Long Beach Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accident lawyers prepared to take on carriers and their insurers.

If you were hit by a commercial truck in Long Beach, the injuries and medical bills can be overwhelming. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh 80,000 pounds, and the forces involved in a collision with a passenger vehicle produce fractures, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, and internal organ damage that require immediate medical intervention.

Truck accident claims involve commercial insurance policies, federal safety regulations, and corporate defense teams that ordinary car crash cases do not. Our Long Beach, CA truck accident lawyer at Cohen Injury Law Group handles these claims with over 35 years of plaintiff-side experience. Contact us to discuss your case.

Truck Accident Lawyer Long Beach, CA

A truck accident lawyer represents people seriously injured in collisions involving tractor-trailers, tankers, flatbeds, delivery trucks, and other commercial vehicles. These cases are more complex than standard car accident claims because they involve higher insurance limits, multiple potentially liable parties, and federal regulations that govern how trucks are operated, maintained, and loaded.

Long Beach is home to one of the busiest ports in the Western Hemisphere. Commercial trucks move cargo in and out of the port around the clock, primarily along the 710 freeway and through surrounding surface streets. That traffic volume creates collision risks that most cities do not face. A truck accident attorney in Long Beach understands the routes these trucks travel, the companies that operate them, and what it takes to hold a carrier accountable when a driver’s negligence causes a crash.

Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle in Long Beach

Truck crashes are tied to the physical limitations of large commercial vehicles and the pressure drivers face to meet delivery schedules. We handle truck accident cases throughout Long Beach involving the following.

• Jackknife accidents. When a truck’s trailer swings outward and folds against the cab, the vehicle can sweep across multiple lanes of traffic. Sudden braking, wet roads, and improperly loaded cargo are common causes.
• Underride crashes. A smaller vehicle slides beneath the rear or side of a truck trailer, and the trailer strikes the passenger compartment at windshield height. These collisions are among the deadliest on the road.
• Wide-turn accidents. Trucks making right turns swing wide into adjacent lanes, trapping motorcyclists, cyclists, and other vehicles between the trailer and the curb.
• Rear-end collisions. A loaded truck needs significantly more distance to stop than a passenger vehicle. When a truck driver is distracted, fatigued, or following too closely, the result is a rear-end collision with devastating force.
• Cargo spills. Improperly loaded or unsecured freight shifts during transit, causing the truck to roll or spill cargo across the roadway. Drivers who strike debris or swerve to avoid it may have claims against the trucking company.
• Tire blowouts. A truck tire that fails at highway speed sends debris across the road and can cause the driver to lose control entirely. Deferred maintenance and worn tires are frequently the root cause.
• Rollover accidents. Top-heavy trucks are prone to rollovers on curved freeway ramps and in high-wind conditions. These crashes block lanes and create secondary collisions.
• Hazmat incidents. Trucks carrying flammable, toxic, or corrosive materials create additional risks when involved in a crash. Chemical exposure and burn injuries add a layer of harm that standard truck claims do not involve.

Why Choose Cohen Injury Law Group as My Truck Accident Lawyer in Long Beach, CA?

Resources to Match the Trucking Industry’s Defense

Trucking companies and their insurers retain defense counsel within hours of a collision. They send investigators to the scene, download data from the truck’s systems, and start building their case before most victims have left the hospital. You need attorneys who are prepared to match that level of effort from the start.

Wayne R. Cohen founded Cohen Injury Law Group and has practiced personal injury law since 1991. More than 35 years of plaintiff-side litigation have prepared him for cases against well-funded corporate defendants. Wayne graduated from the University of Michigan and Miami Law School cum laude, lectures at GW Law School, and has been quoted in the LA Times, CNBC, Fortune, and the ABA Journal. Nicholas E. Cohen, Managing Partner and graduate of USC and Loyola Law School, directs case operations and litigation strategy.

As your personal injury lawyer in Long Beach, CA, Cohen Injury Law Group takes burn injury claims on contingency and charges no fees unless we recover compensation for you.

What Is Important to Understand About a Truck Accident Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Truck Accident Cases

Truck crashes produce more severe injuries and higher damages than standard vehicle collisions because of the forces involved.

Economic damages include emergency medical transport, trauma surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, medications, assistive equipment, and projected future care. Lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and property damage are also recoverable. Crashes that cause brain injuries or spinal cord damage often require lifetime care projections that push economic damages well into the millions.

Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and permanent disability. When a truck accident is fatal, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim for lost income, funeral expenses, and loss of companionship.

Liability often extends beyond the driver. The trucking company, the freight broker, the cargo loading crew, and the maintenance provider may all bear responsibility. California’s comparative fault rules reduce your recovery by any percentage of fault attributed to you but do not eliminate your right to recover.

What Are Important Aspects of a Truck Accident Case?

Truck cases involve factual and legal issues that standard car accident claims do not. Addressing them early is what separates a strong case from a missed opportunity.

• Multiple liable parties. The driver, the carrier, the vehicle owner, the broker, and the maintenance company may each carry separate insurance. Identifying every responsible party increases the total compensation available.
• Electronic data. Commercial trucks record speed, braking, hours of service, and GPS location through onboard systems. This evidence is powerful but can be overwritten if a preservation demand is not sent quickly.
• Federal safety standards. Trucks operating on interstate routes must comply with federal regulations governing driver hours, maintenance intervals, and cargo securement. Violations serve as strong evidence of negligence.
• Adjuster strategies. Trucking insurers handle high-value claims regularly and use aggressive tactics to reduce payouts, including hiring accident reconstruction teams and challenging injury severity.

What Is the Truck Accident Case Timeline?

Truck accident cases take longer than most injury claims because the investigation is more complex, the damages are higher, and the defense has more resources to contest liability.

• Immediate investigation. Preserving evidence is the first priority. Electronic logs, maintenance records, driver files, and physical evidence from the scene must be secured before the carrier alters or destroys them.
• Medical treatment. Reach maximum medical improvement before settling so your damages reflect the full scope of your injuries and future care needs.
• Demand. A formal demand package is sent to each liable party’s insurer once treatment is complete and damages are calculated.
• Negotiation. Settlement discussions follow. Be cautious with any early settlement offer from a trucking insurer before the full cost of the harm is known.
• Litigation. If a fair settlement is not offered, a lawsuit is filed. Truck accident trials in Los Angeles County may take 18 months to two years after filing.

What Should You Bring to Your Truck Accident Consultation?

Trucking companies preserve and destroy evidence on their own timeline. The sooner your attorney sends a preservation demand, the more data will be available to build your case. Bring whatever you have:

• The police report or case number
• Photos of the crash scene, your injuries, and all vehicles involved
• The name of the trucking company and driver, if known
• Medical records and bills from all related treatment
• Your insurance policy, including uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage

What Are Important California Legal Resources for Truck Accident Cases?

Truck accident claims are governed by both California law and federal safety standards. The following resources cover the key statutes.

• California requires truck accident lawsuits to be filed within two years of the crash.
• Civil Code Section 1714 defines the duty that truck drivers and carriers owe to other road users.
• All harm caused by the defendant’s conduct is recoverable under Civil Code Section 3333.
• The California Courts website covers civil case procedures in Los Angeles County.
• NHTSA research data tracks commercial vehicle crash statistics nationally.

Reach Out to Cohen Injury Law Group to Schedule a Consultation

The trucking industry has resources to protect itself after a crash, and those resources go to work immediately. If you were injured in a truck accident in Long Beach, CA, Cohen Injury Law Group matches that effort on your behalf and takes these cases on contingency with no fees unless we recover. Contact us to schedule a consultation.