Pomona Truck Accident Lawyer | Pérez Law, PC

The I-10 freeway cuts directly through Pomona, carrying a constant stream of 80,000-pound big rigs from the distribution centers and warehouses of the Inland Empire to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. When a loaded semi-truck collides with a passenger vehicle on the I-10, SR-60, SR-71, or SR-57, the injuries are typically catastrophic, and the liability picture involves federal regulations, multiple potential defendants, and evidence that disappears within days.

Our Pomona truck accident lawyers at Pérez Law, PC, represent injured victims of commercial truck accidents throughout the Pomona Valley and eastern Los Angeles County. Attorney Ricardo Antonio Pérez, admitted to the California State Bar in 1998 (CA Bar #194646), leads the firm’s personal injury practice with more than 27 years of experience handling plaintiff-side injury claims.If you or your loved one was involved in an 18-wheeler crash, call us at (909) 622-1071today or fill out our free case evaluation form to get started at no cost.

FEATURED CASE: T-BONE COLLISION. ROLLOVER CRASH. $1,500,000 RECOVERED. Pérez Law, PC secured a $1,500,000 recovery in a personal injury matter involving a violent T-bone impact that caused a rollover crash. The collision significantly disrupted the client’s life. The case required a focused strategy to prove fault, document the full extent of the harm, and present the client’s damages clearly and persuasively. Result: $1.5 Million Recovery for Injuries from T-Bone Collision Causing Rollover Accident Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different, and results depend on the specific facts, evidence, parties, and applicable law in each matter.

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Why Truck Accident Cases in Pomona, CA, Are More Complex Than Car Accident Cases

Commercial truck accident claims are governed by two separate bodies of law: California state tort law and a comprehensive set of federal regulations administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). A standard Pomona car accident lawyer case involves two parties, one insurance policy, and the California vehicle code. A truck accident case involves the carrier’s insurer, the driver’s record, federal safety regulations, multiple potential defendants, and evidence that begins disappearing within hours of the crash.

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety 2023 crash rankings, Pomona recorded 783 victims killed or injured that year, placing the city 18th out of 62 comparable California cities in total fatal and injury collisions. The nighttime ranking tells the more urgent story: Pomona ranked 5th worst in the state for crashes occurring between 9:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m., with 106 incidents, a direct consequence of freight traffic that never stops. Hit-and-run crashes ranked 8th out of 62. More than 1,126,000 trucks were registered in Los Angeles County as of January 1, 2025, according to California DMV data. 

Trucking companies mobilize their defense teams within hours of a serious crash. By the time a victim is discharged from the emergency room, the carrier’s lawyers may have already accessed the truck’s electronic logging device, preserved data favorable to the defense, and begun building a file. Early action by the plaintiff’s personal injury attorney in Pomona is not an advantage. It is a necessity.

What to Do After a Truck Crash in Pomona

A crash with an 18-wheeler is disorienting. These steps protect both your health and your ability to build a case in the hours immediately after.

1. Call 911 immediately and request medical assistance, even if you believe your injuries are minor. Internal injuries, spinal trauma, and traumatic brain injuries may not produce immediate symptoms.
2. Do not move an injured person unless they are in immediate danger of further harm from fire or oncoming traffic.
3. If you can do so safely, photograph the truck’s license plate, USDOT number on the cab door, company name, and visible damage to all vehicles.
4. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses at the scene.
5. Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer or any representative without your attorney present. The adjuster’s job is to minimize what the carrier pays you — not to help you. Every voluntary statement you provide before retaining counsel can be used to reduce your recovery.
6. Seek medical evaluation at a hospital or urgent care center the same day, and follow all physician recommendations.
7. Contact Pérez Law, PC as quickly as possible so that we can issue preservation letters before critical evidence is destroyed or overwritten.

“Truck crash evidence has a short life. Taking the right steps immediately protects both your health and your legal rights.”

Federal Regulations That Govern Truck Accident Claims (FMCSA and 49 C.F.R. Parts 390-399)

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 C.F.R. Parts 390 through 399) establish the minimum safety standards for commercial motor vehicles operating on U.S. highways. When a trucking company or driver violates these regulations, that violation can be introduced as evidence of negligence and, under California’s negligence per se doctrine, may eliminate the need to separately prove duty and breach.

Hours of Service Rules

Under 49 C.F.R. Part 395, property-carrying CMV drivers are limited to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour on-duty window, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. The regulations also impose a 60/70-hour weekly limit. A driver who began a shift more than 14 hours before the crash, or who logged more than 11 hours of driving time, was operating in violation of federal law at the moment of impact.

Drivers may also reset their 60/70-hour weekly clock after 34 or more consecutive hours off duty. That restart provision is frequently exploited; a driver who reaches the weekly limit can take the minimum off-duty time and immediately begin another full cycle of maximum driving, all within the technical bounds of federal law. When a driver’s log shows a suspicious restart pattern in the days before a crash, Pérez Law investigates whether it was legitimate or strategically timed to conceal cumulative fatigue.

Electronic Logging Device Mandate

Since December 2017, most CMV drivers are required to use an ELD to automatically record driving time under 49 C.F.R. Part 395.8. ELD data provides a precise, tamper-resistant record of when a driver was in motion, how long they had been on duty, and whether they exceeded their legal driving window. Your attorney must demand preservation of this data immediately after a crash, before the standard overwrite cycle destroys it.

CMV Weight Limits and Inspection Requirements

49 C.F.R. Part 393 sets out vehicle equipment standards, while Part 396 requires systematic inspection, repair, and maintenance of commercial motor vehicles. When a carrier allows a truck to operate with worn brake pads, defective lighting, or underinflated tires in violation of these standards, those maintenance records establish that the carrier knew of the safety deficiency before the crash occurred.

Driver Qualification Files

49 C.F.R. Part 391 requires carriers to maintain driver qualification files, including commercial driver’s license records, medical examiner certificates, road test records, and prior employment history. When a carrier hired a driver with a history of violations or disqualifying medical conditions, those records establish negligent hiring independent of anything the driver did on the day of the crash.

The FMCSA Compliance, Safety, Accountability Program

The FMCSA’s CSA program assigns carriers a score across seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories, including Hours of Service Compliance, Unsafe Driving, and Vehicle Maintenance. Carriers with elevated scores have documented histories of safety failures that federal regulators have formally flagged. Those records are public and are among the first documents Pérez Law subpoenas when building a carrier negligence case.

Identifying All Defendants After a Pomona Truck Accident

One of the most important early tasks in a truck accident case is identifying every party whose negligence contributed to the crash. Missing even one defendant can mean leaving significant insurance coverage on the table.

The Truck Driver The driver’s personal negligence, speeding, distracted driving, fatigue, impairment, or failure to maintain lane is the starting point for liability analysis. California’s comparative fault rules allow driver fault and carrier fault to be assessed separately and combined into a total recovery.	The Trucking Company Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, a trucking company is liable for its employee-driver’s negligence committed within the scope of employment. Carriers are also independently liable for negligent hiring, negligent retention, inadequate driver training, and FMCSA compliance failures. When a driver operates as an independent contractor under a lease agreement, liability may still extend to the carrier under the FMCSA’s leasing regulations at 49 C.F.R. Part 376. The motor carrier that assumes operational control of the equipment bears legal responsibility as though the driver were its own employee. Trucking companies routinely attempt to use contractor classifications as a liability shield. That argument fails in most circumstances.	The Cargo Loader When improperly loaded or unsecured cargo shifts during transit and causes a trailer to tip or a driver to lose control, the company that loaded the trailer bears direct liability under 49 C.F.R. Part 392.9.
The Maintenance and Repair Contractor Third-party shops responsible for maintaining or repairing a carrier’s fleet can be liable when faulty brake work, tire service, or mechanical repairs contribute to a crash. If a brake failure on the SR-60 near Pomona traces to a maintenance facility’s negligent service, that facility is a proper defendant with its own coverage.	The Manufacturer When a manufacturing defect in the braking system, steering assembly, trailer hitch, or tires causes or contributes to the crash, the manufacturer faces strict product liability under California law. Component suppliers who design or build defective parts carry their own liability, independent of the vehicle’s overall manufacturer.	Government Entities When dangerous road conditions on the I-10 or SR-60 through Pomona contributed to the collision, a government entity may bear partial responsibility. Claims against government entities require a separate six-month filing deadline under Government Code Section 911.2.

Evidence Preservation After a Truck Crash: What Disappears First

“Truck crash evidence has a short life: the FMCSA logs, driver qualification files, and black box data that vanish first.”

The truck’s Electronic Control Module, commonly called the black box, records vehicle speed, brake application, throttle input, and other critical data in the moments before impact. Without a litigation hold letter, most carriers will allow that data to overwrite on a rolling cycle of as few as 30 days, depending on the equipment and carrier policy. Your attorney must issue the preservation demand within days of the crash, not weeks.

ELD and log book records must be retained for six months under federal regulation, but carriers using short-haul exemptions may discard paper logs far sooner if no one demands their preservation. Dashcam and third-party surveillance footage from commercial properties near the I-10, SR-60, and Holt Avenue corridors in Pomona is typically overwritten within 24 to 72 hours.

Pérez Law, PC issues formal evidence preservation letters and, where necessary, files emergency injunctive relief to prevent spoliation of critical records. This early investigative work is often the difference between a strong case and a case built on reconstruction alone.

FMCSA Violations as Negligence Per Se Under California Law

California’s negligence per se doctrine means that when a defendant violates a regulation designed to prevent a specific type of harm, and that violation causes the plaintiff’s injury, negligence is presumed without requiring separate proof of duty and breach. When an HOS violation is established by ELD data, the plaintiff does not need to prove that fatigued driving is dangerous as a matter of common law. The violation itself is proof of breach.

FMCSA violations that commonly support negligence per se arguments in California include: Hours of Service violations under Part 395, failure to maintain a valid medical examiner’s certificate under Part 391.41, operating a CMV with defective brakes in violation of Part 393.48, cargo securement failures under Part 393.100, and failure to conduct required pre-trip inspections under Part 396.13.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents on Pomona’s Freeway Corridors

Driver Fatigue and HOS Violations The I-10 and SR-60 through Pomona are 24-hour freight corridors. Fatigue impairs reaction time, lane tracking, and hazard recognition at a level comparable to alcohol intoxication.	Distracted Driving Commercial vehicle drivers are prohibited from using handheld electronic devices under 49 C.F.R. Part 392.82. ELD and phone records can document distraction in the minutes before impact.	Brake Failure and Mechanical Defects An 80,000-pound loaded tractor-trailer requires significantly longer stopping distances than a passenger vehicle, even with properly maintained brakes. Brake failure cases require immediate expert inspection before any repairs are made or the truck is moved.
Jackknife Accidents A jackknife occurs when a truck’s trailer swings out relative to the cab, typically from sudden braking on wet pavement or improper brake application on a curve. Jackknife crashes on the I-10 near the SR-71 interchange and on the SR-60 near the Garey Avenue off-ramp can block multiple lanes and produce secondary collisions.	Underride Collisions Federal regulations require rear underride guards under 49 C.F.R. Part 393.86, but side underride guards are not universally mandated. Underride crashes are among the most deadly truck accident types.	Wide Turns and Blind Spots Commercial trucks have substantial blind spots on all four sides. Wide right turns at Pomona intersections create collision hazards for cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles in adjacent lanes.
Carrier Delivery Pressure Trucking companies and logistics operators often impose tight delivery schedules that push drivers to skip rest breaks, extend shifts, or falsify log books to meet windows at Ontario International Airport’s air cargo facilities, Inland Empire warehouses, and regional distribution hubs. Delivery pressure is a carrier-level form of negligence independent of the driver’s individual choices.

Catastrophic Injuries in Pomona Truck Accident Claims

If your crash involved a commercial truck, the injuries you are facing are likely among the most serious the court system will ever evaluate for compensation. Truck accident victims frequently suffer injuries that require lifetime medical care, extensive rehabilitation, and permanent modifications to how they work and live. 

Seriously injured victims are often transported to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC), 1798 N Garey Ave, Pomona, the area’s leading regional trauma center, for initial stabilization. A Pomona traumatic brain injury lawyer evaluation should be part of every truck accident case involving head trauma.

The injuries Pérez Law has encountered in truck accident cases following PVHMC admission and trauma stabilization include: traumatic brain injury and acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury and paralysis, amputations and crush injuries, internal organ damage, severe burns from fuel ignition, and multiple orthopedic fractures requiring surgical hardware.

What is a Truck Accident Settlement Worth in California?

Settlement values vary widely depending on injury severity, liability clarity, and the carrier’s insurance coverage. Serious injury cases, those involving surgery, extended hospitalization, or permanent limitation, typically produce six-figure recoveries. Cases involving catastrophic injury, permanent disability, or wrongful death frequently exceed $1 million.

Economic damages in catastrophic truck accident cases include: all past and future medical expenses, including hospitalization, surgeries, and rehabilitation; medical devices and prescription costs; lost wages during the recovery period; diminished future earning capacity; short-term and long-term disability losses; loss of future employment benefits, including retirement and medical benefits; vehicle repair or replacement value; and rental vehicle costs during the repair period.

Non-economic damages include compensation for physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disfigurement or disability. California does not cap non-economic damages in personal injury cases.

California courts may also award punitive damages under Civil Code Section 3294 when a defendant’s conduct was willful, malicious, or oppressive. A carrier that deliberately falsified hours-of-service records, knowingly operated a vehicle with failed brakes, or repeatedly violated FMCSA regulations despite prior documented violations may face punitive exposure. Punitive damages are not tied to actual losses; they exist to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct.

Damages in Wrongful Death Caused by Trucking Accidents

When a truck accident results in death, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60. Recoverable wrongful death damages include the victim’s accumulated medical costs before death, funeral and burial expenses, compensation for the loss of affection, love, guidance, and companionship, the loss of household duties the victim regularly performed, such as property maintenance and childcare, and loss of marital consortium. Our Pomona wrongful death lawyer team handles these cases with both legal precision and compassion.

No Attorney Fee Unless We Recover

“Trucking companies mobilize defense attorneys within hours. Contingency means we can mobilize just as fast at no cost to you.”

You pay nothing up front. From the moment you call, Pérez Law, PC absorbs the cost of investigation, expert consultation, medical record collection, evidence preservation demands, and litigation preparation. Attorney fees are collected only from the final recovery. If we do not recover, you pay nothing.

The contingency model is a strategic equalizer. When a major carrier’s insurer and its law firm begin building a defense within hours of the crash, an injured victim who cannot afford hourly legal counsel faces a serious disadvantage. Contingency eliminates that disadvantage.

Contact our California personal injury lawyers based in Pomona today at (909) 622-1071 for a free case evaluation. There is no obligation and no cost.

Why Pérez Law, PC for Your Pomona Truck Accident Case

Founded in 1998 by Ricardo Antonio Pérez (CA Bar #194646), Pérez Law, PC has spent more than a quarter century representing injured Californians against insurance companies and corporate defendants. The firm handles truck accident claims with the full depth of federal regulatory knowledge these cases require.

Before becoming a lawyer, Mr. Pérez worked as a licensed private investigator and claims adjuster, giving him a direct view into how the other side thinks, investigates, and builds its defense. That background informs every evidence preservation decision and every negotiation strategy the firm employs in truck accident cases.

Our Pomona office at 522 W Holt Ave serves clients throughout the Pomona Valley, including Claremont, La Verne, San Dimas, Diamond Bar, and West Covina. We are a bilingual firm serving Spanish-speaking clients in their preferred language without interpretation fees. 

Our truck accident lawyers also represent accident victims from across Ontario and the surrounding Inland Empire, including Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, San Bernardino, Chino, Upland, and Montclair.

To see the full record of our work, visit our case results page. If you were injured at work while driving a commercial vehicle, we also handle workers’ compensation claims alongside your personal injury recovery. 

Frequently Asked Questions: Pomona Truck Accident Lawyer

How Long Do You Have to File After a Pomona Truck Accident?

Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, you generally have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. When a government entity is a defendant, that window collapses to six months under Government Code Section 911.2. Truck accident evidence begins disappearing the same day as the crash, and the ECM data that could prove your case may be permanently overwritten within 30 days. Do not wait to determine which deadline applies; contact an attorney immediately so evidence preservation can begin while the record still exists.

Does Sharing Fault Eliminate Your Right to Recover?

No. California’s pure comparative fault system means shared fault does not bar your recovery. If a jury finds you 25% responsible and your total damages are $800,000, you recover $600,000. Trucking companies routinely deploy comparative fault arguments to reduce their exposure. Having counsel who can document and rebut those arguments before negotiations begin is not optional.

Where are Pomona Truck Accident Cases Litigated?

If litigation is necessary, fault allocation and damages are determined at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Pomona Courthouse, 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766.

What is the 30-day Black Box Rule for Truck Accidents?

Commercial trucks are equipped with Electronic Control Modules that record pre-crash data, including vehicle speed, brake application, and throttle position. Most ECM systems overwrite older data on a rolling 30-day cycle. Once that data is gone, it cannot be recovered. Your attorney must issue a formal evidence preservation demand within days of the crash, not weeks.

Can I Still Recover Compensation if I Was Partially At Fault?

Yes, and this question matters more than most people realize, because trucking companies routinely use comparative fault arguments to reduce what they owe you. California follows pure comparative negligence as established in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal. 3d 804, grounded in Civil Code § 1714. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, but is not eliminated. If a jury finds you 25% responsible and your total damages are $800,000, you recover $600,000. The carrier’s insurer will investigate every aspect of your conduct before and during the crash. Having counsel who can document and rebut those arguments is not optional.

What FMCSA Regulations Apply to Truck Accidents in California?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 C.F.R. Parts 390-399) apply to commercial motor vehicles operating in interstate commerce, including the freight traffic that moves through Pomona on the I-10 and SR-60 corridors. Key regulations include Hours of Service rules (Part 395), ELD requirements (Part 395.8), driver qualification file requirements (Part 391), vehicle inspection requirements (Part 396), and cargo securement standards (Part 392.9).

What Happens When the Trucking Company’s Insurer Contacts Me After the Crash?

The insurer will open a claim file within hours. An adjuster will attempt to gather a recorded statement from you. Decline that request without your attorney present. The adjuster’s job is to evaluate the strength of your claim, identify evidence that might reduce the carrier’s liability, and calculate the minimum settlement the company can justify. Every piece of information you provide voluntarily before retaining counsel can be used to minimize what you recover. Contact Pérez Law, PC before speaking with anyone from the trucking company’s insurance team.

Contact a Pomona Truck Accident Lawyer Today: Free Case Evaluation

If you or a loved one was injured in a commercial truck accident in Pomona or anywhere in the Pomona Valley, do not wait. Evidence is time-sensitive, deadlines are strict, and the trucking company’s defense team may already be at work. Pérez Law, PC offers a free, no-obligation case evaluation available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Pomona Office: 522 W Holt Ave, Pomona, CA 91768
• Phone: (909) 622-1071 or toll-free (877) 622-5888
• Lead Attorney: Ricardo Antonio Pérez | CA Bar #194646 | Admitted 1998
• Languages: English and Spanish
• Fee: No attorney fee unless we recover for you

Contact us now to start your free case evaluation today.

Trusted Injury Lawyers. Decades of Experience. Millions Recovered. Pérez Law, PC | 522 W Holt Ave, Pomona, CA 91768 | (909) 622-1071 | (877) 622-5888 | Available 24/7 | English and Spanish | perezlawcorp.com Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different.