Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident in Inglewood

By Payam Soliemanzadeh, Founder and President

Key takeaways

• Drivers, carriers, brokers, and maintenance companies may all share liability in Inglewood collisions.
• Your case will be filed at Inglewood Courthouse, One Regent Street, Inglewood, CA 90301.
• CCP §335.1 gives you two years; Gov. Code §911.2 requires six months for government claims.
• Harbor-UCLA Medical Center treats severe injuries from crashes on the I-405 and Century Boulevard.

Inglewood sits at the crossroads of some of Los Angeles County's busiest commercial freight routes. Interstate 405, Interstate 105, and Century Boulevard carry thousands of trucks daily to and from Los Angeles International Airport, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and regional warehouses. When a truck strikes a passenger vehicle on these corridors, identifying every liable party is the first step toward full recovery.

This article explains who can be held responsible after an Inglewood truck accident and what evidence connects each defendant to your claim. Understanding California's federal motor-carrier regulations and state negligence rules helps you preserve your rights before critical deadlines expire.

The truck driver's personal liability

The driver is often the first defendant named in a truck accident lawsuit. If the driver violated California Vehicle Code provisions—speeding, unsafe lane changes on the I-405, or distracted driving on La Brea Avenue—that negligence creates direct liability. Federal hours-of-service violations, such as driving beyond the 11-hour limit or falsifying an electronic logging device, provide additional grounds. Drivers are personally liable even when their employer is also named.

In practice, a driver's personal assets rarely cover catastrophic injuries. That is why California law permits claims against every upstream party who contributed to the collision. The driver's conduct becomes evidence of the motor carrier's or broker's responsibility when that conduct reflects inadequate training, supervision, or hiring practices. Holding the driver accountable does not preclude claims against other defendants; you may pursue all liable parties in a single action.

Motor carrier liability under federal and state law

The motor carrier—the trucking company that employs the driver or controls the operation—is often the deepest pocket. Under federal motor-carrier safety regulations, the carrier must vet drivers, maintain vehicles, enforce hours-of-service rules, and carry minimum insurance coverage. Negligent hiring, failing to drug-test, or ignoring prior crashes establishes direct liability. Even when the driver is an independent contractor, the carrier may be liable if it exercised control over routes, schedules, or equipment.

California courts apply the doctrine of respondeat superior when the driver acts within the scope of employment. If the crash occurred on Manchester Boulevard during a delivery run, the carrier is vicariously liable. Carriers are also directly liable for defective brakes, worn tires, or overloaded trailers. Maintenance logs, inspection reports, and federal compliance reviews, all accessible through discovery, prove the carrier's breach of duty.

Freight broker liability for negligent selection

Freight brokers arrange shipments but do not employ drivers or own trucks. Under federal law, brokers must verify that the motor carrier holds active operating authority and adequate insurance. When a broker contracts with an uninsured or unsafe carrier—or fails to check the carrier's safety rating—the broker may be liable for negligent selection or entrustment. California courts recognize these claims when the broker's failure to vet the carrier proximately caused the collision.

Broker liability often hinges on contracts, carrier-vetting records, and the broker's compliance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration registration rules. If the crash on State Route 90 involved a carrier with a conditional or unsatisfactory safety rating, the broker's negligence becomes a distinct cause of action. Brokers typically carry separate liability policies, adding another layer of available coverage when your injuries exceed the carrier's policy limits.

Local details

Your claim will be filed and heard at Inglewood Courthouse, One Regent Street, Inglewood, CA 90301, part of the Los Angeles Superior Court's Southwest District. Most truck accidents in Inglewood occur on Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway), Interstate 105 (Century Freeway), or State Route 90 (Marina Freeway), as well as major surface streets such as La Brea Avenue, Century Boulevard, and Manchester Boulevard. Severe injuries are treated at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, a Level I trauma center at 1000 West Carson Street in Torrance.

California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 gives you two years from the date of the collision to file suit against private defendants. If a city vehicle, county truck, or Caltrans contractor was involved, Government Code §911.2 requires a written claim within six months. Both deadlines run concurrently; the shorter deadline controls when a public entity shares fault. Evidence—electronic logging devices, maintenance records, broker contracts—can disappear within days, so early legal action is critical.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sue both the driver and the trucking company at the same time?

Yes. California law permits you to name every party whose negligence contributed to the collision in a single lawsuit. The driver may be liable for traffic violations, the carrier for inadequate maintenance, and the broker for negligent selection. Joint and several liability means any defendant may be required to pay the full judgment, though each may seek contribution from co-defendants.

What if the truck driver was an independent contractor?

Independent-contractor status does not automatically shield the carrier from liability. If the carrier controlled dispatch, routes, or equipment, California courts may find an agency relationship. Federal regulations also impose non-delegable duties on motor carriers, such as ensuring vehicle safety. Even true independent contractors can be sued individually, and their own commercial policies may respond.

How do I prove a freight broker is liable?

You must show the broker failed to verify the carrier's insurance, operating authority, or safety rating, and that this failure caused your injuries. Discovery requests for broker contracts, carrier-vetting documents, and FMCSA databases establish the broker's duty and breach. Expert testimony on industry standards and federal brokerage rules strengthens the causal link between the broker's negligence and the crash.

Does the truck manufacturer have any liability?

If a defective brake system, tire blowout, or steering failure caused the collision, the truck or component manufacturer may be liable under strict product liability. These claims require expert analysis of the vehicle, inspection records, and any recalls. Product-liability claims run parallel to negligence claims against the driver, carrier, and broker, and may be joined in the same action.

Related reading

• Truck Accident Practice Area
• Inglewood Truck Accident Page
• 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

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.