Truck Accident Attorney in California

  • The Fee Is Free Unless You Win®.
  • America's Largest Injury Law Firm™
  • Protecting Families Since 1988
  • 20 Billion+ Won
  • 1,000+ Lawyers Nationwide

Free Case Evaluation

Tell us about your situation so we can get started fighting for you. We tailor each case to meet our clients' needs.
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Our results speak for themselves

The attorneys featured above are licensed in Florida. For a full list of attorneys in your state please visit our attorney page.

California Commercial Truck Laws

There are numerous federal laws in place that aim to make truck-driving safer for truckers and other drivers alike. These include regulations concerning training, hours on the road, weight limits, and drug and alcohol testing.

As one of the most progressive states in the country, California has gone a step further and enacted its own regulations designed to protect the health of its citizens. Two recent bills signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom have generated a lot of attention, and some criticism. Keep reading to learn what these laws mean for Californians and for the trucking industry.

SB 210: Limiting Smog Emissions

Senate Bill 210, which was sponsored by Senator Connie M. Levya (D — Chino), requires heavy-duty diesel trucks to undergo “smog checks” that test their emissions. It’s estimated that the bill will remove 1,600 tons of harmful particles from the air over the next ten years.

“As California continues to lead the nation on improving air quality, SB 210 is a critical next step by making sure that the big diesel trucks that drive on our roads and highways undergo a smog check inspection, just like we already do for the passenger cars that we drive to and from home and work every day,” Senator Leyva said.

SB210 applies to all trucks that weigh 14,000 pounds or more, including single-vehicle fleets. This is a more extensive testing program than the Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP) that is currently overseen by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

Trucking industry authorities such as the Western States Trucking Association have derided the new law as unnecessary and expensive. A pilot version of the new testing program will continue to roll out through 2020 and 2021.

SB 44: Ditching Dirty Diesel

Senate Bill 44, which was sponsored by Senator Nancy Skinner (D — Berkeley), aims to phase out all “dirty diesel” vehicles by 2050. The original bill called for medium- and heavy-duty trucks to curb their greenhouse emissions by 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050, but the final version of the law leaves these emission standards up to CARB. The board determined that by 2045, every new truck sold in the state must be zero-emission.

“It’s no secret that medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses are significant sources of lung-damaging particulate matter,” Skinner said. “But what is less known is that diesel-fueled trucks and buses produce nearly one-quarter of GHG emissions from California’s transportation sector.”

According to the American Lung Association, eight of the ten most polluted cities nationwide are in California, including Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Sacramento, and San Diego.

All medium- and heavy-duty trucks will have to meet new emission standards by January 1, 2021, so the upheaval to California’s trucking industry over the next five months will be significant — and costly.

Contact a Truck Accident Attorney

Whether it’s running on clean or dirty diesel, a 20,000-pound truck can inflict an incredible amount of damage when it’s not operated properly. The injuries sustained in truck accidents can be life-altering, even fatal. In 2017, more than 4,700 people were killed in these crashes — and more than 70% of them were occupants of other cars.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a collision with a truck, contact Morgan & Morgan. As America’s largest personal injury law firm, we have the reputation, resources, and experience necessary to take on the insurance companies and win. We never settle for less than full compensation for our clients’ past and future damages. Over the past 30 years, we’ve recovered more than $7 billion For The People.

It costs nothing up front to hire us, and we get paid only if you win. To see if you qualify for a lawsuit, contact us for a free, no-obligation case review.

These lawsuits are time-sensitive, so don’t wait. Reach out today.

Scroll down for more
FAQ

Get answers to commonly asked questions about our legal services and learn how we may assist you with your case.

Scroll down for more Load More

How it works

It's easy to get started.
The Fee Is Free Unless You Win®.

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

  • Step 1

    Submit
    your claim

    With a free case evaluation, submitting your case is easy with Morgan & Morgan.

  • Step 2

    We take
    action

    Our dedicated team gets to work investigating your claim.

  • Step 3

    We fight
    for you

    If we take on the case, our team fights to get you the results you deserve.

Settlement

$40,000,000

Customer Story

“I was in a difficult situation when I was injured by a faulty product. I was hesitant to seek legal help but with the help of Morgan & Morgan, they made the process easy. They took immediate action and got me the compensation I deserved. I couldn't have done it without them. I highly recommend their services.” Estate of Patricia Allen v. RJ Reynolds, et al. | 2014


Client success
stories that inspire and drive change

Explore over 55,000 5-star reviews and 800 client testimonials to discover why people trust Morgan & Morgan.

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances. Based on Select nationwide reviews

  • Video thumbnail for 5l3q2e67j8
    Wistia video play button
  • Video thumbnail for yfe952tcop
    Wistia video play button
  • Video thumbnail for z1bqwg9hkl
    Wistia video play button
  • Video thumbnail for s5nb3hnvkv
    Wistia video play button
  • Video thumbnail for t4elibxene
    Wistia video play button
  • Video thumbnail for 5nr9efxqj3
    Wistia video play button
  • Video thumbnail for e8s1x6u5jp
    Wistia video play button