when a passenger vehicle slides under the tractor-trailer in a crash involving a semi-truck. There is an increased risk of severe head and neck injuries in this type of crash.
  
• Rear-end collision – When one vehicle hits the other from behind, it’s called a rear-end collision. These can cause serious neck and back injuries, including whiplash.
  
• T-bone crash – A T-bone crash is a side collision that occurs when one vehicle strikes another vehicle broadside.
  
• Vehicle rollover accident – The sheer force of a large commercial vehicle makes it more likely for the crash to send your vehicle into a rollover. In addition, the center of gravity on trucks can make them prone to rollover accidents.

LEARN MORE: Types of Truck Accidents

Though there are many road collision types, due to the size of a semi-trailer truck, each one is highly likely to cause serious, life-altering injuries. The long-term impact of these injuries makes it vital to work with a trusted truck accident lawyer in Orange County, CA.

Start your free case review. Contact our team 24/7.

Causes of OC Truck Accidents: Maintenance and Driver Error

Most truck accidents in Orange County fall into two categories: maintenance issues or driver error. Finding the root cause and who is accountable for your injuries may impact your case. For instance, if poor vehicle maintenance is a cause, you can hold the trucking company and the driver liable for damages, as both are responsible for maintaining and inspecting their trucks.

Common Maintenance Issuse that Lead to Truck Accidents

Trucking companies and drivers are legally and ethically obligated to keep their vehicles in good repair. Poor maintenance can cause several issues that increase the chances of a traffic collision involving a truck. The sheer number of miles logged on these vehicles makes it challenging for companies to keep up with the necessary inspections, maintenance, and repairs.

Additionally, drivers are often paid by the mile, which tempts them to cut corners on inspections and on-the-road maintenance so that they have more time to drive and log more miles. Sometimes, when they report a problem, the company doesn’t fix it promptly, making the vehicle a risk to drive.

If maintenance is part of the cause of your crash, then the trucking company may be liable. Some of the more common maintenance issues that lead to crashes include:

• Lack of inspections and routine maintenance – Before every trip, drivers should do a brief pre-trip inspection to ensure the truck is safe to drive. More detailed inspections should occur regularly, and under the law, a trucking company is required to systematically inspect its vehicles. Trucks require routine maintenance to ensure all of their components are working. Failure in any of these areas is negligent on the part of the trucking company or the driver.
  
• Brake failure – Worn-out or non-functional brakes are a serious risk on the road.
  
• Defective headlights – Burnt-out or defective headlights make trucks harder to see on the road and can also impact a driver’s ability to see other vehicles.
  
• Steering failure – If a driver can’t steer, they can’t keep the truck where it needs to be.
  
• Tire blowouts – Keeping tires in good repair with adequate tread is vital to the safety of everyone on the road, and a blowout can create a serious hazard.
  
• Defective tow hitches – Defects in the tow hitch can increase the risk of jackknife accidents or cause the trailer to release while the truck is driving.
• Bad reflective tape – Semi-trucks are difficult to see at night, so the law requires that trucks and trailers have reflective tape and lights. However, after logging hundreds of thousands of miles on the road, the reflective tape often gets worn out, dirty, or damaged. When this happens, it’s very hard to see the trailers, and other drivers hit them when they are parked on the shoulder, or if they are backing across a highway.

Negligence Leading to Truck Accidents

In addition to these maintenance issues, drivers themselves can be negligent in their duty to operate safely on the roads. Violating their duty can and does lead to trucking accidents. Over-the-road truckers clock many hours on the road, which can cause distraction and other concerns. 

Some types of negligence that can cause truck crashes with injuries include:

Injured parties can hold the driver responsible for their negligence when accidents involve these circumstances. Our truck accident law firm in Orange County, CA can help you understand the potential liability in your case so you can aim for the highest possible compensation allowed by law.

FAQs About OC Truck Accidents

More About Orange County and the City of Orange

Orange County is the third most populous county in California. Its iconic landmarks include Disneyland in Anaheim and 40 miles of coastline along the Pacific Ocean, including famous seaside cities like Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. With 34 incorporated cities, over 3 million residents call OC home. 

Some of the most popular Orange County trucking routes include:

• Interstate 5 (I-5) – Known as the Santa Ana Freeway, connecting Orange County with Los Angeles and San Diego.
  
• Interstate 405 (I-405) – Also called the San Diego Freeway, serves the coastal cities of Orange County and is a major route for commuters.
  
• California State Route 55 (SR 55) – Known as the Costa Mesa Freeway, it connects Newport Beach with the inland cities of Orange County.
  
• California State Route 22 (SR 22) – The Garden Grove Freeway connects west Orange County to the inland cities.
  
• California State Route 57 (SR 57) – Called the Orange Freeway, linking the northern part of Orange County with Riverside County.
  
• California State Route 91 (SR 91) – The Riverside Freeway, running east-west and connecting Orange County to Riverside and the Inland Empire.

Helpful Orange County Legal Resources

In Orange County, several courthouses handle most truck accident civil personal injury cases. Here are some of the primary courthouses:

Central Justice Center 
700 W Civic Center Dr
Santa Ana, CA 92701

West Justice Center 
8141 13th St
Westminster, CA 92683

North Justice Center
1275 N Berkeley Ave 
Fullerton, CA 92832

Harbor Justice Center 
4601 Jamboree Rd
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Lamoreaux Justice Center 
341 The City Dr S 
Orange, CA 92868

Additional OC Resources

Orange County Public Law Library
515 N Flower St
Santa Ana, CA 92703

Orange County Sheriff’s Department – Headquarters
550 N Flower St
Santa Ana, CA 92703

Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. The information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Reproduction, distribution, republication, and/or retransmission of material contained within the Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyers (trucklawyers.com) Website is prohibited unless prior written permission has been obtained.

The above injury information should not be construed as medical advice. When injured, visit your healthcare provider or the emergency room immediately, even if you are not symptomatic following the accident. Failing to attend medical appointments may indicate to those representing truck drivers and trucking companies that you are not as seriously injured as your complaint suggests.