Truck Accident Lawyer Serving Los Angeles
The Trucking Company's Insurer Was Prepared. Are You?
As a Los Angeles truck accident attorney and former in-house counsel at Safeco Insurance, I know how freight insurers respond within hours of a serious crash, and I move just as fast to protect your claim and the evidence it depends on.
Dedicated Representation for Truck Accident Victims
When you are hurt in a crash with a commercial truck in Los Angeles or anywhere in the Valley, you face hospital visits, long recovery, and freight insurer phone calls. I handle the legal work so you can focus on healing. I offer a free consultation and if I accept your case, there is no fee unless I win (on cases done on a contingency fee basis). At The Law Office of Frederick S. Schwartz, you speak directly with me from day one, and I keep you informed while I push for the result you need.
Why You Need a Truck Accident Lawyer
Trucking companies and their insurers move quickly to limit payouts, and as former in-house counsel at Safeco Insurance, I know how they analyze exposure and where they try to minimize claims. I secure driver logs, black box data, maintenance records, and company policies to prove fault and document the full impact of your injuries.
Multiple parties can be liable in a truck case, including drivers who are classified as independent contractors. California courts look past that label. If the trucking company controls how, when, or under what safety rules a driver works, the company can still be held liable, and commercial freight policies frequently cover more than the company initially claims. California's comparative negligence rules and filing deadlines apply here too, so getting experienced help early matters.
Freight Insurers Respond Within Hours. I Know How They Operate.
Serious truck crashes trigger something car accidents usually don't: a rapid response team. Freight insurers and trucking companies deploy specialized investigators, sometimes within hours of a crash, to control the narrative, document the scene from their side, and limit what the company eventually has to pay. As former in-house counsel at Safeco Insurance, I know exactly how these teams are trained to work, because I used to be on that side of the table.
That means I'm not starting from scratch when I take a truck case. I know what they're documenting, what they're trying to lock down early, and where they're vulnerable. I move on the same timeline they do, not on the timeline they'd prefer you and your attorney use.
The Truck Was Recording. That Data Won't Wait for You.
Federal law requires most commercial trucks to carry electronic logging devices, and many also carry event data recorders that capture speed, braking, and other critical data in the moments before a crash. That data has legal retention limits, and once it's gone, it's gone.
I send formal preservation demands quickly after a crash to lock down:
- Electronic logging device and black box data
- Driver hours-of-service records
- Vehicle inspection and maintenance logs
- Dispatch and routing records
Waiting even a few weeks to get legal help can mean some of this evidence is no longer available. Acting quickly is one of the most important things I do on every truck case I take.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Los Angeles
Traffic on the 101, 405, and 710 creates constant risk when large trucks need extra time and distance to stop. The 710 corridor in particular carries heavy volume tied to the nation's busiest port complex, and that port trucking traffic raises the risk of fatigue-related and improperly loaded cargo crashes throughout the LA basin.
Federal trucking regulations exist precisely because fatigue and overwork are common contributing factors, and violations of these rules often become central to a case:
- Hours of Service violations, including drivers exceeding the 14-hour on-duty window
- Drivers exceeding the 60-hour, 7-day or 70-hour, 8-day weekly driving limits
- Failed or skipped drug and alcohol testing requirements
- Improperly secured or overloaded cargo
I also regularly handle cases involving speeding, following too closely, improper lane changes, blown tires, brake failures, jackknifes, and underride collisions. No matter the cause, I build a case that connects company choices, not just driver error, to the crash.
Farris S.
I had a case with another firm that went nowhere, and when it came time to fight, they backed off. A friend recommended Fred Schwartz, and he was thorough in how he dealt with the insurance company. My case was almost dead, and he revived it for a substantial win. Fred is good at this because he has years of experience working on the insurance company side, so he knows exactly how they operate and how to deal with them. On another case, he got me ten times what I expected. With the way insurance companies operate, you need someone who knows how they think from the inside, and that's Fred Schwartz.
What To Do After A Truck Accident
Prioritize medical care and keep records of every visit. Call law enforcement and get the report number. If you can, photograph vehicle positions, damage, skid marks, and the truck’s DOT and company information. Collect witness contacts. Avoid giving recorded statements to the trucking insurer. Refer them to me and I will handle communications, preserve evidence, and take steps to prevent critical data from being lost.
Truck Accident Claims in Los Angeles, Answered
Can I sue a trucking company after an accident in California?
Yes, trucking companies can be held liable for their driver's negligence and for their own role in hiring, training, maintenance, and dispatch decisions. Even when a driver is classified as an independent contractor, the company may still be responsible if it controlled how the work was performed.
What evidence is preserved after a truck accident?
Electronic logging device data, event data recorder data, driver hours-of-service logs, maintenance records, and dispatch records are all potential evidence, and most of it has limited retention windows under federal law. I send preservation demands quickly so this evidence isn't lost before it can be reviewed.
Who is liable when a truck driver causes a crash in Los Angeles?
Liability can extend beyond the driver to the trucking company, the truck owner, maintenance providers, cargo loaders, and brokers, depending on what caused the crash. I investigate every potential party rather than assuming the driver is the only one responsible.
Do truck accident cases take longer than car accident cases?
They often do, because injuries tend to be more severe and the evidence involves more parties and more technical data. I move your case forward at every stage and keep you updated throughout.
What compensation can I pursue after a truck accident?
You may be entitled to medical expenses, future treatment, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and property damage. I document both the immediate and long-term impact to support the full value of your claim.