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Collisions with box trucks, utility vans, shuttle buses, and other work-related vehicles leave victims facing steep medical bills and weeks (sometimes months) away from the job. Thompson Law removes the financial risk of legal help. We advance all costs and charge nothing unless we win, so you can focus on healing while we fight for full compensation. Call now for a FREE CONSULTATION.
California Vehicle Code §260 defines a commercial vehicle as one “used or maintained for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit, or designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.” Pickup trucks loaded with tools, Amazon delivery vans, ride-share shuttles, and 80-thousand-pound tractor-trailers all fit the description.
Commercial carriers answer to federal rules and municipal truck-route ordinances. Those layers bring multiple insurers and defense teams to the table, each trying to limit payouts. Electronic driver logs, GPS history, maintenance software, and corporate safety manuals also come into play, turning every crash into a document-heavy battle. Call Thompson Law today for a FREE CASE REVIEW.
Thompson Law has recovered more than $1.9 billion for injured Californians. Our firm staffs former claims adjusters, crash reconstructionists, and medical consultants who build airtight cases while you rest. Phones are answered 24/7, and every client gets the direct cell number of the lead attorney.
With extensive experience handling complex commercial vehicle claims, we are equipped to investigate the crash, communicate with insurers, and push for full compensation. From the moment you call us, we take over the legal burdens so you can focus entirely on getting your life back together. Start with a FREE CONSULTATION.
Within hours of a crash, a trucking company will deploy investigators to the scene. Without counsel, critical evidence such as a dash-cam video, dispatch messages, and repair invoices can all disappear. A seasoned attorney can issue preservation letters, subpoena black-box data, and line up reconstruction experts before memories fade or records are destroyed.
We treat every client like family because we understand how life-changing a commercial vehicle accident can be. Our mission is to help you regain control after a serious crash with a commercial vehicle. From helping you collect needed evidence to handling aggressive corporate insurers, we manage every detail of your claim with skill and compassion. While you focus on recovery, we fight to get the maximum compensation you deserve.
At Thompson Law, we help victims hold businesses and their insurers accountable. Below are common vehicle accident cases we come across:
Determining liability in a commercial vehicle crash isn’t always as simple as pointing to the person behind the wheel. These cases often involve multiple parties who contributed to the dangerous conditions that led to the accident. Here’s how liability can be assigned:
Drivers are held to a higher standard of care when operating commercial vehicles. When they violate traffic laws or safety protocols (by speeding, driving under the influence, texting behind the wheel, or failing to rest), they can be held personally responsible for the injuries they cause. Now, if the driver was an independent contractor, it could be used by companies as a common tactic to try to avoid liability.
Businesses often label drivers as “independent contractors” to shield themselves from lawsuits. However, California courts don’t just accept this label at face value. Under the ABC test used in employment classification, the company may still be considered the employer if it controls how, when, or where the work is done, even if the driver is 1099’d. If the employer maintains control over dispatching, routing, or vehicle use, they can be held liable regardless of the driver’s contractor status
When a commercial vehicle crash occurs, the company that hired or manages the driver often shares responsibility. If the employer encouraged unsafe practices like skipping rest breaks, cutting corners on maintenance, or overloading cargo beyond legal weight limits, they can be directly liable. Businesses are also responsible for hiring qualified drivers, enforcing vehicle inspections, and maintaining safety training programs. Failing to do so puts others on the road at serious risk, and that liability doesn’t go away just because the driver made the final mistake.
In cases where mechanical failure causes or contributes to the crash, the manufacturer of the vehicle or its parts may be held liable under California’s product liability laws. This includes defects in the braking system, tire construction, steering mechanisms, or onboard safety electronics. Unlike most injury claims, product liability doesn’t require proof of negligence, only that the product was defective and led to the injury. These cases often involve complex engineering analysis and expert testimony to prove that the defect existed at the time of manufacture or sale.
Many companies contract outside vendors to handle maintenance for their commercial fleets. If a repair shop negligently performed brake service, skipped inspection steps, or failed to identify worn-out tires or steering components, it can be brought into the case as a liable third party. Poor or rushed maintenance work can result in preventable mechanical failures, especially when trucks are driven long distances and under heavy loads.
If you’re unsure who’s to blame for your accident, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Schedule your FREE CASE REVIEW today and let Thompson Law get to the bottom of it.
Federal regulations cap most truckers at 11 consecutive driving hours, yet violations remain common.
Route apps, two-way radios, and smartphone notifications split attention in traffic-dense corridors like Bouquet Canyon Road.
Top-heavy or shifting cargo increases rollover risk on curved grades such as Sand Canyon Road.
Worn brake linings or bald tires often surface after emergency inspections on I-5 and SR-14.
Driving in bad weather can be distracting for the driver, which increases the risk of getting into a crash.
With Thompson Law, we have a legal team that knows the ins and outs of a commercial vehicle accident case. Our team retrieves ECM (“black-box”) downloads, cross-checks them against mandatory logbooks, inspects brake components, and hires accident-scene engineers when needed. We also pull cell-tower data to confirm distraction and audit freight invoices to verify weight limits. Every shred of proof is organized into a clear timeline that forces insurers to negotiate in good faith.
After a serious crash, reaching out to a lawyer can feel like just one more stress, but at Thompson Law, we make it easy. When you call, you’ll speak directly with an experienced attorney, not a call center or intake clerk. We’ll listen to your story, explain your options clearly, and walk you through what comes next.
If we take your case, our team immediately begins gathering evidence: photos, surveillance footage, witness statements, black box data, and medical records. We handle all communication with insurers and opposing parties so you don’t have to.
You’ll get regular updates, direct contact with your legal team, and full transparency every step of the way. And you never pay unless we win. Book your FREE CASE REVIEW today to get started.
City ordinance 12.48 bars trucks weighing more than 14,000 lbs from stretches of Placerita Canyon Road and Soledad Canyon Road, forcing carriers onto designated arterials.
Additionally, chapter 12.94 of the Municipal Code also prohibits oversized vehicles no longer than 23 ft, taller than 8 ft, or wider than 7 ft from parking on public streets outside limited loading windows.
State and federal law layer on strict Hours-of-Service limits, CDL endorsement requirements, and the new 30/60/15 liability minimums for every commercial policy written after January 1, 2025.
While every road can be a hotspot for a commercial vehicle accident, here are specific roads and intersections that are notoriously known for those. Thus, drivers passing through here must exercise extra precaution.
Get a FREE CONSULTATION if your crash happened at any of these hotspots.
The statute of limitations can expire before you realize it. Early legal action preserves black-box data and eyewitness memories. Thompson Law is ready to file your claim, negotiate aggressively, and, if necessary, take the fight to a Los Angeles County jury. Call for your FREE CASE REVIEW TODAY.
Two years from the crash date in most cases. If a public entity owns the vehicle, a government claim must be filed within six months.
Payouts hinge on medical costs, lost earnings, pain, and future care. Severe spine or brain injuries often resolve in the high six to seven figures.
Straightforward claims settle in 6–12 months. Cases requiring litigation or multiple defendants can extend beyond two years.
Yes. Under California’s “respondeat superior” doctrine, employers are vicariously liable for negligent acts committed by employees within the scope of their duties.
Thompson Law charges NO FEE unless we obtain a settlement for your case. We’ve put over $1.9 billion in cash settlements in our clients’ pockets. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your accident, get your questions answered, and understand your legal options.
State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an injury accident, so call today.
