Bakersfield Personal Injury Attorneys
Bakersfield Truck Accident Lawyers
Ready to Fight for You
An 80,000-pound truck doesn’t cause fender-benders — it causes catastrophes. The trucking company lawyers up within hours. You need a team that moves just as fast. That’s the Valero difference.
“I got hit by a semi-truck on the streets and I was severely injured. Eric Sapir was very helpful and caring. He made sure I got the right doctor to take care of all my medical needs and help me get my health back on track. Thanks Valero Law Group.”
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A Truck Crash Is Not Just a Bigger Car Crash
Bakersfield sits at the crossroads of California’s freight network. Tens of thousands of big rigs roll through Kern County every day on Interstate 5, Highway 99, and Highway 58. When one of them collides with a passenger car, the laws of physics are brutal — a fully loaded truck can weigh 80,000 pounds, more than 20 times a typical car.
Truck crashes are also fought on a different battlefield. Commercial carriers are governed by federal safety rules, they keep electronic data that can prove the truth, and they send corporate defense teams to the scene fast. A Bakersfield truck accident lawyer knows where to look, what to demand, and how to lock down the evidence before it’s gone. Call us today — your first consultation is free.
Results That Take On the Big Insurers
Catastrophic injuries demand serious results. Over 20 years, our attorneys have recovered more than $500 million for injured Californians — including a $5 million recovery for a brachial plexus injury in a motor-vehicle accident and the largest known personal-injury settlement in Kern County.
$5M
Motor-vehicle accident
Brachial plexus injury in a motor-vehicle collision.
$6.25M
Confidential settlement
Believed to be the largest personal-injury settlement in Kern County.
$4.4M
Car crash — neck injury
The insurer’s prior best offer was just $410,000. We did not settle.
Results reflect our firm’s overall personal-injury track record. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.
What Causes Serious Truck Accidents
Most big-rig crashes trace back to negligence — by the driver, the company, or the people who loaded and maintained the truck. On high-speed corridors like I-5 and Highway 99, these mistakes turn deadly fast.
Driver Fatigue
Long-haul drivers pushed past federal hours-of-service limits get behind the wheel exhausted. Drowsy driving slows reaction time as badly as drunk driving.
Speeding & Tailgating
A loaded big rig needs the length of a football field to stop. Speeding on Highway 99 or following too close leaves no room to brake in time.
Improperly Loaded Cargo
Overloaded or unbalanced freight can cause a rollover or jackknife — and shift the blame onto the company that loaded the trailer.
Poor Maintenance
Worn brakes, bald tires, and skipped inspections turn a routine haul into a deadly failure on the interstate.
Distracted Driving
Texting, dispatch systems, GPS, and eating behind the wheel pull a driver’s eyes off 80,000 pounds of moving steel.
Blind Spots & Wide Turns
Trucks have huge "no-zones" on every side. A driver who fails to check them can crush a passenger car that disappears from view.
Because trucks weigh so much, even a “minor” collision can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, crush injuries, internal bleeding, or wrongful death. See a doctor immediately — and let us handle the company.
Trucks Answer to Federal Law
Commercial trucks are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These federal rules cap how many hours a driver can be on the road (hours-of-service limits), require detailed driver logs and electronic logging devices, and set strict standards for inspections, maintenance, and cargo securement.
A violation of these rules is powerful evidence of negligence. The catch: that proof lives in the carrier’s own records and the truck’s black box — and it can be lawfully overwritten on a schedule. The moment we’re hired, we move to preserve it.
More Than One Party May Owe You
Unlike a typical car crash, a truck case often has several at-fault parties — and several insurance policies. We trace every link in the chain:
- The truck driver — for fatigue, speeding, distraction, or impaired driving
- The trucking or carrier company — for pushing unrealistic schedules or hiring unsafe drivers
- The cargo loader — for overloaded, unbalanced, or unsecured freight
- The truck or parts manufacturer — for defective brakes, tires, or components
- The maintenance contractor — for skipped inspections or shoddy repairs
- The truck or trailer owner — for putting an unfit rig on the road
The Evidence Race Starts Immediately
Major carriers often dispatch a rapid-response team and corporate defense lawyers to the crash scene within hours — not to help you, but to build their defense and limit what they pay. If you wait, the evidence that proves your case can quietly disappear.
When you hire us, we send a legal hold (spoliation) letter right away, demanding the company preserve everything. Then we investigate — and, when needed, bring in accident reconstruction experts to show exactly what happened.
Evidence We Fight to Lock Down
- Black-box / event data recorder readings (speed, braking, throttle)
- Driver hours-of-service logs and electronic logging device data
- Vehicle maintenance and inspection records
- The driver’s personnel file, training, and drug-test history
- Dispatch records, delivery schedules, and cell-phone data
- Cargo loading manifests and weigh-station records
The faster we’re involved, the stronger your case. If you or a loved one was hit by a truck on I-5, Highway 99, or Highway 58, call us before the trail goes cold.
Compensation After a Truck Accident
Catastrophic injuries bring bills that last a lifetime. California law lets injured victims — and the families of those killed — recover two kinds of damages.
Economic Damages
Calculable, out-of-pocket losses you can prove with bills and records.
- Emergency care, surgery, and hospital bills
- Long-term rehabilitation and future medical care
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Vehicle repair or replacement
Non-Economic Damages
The human cost of your injuries — subjective, but very real.
- Pain and physical suffering
- Disfigurement and permanent scarring
- Loss of consortium and companionship
- Lost future enjoyment of life
If a truck crash took the life of someone you love, you may also have a wrongful death claim for funeral costs, lost financial support, and the loss of their love and companionship.
Why Truck Crash Victims Choose Valero Law Group
We Move Before Evidence Vanishes
Carriers can lawfully purge logs and black-box data in months. We send legal hold letters fast to lock it down.
No Fee Unless We Win
You pay nothing up front. We only get paid when we recover money for you.
We Speak Spanish
Hablamos Español. You’ll always understand your case and your options.
Available 24/7
Day or night, a real person is here when you or your family need help.
We Come to You
Catastrophically injured and can’t travel? We’ll meet you at home or in the hospital.
$500M+ Recovered
Over 20 years fighting the insurance and trucking industry, including the largest PI settlement in Kern County.
See What Our Clients Are Saying...
“The first time I came into the office they welcomed me like I was family, and made sure to go over the whole process slowly and with great detail. My experience with this law firm was truly incredible and I can guarantee any client who decides to hire them will see exactly what I experienced.”
Jacob D.
Auto Accident
“Valero injury law firm made me feel comfortable like family and answered my questions no matter how small. They are completely committed to making sure you are taken care of. They are honest, they communicate with you, and they treat you like family.”
Elizabeth M.
Auto Accident
“After searching for an attorney, they truly were the only ones that looked at me as a person not just an easy case. Any question, no matter how small was answered. Any missed call was quickly returned. Even though they have many clients I never felt like I was not a priority.”
Nathan J.
Personal Injury
Serving Truck Crash Victims Across Bakersfield & Kern County
From the I-5 freight corridor to Highway 99 and Highway 58, we know the routes where Bakersfield’s heaviest truck traffic — and its worst crashes — happen. We help injured victims and grieving families across all of Kern County.
Local Office
(661) 426-817924/7 Line
(877) 639-8888Truck Accident FAQ
How is a truck accident case different from a car accident case?
Who can I sue after a truck accident in California?
Why do I need to act fast after a truck crash?
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in California?
What if the trucking company’s insurance isn’t enough?
What does a truck accident lawyer cost?
Sources: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §335.1 (2-year personal-injury deadline) · Cal. Veh. Code §16056 (minimum insurance) · FMCSA federal regulations (commercial trucking).
Hit by a Truck? Don’t Wait — Call Today.
The trucking company is already protecting itself. A skilled Bakersfield truck accident lawyer will preserve the evidence, take on the carrier’s insurer, and go to court if that’s what it takes. Your first consultation is free, and there are strict legal deadlines.
This page provides general information about California and federal truck accident law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. For advice about your specific situation, speak with a licensed attorney.