Who is Liable for a Truck Accident in Fresno?

If you live in or travel through Fresno frequently, you’re sharing the road with lots of trucks. As the largest city in the Central Valley, Fresno serves as a major hub for agriculture, warehouses, and commercial transportation.

Sharing the road with large commercial vehicles can easily lead to truck accidents. 

When they do, many accident victims wonder who is liable, that is, who is legally responsible for causing a truck accident in Fresno and for the injuries and losses that follow.

Were you seriously injured in a truck accident in Fresno? Call The Dominguez Firm today for a free consultation at (800) 818-1818. Waiting can harm your claim. Put our litigation attorneys to work for you right away!

Why Can Figuring Out Who Caused My Truck Accident Be Complicated?

Truck accidents are different because commercial trucking is heavily regulated and involves multiple layers of responsibility. A truck driver may not own the vehicle. The trucking company may not handle maintenance. A third party may load cargo.

In short, liability often depends on what caused the crash and who had control over that part of the operation at the time.

Several parties may be to blame, including:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• A maintenance company
• A cargo loading company
• A government entity
• A truck or truck part manufacturer
• Another driver

Additionally, under California law, more than one party can share responsibility for the same accident.

Why Do I Need an Experienced Fresno Truck Accident Attorney?

After a truck accident, transportation companies and their insurance carriers act quickly to protect themselves.

In serious truck accidents, trucking companies begin building their defense immediately, even showing up at the scene of the accident first. Their goal is to limit their own liability, not to protect your interests. This can include gathering statements, reviewing driver logs, and securing vehicle data.

An experienced Fresno truck accident attorney can counteract these tactics by dispatching investigators to the accident scene quickly. These investigators and your truck accident lawyer can collect:

• Driver logs and employment records
• Maintenance and inspection reports
• Black box data
• Surveillance footage
• Witness statements

By hiring a Fresno truck accident lawyer quickly, vital evidence will be gathered early, ensuring the trucking company doesn’t control the narrative from the start. Plus, if you were seriously injured in a truck accident, it’s highly doubtful you’ll be able to undertake all of this yourself. 

Can the Truck Driver Be Liable for My Fresno Truck Accident?

Yes. The truck driver is often one of the first parties investigated. Truckers are expected to operate safely, follow traffic laws, and obey commercial driving regulations.

A truck driver may be liable if the accident involved:

• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
• Distracted driving, including cellphone use
• Fatigue or falling asleep at the wheel
• Driving under the influence
• Unsafe lane changes or turns

If a truck driver’s actions directly caused the crash, they may be held personally responsible for the injuries that resulted. However, this is rarely the end of the truck accident investigation.

Can the Trucking Company be Responsible for My Fresno Truck Accident?

In many cases, yes. Trucking companies are often legally responsible for the actions of their drivers when those drivers are working within the scope of their job.

A trucking company may be responsible if:

• The company failed to properly train or supervise the driver
• Unrealistic schedules encouraged speeding or fatigue
• Safety violations were ignored

Trucking companies also have a duty to ensure their vehicles are safe to operate. When a company cuts corners to save money, the risk of serious injury increases.

What if the Truck Driver Is an Independent Contractor?

Some trucking companies classify drivers as independent contractors to limit liability. This does not automatically protect the company from responsibility.

Courts review the amount of control the company had over the driver’s work. If the company controlled routes, schedules, or safety procedures, it may still be held liable for injuries caused by the driver.

Experienced truck accident attorneys will review contracts and company records to determine the true nature of the relationship.

Who’s to Blame if Poor Truck Maintenance Caused the Accident?

Commercial trucks require regular maintenance and inspections. Brake systems, tires, steering components, and lights must all function properly to keep others safe on the road.

Liability for maintenance-related crashes may fall on:

• The trucking company
• A third-party maintenance provider
• A parts manufacturer

If worn brakes, tire blowouts, or mechanical failures contributed to the crash, the party responsible for maintaining or repairing the truck may be held accountable for resulting injuries.

Can a Truck Manufacturer Be Liable for a Fresno Truck Accident?

Yes, in certain cases. If a defective truck part caused or worsened the accident, the manufacturer may be liable under product liability laws.

Examples include:

• Defective brakes
• Faulty steering systems
• Tire defects
• Electrical failures

These cases often require technical investigation and expert analysis to show that a defect existed and contributed to the crash.

Who Is Responsible for Improperly Loaded Cargo?

Poorly loaded cargo can pose safety problems. When cargo shifts, falls, or is improperly secured, it can cause rollovers, jackknife accidents, or loss of control.

Liability may fall on:

• Cargo loading companies
• Shipping companies
• The trucking company
• The driver, if responsible for inspection

Improperly loaded cargo is especially dangerous on Fresno’s highways and rural roads, where high speeds and sharp turns increase the risk of serious injury.

Can Another Driver Be at Fault in a Truck Accident?

Not every truck accident is caused by a party associated with the truck. Passenger vehicle drivers sometimes contribute to or cause collisions by:

• Cutting off trucks
• Braking suddenly in front of a truck
• Driving aggressively around large vehicles
• Driving distracted or impaired

Given the large scale of most truck accidents, it’s common for multiple drivers to share responsibility.

I May Have Been Partially to Blame for My Truck Accident? Can I Still File a Truck Accident Claim?

Yes. California follows a comparative fault system. You can file a truck accident claim even if you share some responsibility for your accident.

Your compensation is reduced based on your percentage of fault, which is determined by a judge, jury, or through the claims process, if the case resolves before trial. This issue tends to arise in Fresno truck accident cases because multiple vehicles are often involved, leading to more than one driver sharing the blame.

Don’t let questions about who caused the accident stop you from contacting a Fresno truck accident attorney immediately. Your recollection of events may not be accurate, especially if you had to be rushed to the ER. The sooner you call an injury attorney, the sooner they can collect evidence and put together a strong truck accident case for you.

Can Government Entities Be Liable for Truck Accidents in Fresno?

In limited situations, yes. If dangerous road conditions led to the crash, a government agency may share liability.

Examples include:

• Poor road design
• Inadequate signage
• Construction zones with little or no signage
• Failure to repair known hazards

Claims involving government entities follow shorter legal deadlines, usually just six months from the date of the truck accident. The legal process also tends to involve more steps and legal documents. Therefore, it’s crucial you hire a truck accident lawyer immediately.

What Injuries Are Common in Fresno Truck Accidents?

Truck accidents often cause far more serious injuries than standard car crashes due to the size and weight of commercial vehicles.

Common injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Internal organ damage
• Severe burns
• Wrongful death

These injuries can require long-term medical care and, in more severe cases, permanently change a person’s life.

Why is it Important to Identify All Liable Parties?

Many times, truck accident injuries are serious and life-changing. Victims face high medical bills, long recovery periods, and extended time away from work, if they can return to their jobs at all.

Identifying all parties responsible for the truck crash helps ensure full financial compensation is available from everyone responsible to cover:

• Medical treatment and ongoing care
• Lost income and reduced earning ability
• Pain and suffering

If every person or entity responsible isn’t identified, you’re leaving important compensation that would help you with your recovery on the table. Given the high medical costs of most truck accident injuries, not identifying all defendants can greatly reduce the amount of compensation you receive when you need it most.

Contact the Fresno Truck Accident Lawyers at The Dominguez Firm

Truck accidents in Fresno often involve multiple parties, overlapping causes, and complex laws. Determining liability correctly helps truck accident victims gather full compensation for their injuries.

If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a Fresno truck accident, call The Dominguez Firm for a free consultation now at (800) 818-1818 today. Our experienced litigation attorneys are here for you!