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What to Do After a Truck Accident in Los Angeles
truck-accident · By Payam Soliemanzadeh, Founder and President ·
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What to Do After a Truck Accident in Los Angeles. What California law says and what to do next. Free 24/7 case review.
After a commercial truck accident in Los Angeles, move to safety and call 911. Document the scene with photos, witness contact information, and the trucking company's identifying details. Seek medical evaluation at Los Angeles General Medical Center or another appropriate facility. California's two-year statute of limitations under CCP §335.1 begins at the time of injury, and government entity claims require a claim within six months under Gov. Code §911.2.
After a commercial truck accident in Los Angeles, move to safety and call 911 immediately. Document the scene with photos of all vehicles, skid marks, debris, and any traffic-control devices, then collect witness names and the trucking company's identifying information. Seek medical evaluation promptly, even if you feel uninjured, because California gives you two years to file under CCP §335.1.
Key takeaways
- Call 911 and document the Interstate 5, 10, 101, 110, or 405 collision scene immediately.
- Los Angeles General Medical Center at 2051 Marengo Street is the nearest Level I trauma center.
- You have two years to file under CCP §335.1, six months if a government entity is involved.
- Cases are filed at Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
Los Angeles freeways carry thousands of commercial trucks every day. The Interstate 5, Interstate 10, U.S. 101, Interstate 110, and Interstate 405 converge in the city, and collisions involving tractor-trailers, delivery vans, and tanker trucks are common on these high-speed corridors. The moments after a crash determine whether you can recover the evidence needed to prove fault and build a strong claim.
Commercial truck accidents differ from passenger-car collisions because multiple parties may be liable, federal and state regulations govern driver conduct and vehicle maintenance, and trucking companies often dispatch investigators within hours. What you do at the scene and in the days that follow shapes your ability to hold the responsible parties accountable under California law.
Ensure safety and call for help
Move to the shoulder or sidewalk if you can do so without causing further injury. Turn on hazard lights and set up flares or warning triangles if available. Commercial trucks weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and secondary collisions on busy corridors like Wilshire Boulevard, Figueroa Street, and Olympic Boulevard are common when disabled vehicles remain in active lanes.
Call 911 to summon police and paramedics. The California Highway Patrol typically responds to freeway collisions, while the Los Angeles Police Department handles surface streets. A traffic collision report becomes critical evidence, and the responding officer documents skid marks, debris fields, and statements from drivers and witnesses before the scene is cleared. Request the report number and the officer's name and badge number.
Document the scene and gather evidence
Photograph all vehicles from multiple angles, capturing vehicle positions, license plates, and damage. Photograph skid marks, tire gouges, cargo spills, traffic signals, signage, and road conditions. Take close-up images of the truck's DOT number, which appears on the cab door, and photograph the trucking company's name and any placards indicating hazardous materials.
Collect the names, phone numbers, and addresses of all witnesses. Write down the truck driver's name, license number, and the carrier's insurance information. Note the time, weather, and traffic conditions. If the truck was carrying cargo, photograph the load and any visible defects in tie-downs or trailer doors. This evidence often disappears within days, so preserve it before leaving the scene.
Seek immediate medical evaluation
Go to Los Angeles General Medical Center at 2051 Marengo Street if you have severe injuries; it is a Level I trauma center equipped for complex orthopedic, neurological, and vascular trauma. For less urgent injuries, visit an urgent-care facility or your primary-care physician the same day. Adrenaline and shock can mask pain, and delayed diagnosis weakens your claim under California's comparative-negligence rules.
Describe every symptom to your provider, including headache, neck stiffness, back pain, numbness, and dizziness. The medical record created within hours of the collision links your injuries directly to the crash. Gaps in treatment allow insurance adjusters to argue that your injuries were pre-existing or unrelated, reducing the compensation available under California's pure comparative-negligence standard.
Local details
If you file a personal-injury lawsuit after a truck accident, it will be heard at Stanley Mosk Courthouse, located at 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, in the Central District of Los Angeles Superior Court. CCP §335.1 gives you two years from the date of injury to file. If a government agency owned or operated the truck—such as a county sanitation truck or a city utility vehicle—you must submit a written claim to the agency within six months under Gov. Code §911.2, or you lose the right to sue.
Los Angeles freeways and surface streets present distinct hazards. The Interstate 5 and Interstate 10 interchange sees frequent truck traffic, as does the Interstate 405 corridor through the Sepulveda Pass. Wilshire Boulevard, Figueroa Street, and Olympic Boulevard carry mixed commercial and passenger traffic, and turn restrictions and narrow lanes increase the risk of sideswipe and rear-end collisions. Understanding these local conditions helps demonstrate how the crash occurred and who is at fault.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Los Angeles?
California gives you two years from the date of injury under CCP §335.1. If a government entity operated the truck or owned the roadway where the crash occurred, you must file an administrative claim within six months under Gov. Code §911.2. Missing either deadline bars your claim entirely, regardless of the severity of your injuries or the strength of your evidence.
What if the truck driver says the accident was my fault?
California applies pure comparative negligence, which means you may recover damages even if you were partially at fault, reduced by your percentage of fault. If you were 30 percent responsible, you recover 70 percent of total damages. Statements made at the scene can be used against you, so limit what you say and never admit fault before consulting an attorney.
Can I recover damages if the trucking company has already called me?
Yes. Trucking companies and their insurers often contact injured parties within hours, hoping for a quick recorded statement or an early settlement. You are not required to provide a statement or accept an offer. Consult a Los Angeles truck accident attorney before negotiating, because early offers rarely reflect the full value of your medical expenses, lost wages, and future care needs.
What evidence should I preserve after the accident?
Keep all medical records, prescriptions, and billing statements. Preserve damaged clothing, personal belongings, and photographs of your injuries as they heal. Save text messages, emails, and repair estimates. Trucking companies must preserve electronic logging device data, maintenance records, and driver qualification files, but spoliation occurs if you do not demand preservation in writing promptly. An attorney can issue a spoliation letter to protect this evidence.
Related reading
- Truck Accident Practice Area
- Los Angeles Truck Accident Attorney
- Common Truck Accident Injuries in Los Angeles: Symptoms, Care, and Claims
- Who Is Liable for a Woodland Hills Truck Accident Besides the Driver?
- Why Truck 'Black Box' Data Disappears in Long Beach Cases
Sources
Talk to a Los Angeles truck accident attorney
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Attorney advertising. This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.