Fresno Truck Accident Attorneys

Injured in a Big Rig Accident? We Can Help.

Fresno sits at the crossroads of State Route 99 and State Route 41, two of the Central Valley’s busiest freight corridors. When a commercial truck weighing up to 80,000 pounds collides with a passenger vehicle on those roads, the consequences are rarely minor. At Fowler | Helsel | Vogt, our truck accident attorneys bring over 40 years of combined experience and a documented record of millions recovered for Central Valley injury victims.

If you or a loved one was injured in an accident involving a semi-truck, contact the Fresno truck accident lawyers at Fowler | Helsel | Vogt as soon as possible. We’re available 24/7.

Call (559) 900-1280 to schedule a FREE consultation with our Fresno truck accident lawyers.

Why Choose Our Truck Accident Attorneys?

Trucking companies dispatch their own legal and insurance teams to accident scenes within hours of a crash. Having trial-prepared attorneys engaged early levels the playing field. At Fowler | Helsel | Vogt, we don’t wait for an acceptable settlement offer before building a litigation-ready record. Every case is prepared as if it will go to trial.

That approach has produced results. We recovered $975,000 for a client rear-ended by a commercial work truck who required cervical spine surgery. Our attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, and Avvo and have received the Fresno County Verdict of the Month on multiple occasions.

A few reasons clients trust us with their truck accident cases:

• 24-hour availability
• Free and confidential consultation
• Millions recovered for injured clients
• Contingency fee representation: no upfront costs, no fee unless we win
• Named attorneys John Fowler, Jason A. Helsel, Mark A. Vogt, and Michael R. Hergenroether each bring a distinct, aggressive approach to every case

California Truck Accident Statistics

When trucking accidents occur, catastrophic injuries tend to be more common or may result in a wrongful death. Here are some relevant statistics to keep you informed.

Common Truck Accident Injuries in Fresno

Truck accidents are often devastating and can result in severe injuries or even fatalities. Because of the size and weight of commercial trucks, the injuries sustained in these crashes tend to be more serious than those in car accidents.

At Fowler | Helsel | Vogt, our attorneys have handled a wide range of truck accident injuries across Fresno and the surrounding Central Valley, including catastrophic cases involving traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and wrongful death claims.

Common injuries in truck accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries, such as paralysis
• Broken bones and fractures
• Internal injuries, including organ damage
• Burn injuries
• Cuts and lacerations
• Emotional trauma, such as PTSD
• Concussions

If you or a loved one has been injured in a big rig accident, seek medical attention immediately and then contact our attorneys. We’re committed to pursuing compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

What Causes 18-Wheeler & Big Rig Accidents?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates truck drivers and their employers to protect others on the road. Under FMCSA Hours of Service regulations, truck drivers may not operate their vehicles for longer than 11 hours within a 14-hour on-duty window. Violations of these rules are a common factor in fatigued-driving crashes. California also sets the commercial DUI threshold at 0.04% BAC for truck drivers, half the 0.08% limit for non-commercial drivers.

Common causes of 18-wheeler accidents include, but are not limited to:

• Jackknifing: Jackknifing occurs when a truck folds in on itself because the front of the vehicle slows rapidly while the trailer continues moving at speed. Equipment failure, slick conditions, and driver error can all trigger it, and a jackknifing truck can easily cause a multi-vehicle collision.
• Tire blowouts: Truck tire blowouts are a common cause of semi-truck accidents and are typically preventable through proper maintenance.
• Impaired driving: The commercial DUI threshold is 0.04% BAC, compared to 0.08% for non-commercial drivers. For drivers under 21, it drops to 0.01%.
• Unsafe lane changes: Semi drivers must make slow, predictable lane changes and account for large blind spots on both sides of the vehicle.
• Fatigued driving: Fatigue is a leading factor in commercial truck crashes, particularly when Hours of Service limits are ignored or falsified.
• Aggressive driving: A driver who operates aggressively behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound vehicle creates outsized danger for everyone nearby.
• Failure to follow California truck rules: Truck drivers in California must use designated truck lanes when available and comply with specific speed and lane restrictions for commercial vehicles.
• Improperly secured cargo: Even when someone else loads the trailer, the driver bears responsibility for confirming cargo is correctly secured.
• Inexperienced drivers: Some trucking companies hire drivers with limited experience, increasing the risk of errors in high-demand conditions.
• Distracted driving: Using a handheld phone while driving is a serious traffic violation for any driver in California and a critical safety failure for commercial vehicle operators.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Fresno Truck Accident?

Negligent actors in trucking accidents can include the truck driver, the trucking company, cargo loading companies, and vehicle or parts manufacturers. Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, a trucking company can be held liable for the actions of its drivers and may face independent liability for negligent hiring, inadequate training, and Hours of Service violations. Federal leasing rules also make it difficult for carriers to avoid responsibility by classifying drivers as independent contractors.

If a defective component such as faulty brakes or a failing tire contributed to the crash, a product liability claim may be filed against the manufacturer. Our attorneys investigate all potentially liable parties and are thoroughly familiar with California insurance and liability laws as well as FMCSA regulations. This gives us the ability to identify negligence that government agency investigations may miss.

Evidence critical to establishing negligence includes electronic data recorder (EDR) black box data, driver logs, maintenance records, dashcam footage, and cargo securement documentation. Much of this evidence can be overwritten or destroyed quickly if not formally preserved, so we move fast to secure it.

Factors Contributing to Negligence in Truck Accidents

Trucking companies are responsible for operational decisions that can become the basis for negligence claims. Several key factors contribute to this negligence:

• Negligent Hiring Practices: Companies must conduct thorough background checks and confirm their drivers are competent. Hiring drivers with a history of reckless behavior increases accident risk and company liability.
• Negligent Maintenance: Proper vehicle maintenance is essential for safe operation. Failing to inspect or repair faulty brakes, tires, or other critical components can lead to serious accidents.
• Negligent Driving: Truck drivers are required to operate their vehicles safely and follow traffic laws. Speeding, distracted driving, or driving under the influence can result in catastrophic incidents.
• Negligent Loading Practices: Cargo must be loaded correctly and secured per federal cargo securement standards. Overloading or improper securing contributes to rollovers and road debris incidents.
• Negligent Supervision: Companies are responsible for monitoring driver behavior and compliance with safety protocols. Ignoring known violations creates direct liability exposure.

Determining liability after a truck accident is rarely straightforward. Our attorneys use accident reconstruction, forensic analysis, and a working knowledge of FMCSA regulations to build cases that hold up whether the matter settles or goes to trial.

How Insurance Comes Into Play in Big Rig Accidents

Truck accidents often result in severe damages and fatalities, making insurance coverage a key element in financial recovery. Determining fault plays a significant role in how insurance compensates injured parties.

Driver Liability

Each driver involved in the truck accident is evaluated for their role in causing the collision. While the truck driver is typically the primary focus, other drivers are also assessed for their driving behavior. Liability may be shared, and each involved party’s insurance company could be responsible for some damages. This can complicate cases and may involve multiple insurance carriers.

Trucking Company Liability

Trucking companies are frequently found liable for accidents involving their trucks. Their insurance companies become the primary negotiators in claims. Companies and insurers often work to minimize payouts, especially in cases involving catastrophic injuries or wrongful deaths.

Coverage Levels

Truck drivers and trucking companies must carry higher liability coverage than private motorists, which means more compensation may be available, but it also means better-resourced insurers working against your claim. When multiple parties share liability, multiple insurance policies may be involved, adding further complexity to the recovery process.

Violation of Federal Trucking Regulations

Federal regulations are designed to protect truck drivers and other motorists on the road. The main regulations for trucks and truck drivers include:

• Weight restrictions: Trucking companies face strict limits on cargo weight. The actual limit varies depending on the size and configuration of the truck, but overloading for convenience is a recurring violation our attorneys have seen contribute to serious crashes.
• Hours of service: Truck drivers are limited by FMCSA regulations on consecutive driving hours and required rest breaks. Fatigued driving remains one of the most common causes of commercial truck accidents when these rules are ignored or falsified.
• Maintenance checks: Trucking companies must adhere to mandatory maintenance and inspection schedules. When these checks are skipped for convenience, the consequences for other drivers can be severe.

In most instances, trucking companies are held liable for accidents that involve breaking federal regulations. However, in some situations, the truck driver could be held personally liable. For example, if a driver logged a break that wasn’t taken in order to reach a destination faster, liability may shift to the driver. In other cases, the company may have pressured the driver to skip required rest. This returns liability to the carrier.

Should I Accept a Settlement Offer?

Truck collisions are among the most severe crashes on the road, and catastrophic injuries are common. If this has happened to you, you may feel pressured to accept a settlement offer quickly so you can focus on rebuilding your life.

However, before you do, there are some things to keep in mind.

Before accepting any offer, confirm the full extent of your damages, including ongoing medical treatment, lost earning capacity, rehabilitation, and adaptive equipment costs. Trucking company insurers frequently lead with lowball offers, hoping claimants will accept before understanding their long-term financial needs. Once a settlement is signed, you generally cannot seek additional compensation even if future medical costs exceed expectations. California’s two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims gives you time to fully assess your injuries, but waiting too long also risks losing critical evidence.

A Fresno truck accident attorney can help you answer the following questions:

• Have you been out of work without pay since the accident?
• Will you ever be able to work again? If so, will you be able to perform the same job?
• How much are your current medical bills, and how much should you expect to pay in the future?
• Will you need ongoing medical treatment, such as rehabilitation or therapy appointments?
• Will you need to see any physicians or have any surgeries?
• Do you need any special equipment, such as a wheelchair or a walker? If so, does your home need additional equipment built?

These and other factors can mean you may deserve more than the initial settlement offer. Many times, the trucking company’s insurance provider will not calculate these entire damages into your offer. They want to offer you as little as possible.

Our attorneys at Fowler | Helsel | Vogt calculate past, present, and future damages with precision and can protect your rights to compensation in and out of court. If an insurer offers less than what you deserve, we’re prepared to litigate.

Schedule a Free Initial Consultation Today!

Handling a truck accident claim can be complicated. Don’t try to go it alone. Work with our truck accident attorneys in Fresno who have experience with these cases if you or a loved one suffered injuries caused by a truck accident due to the negligence of the driver.

By working with a knowledgeable tractor trailer accident lawyer in Fresno from Fowler | Helsel | Vogt, you can be confident your case is being handled with the diligence it deserves.

Injured in a semi-truck accident? Call us today at (559) 900-1280 to schedule a free consultation.