San Rafael Truck Accident Lawyers

How Truck Accident Cases Work

A truck accident claim is rarely just you versus a driver. It is often a case against a business operation, one that is built to reduce payouts, shift blame, and narrow responsibility. Compared to ordinary car crashes, truck cases tend to involve:

• More potential defendants (driver, motor carrier, fleet owner, broker/logistics, maintenance vendors, etc.)
• More insurance coverage and policy layers (which can increase the stakes, but also complicate recovery)
• More aggressive defense tactics (rapid investigation, early narratives, and “shared fault” arguments)
• More technical proof issues (commercial driving standards, training, maintenance practices, and injury causation)

The legal “framework” is still negligence, but the proof is often more contested. The goal is to establish (1) who caused the crash, (2) why they are legally responsible, and (3) what the harm has cost you now and in the future.

At Kuvara Law Firm, we have extensive experience litigating motor vehicle accidents involving trucks, commercial vehicles, and commercial insurers. Our San Rafael truck accident lawyers handle cases involving all types of vehicles and situations, including:

• Semi-truck and tractor-trailer crashes
• Box trucks, delivery vans, and fleet vehicles (Amazon-style delivery, contractor fleets, service vehicles)
• Construction and work truck collisions
• Dump truck and heavy equipment roadway crashes
• Rear-end and underride collisions
• Jackknife and rollover accidents
• Multi-vehicle pileups involving commercial vehicles
• Pedestrian and bicycle crashes involving trucks or commercial drivers
• Catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims arising from truck collisions

Who Can Be Liable in a Truck Accident Case?

In truck accident litigation, responsibility is often broader than the driver who was behind the wheel. Depending on how the crash happened, and how the trucking operation was structured, liability may extend to multiple companies and third parties whose decisions contributed to the risk.

• The truck driver for unsafe driving decisions, distraction, fatigue, speeding, or failure to follow basic safety rules.
• The trucking company / motor carrier for putting unsafe drivers on the road, failing to train, encouraging unsafe scheduling, or allowing poor maintenance practices. Even when a company tries to label a driver as an “independent contractor,” that does not automatically eliminate company responsibility.
• The fleet owner or vehicle owner when the company that owns the truck is not the same entity that operates it—common in leased or contracted fleet arrangements.
• A broker, logistics company, or shipper when business decisions (routing, deadlines, loading instructions, or operational control) contributed to unsafe conditions or predictable risk.
• Maintenance and repair providers if negligent inspection, repair work, or missed safety issues contributed to the crash.
• Cargo loaders / shippers when improper loading, shifting cargo, or weight distribution issues played a role.
• Manufacturers when a defective component, such as brakes, tires, coupling systems, or underride guards, contributed to the collision or increased the severity of injuries.

What Compensation Can Include After a Truck Accident

A truck accident claim should account for the full impact of the injury—not just the first round of bills. Depending on the case, compensation may include:

• Medical expenses (ER care, surgery, rehabilitation, follow-up, medications, and future treatment needs)
• Future care and support needs when recovery is not linear (specialists, procedures, assistive care, or long-term management)
• Lost income (missed work and reduced earning capacity when injuries change what you can do)
• Out-of-pocket costs tied to injury limitations (transportation, household help, equipment, home modifications when necessary)
• Pain and suffering and the day-to-day impact of reduced function
• Loss of enjoyment of life when the injury limits independence or normal activities
• Scarring, disfigurement, or lasting impairment
• Wrongful death damages when a truck crash causes a fatal loss (with separate categories and legal requirements)

In serious truck cases, the main value disputes usually involve future medical needs, work impact, and whether the defense can frame the injury as “resolved.” Documentation and credibility determine leverage.

How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in California?

Deadlines matter, and the correct one depends on the type of claim:

• Personal Injury: In many California cases, the general deadline to file a lawsuit is two years from the date of the injury.
• Wrongful Death: In many California cases, the general deadline is two years from the date of death.

There are important exceptions that can shorten or change the timeline, especially when a public entity may be involved, when the injured person is a minor, or when other fact-specific timing rules apply. Also, even when a deadline is months away, truck cases can become harder to prove as time passes. The safest move is to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible so evidence is protected and the right timeline is confirmed early.

What to Expect

Most truck accident cases resolve through settlement, but fair settlements are not automatic. They are earned through a case record that is difficult to attack and expensive to defend. From the outset, we focus on building that leverage while keeping the process clear and manageable for the client.

In general, representation involves:

• Early case assessment and claim strategy. We evaluate liability, injury severity, and the insurance coverage that is likely to control recovery. We also identify the real disputes the defense is likely to raise—comparative fault, causation, “minor injury” framing, or coverage limitations—so we can address them proactively.
• Investigation and proof development. Truck cases are won by documentation. We develop the factual record needed to establish responsibility and preserve the narrative before the defense defines it for you.
• Damages building that reflects the full impact. Serious injury claims aren’t valued by billing totals alone. We work to document the injury story in a way that reflects functional loss, work impact, future care needs, and any long-term consequences the defense will try to minimize.
• A demand positioned to withstand scrutiny. We present the case the way insurers and defense counsel evaluate risk—organized, supported, and built to hold up if litigation becomes necessary.
• Negotiation from a leverage posture. We push back on delay tactics and low offers, and we negotiate based on proof and exposure.
• Litigation when the carrier won’t act reasonably. Filing suit isn’t the goal, but it is often the tool that creates meaningful leverage in truck cases. If litigation becomes necessary, we are prepared to follow through.
• Resolution and closing details. We handle the practical issues that affect net recovery, including settlement logistics, costs, and lien/billing matters.

A practical point: trucking defendants and insurers often try to force early resolution before the long-term picture is clear. A strong case moves on the injury timeline and the evidence, not the defense’s preferred schedule.