Truck Accidents matters in San Bernardino
San Bernardino sits at the heart of one of the busiest freight corridors in the country. Goods moving inland from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach funnel through the I-15 over the Cajon Pass, spread across the 215, 210, and 10, and feed the enormous concentration of warehouses and distribution centers that define the Inland Empire economy. That logistics traffic means an unusual density of tractor-trailers, delivery box trucks, and tankers sharing the road with everyday commuters every single day.
When one of those trucks is involved in a collision, the case is fundamentally different from a two-car fender bender. The forces are greater, the injuries are more severe, and there are federal regulations and commercial insurance layers that an ordinary car-accident claim never touches.
Why truck crashes happen here
- Steep grades and braking on the Cajon Pass descent into the valley, where overheated or failing brakes are a known hazard
- Heavy warehouse and distribution traffic on surface routes feeding the 215 and 210
- Driver fatigue tied to tight delivery schedules and long hauls through the high desert
- Merging and weaving where the 215, 210, and 10 converge
- Blind spots, wide turns, and overloaded or improperly secured trailers
The federal rules that govern trucking
Interstate truckers and the companies that employ them are bound by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. Hours-of-service rules limit how long a driver can be behind the wheel, and electronic logging devices (ELDs) are required to record that time. The truck's engine control module — its black box — can capture speed, braking, and throttle data in the seconds before impact. This evidence can disappear quickly, which is why early preservation matters. A serious truck case also typically involves a far larger commercial liability policy than a private driver carries.
Injuries and case types
- Traumatic brain and head injuries
- Spinal cord damage and paralysis
- Multiple fractures and crush injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Liability may rest with the driver, the trucking company, a maintenance contractor, a cargo loader, or more than one of them at once.
Compensation you may pursue
Under California's pure comparative negligence rule, you can recover even if you were partly at fault, with your award reduced by your share. Recoverable damages can include economic losses such as medical bills, future care, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity, along with non-economic harms like pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. Every case is different, and the value depends on the specific facts — we make no promises about outcomes.
Deadlines and the courthouse
In California you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Miss that window and your claim can be barred entirely. San Bernardino truck cases are filed in the San Bernardino County Superior Court at the San Bernardino Justice Center.
How MMG Law Firm helps
We are based in Glendale, an accessible drive from San Bernardino via the 210, and we represent San Bernardino clients and injured people throughout California. We move fast to preserve ELD and black-box data, identify every responsible party, and deal with the commercial insurers directly. Consultations are free, available in English, Armenian, and Russian, and we work on contingency — no fee unless we win.
Our attorney
How Mihran M. Ghazaryan helps with truck accidents
Truck cases are won or lost in the first days, so Mihran M. Ghazaryan moves immediately to preserve the evidence — the electronic logging device, the driver's hours-of-service records, and the truck's onboard data — before it can be overwritten. He identifies every responsible party (driver, carrier, broker, and their separate insurers) and applies the federal motor-carrier rules that govern these cases, building the claim for the larger exposure a commercial policy carries.
Types of truck accidents we handle
Tractor-trailer and 18-wheeler crashes
Often involve fatigue, improper loading, or maintenance failures. We send a preservation letter immediately and pursue ELD and ECM data.
Delivery-truck and box-truck collisions
Last-mile delivery has driven a surge in inexperienced drivers under tight schedules. Liability often runs to the carrier, not just the driver.
Underride and override collisions
Catastrophic injury cases. Vehicle conspicuity, guard equipment, and applicable FMCSA standards all matter.
Damages
What compensation can cover
Every truck accident claim is different, but California law allows injured plaintiffs to seek several categories of damages. We build each one with documentation — medical records, wage statements, expert opinions — so nothing is left on the table.
Medical expenses
Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and the future treatment your providers say you'll need.
Lost wages
Income you lost while recovering — and, where the injury affects your ability to work, diminished future earning capacity.
Pain and suffering
Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and the ways the injury has changed how you live day to day.
Property damage
Repair or replacement of your vehicle and other property damaged in the incident.
Out-of-pocket costs
Transportation to appointments, medical equipment, household help, and the other expenses an injury forces on you.
How we work
- 1
Free, no-pressure consultation
We listen first. We answer your questions. There is no fee for the initial conversation — and you decide whether to engage us at the end of it.
- 2
Investigation and evidence preservation
Police reports, scene photos, witness statements, vehicle data, surveillance video, medical records. The earlier we collect, the harder it is for the other side to reshape the story later.
- 3
Treatment, demand, and negotiation
We coordinate with your providers, document the full extent of damages — medical, lost income, pain — and present a demand backed by evidence. We push back firmly when an insurer lowballs.
- 4
Litigation when necessary
Most matters settle. When an insurer refuses to be reasonable, we file. Preparing every case as if it will be tried is what makes the settlement number move.
What to do right away
- Call 911 and request medical evaluation on scene.
- Photograph the truck — license plate, USDOT number, MC number, trailer markings.
- Get the trucking company's name, not just the driver's.
- Save any clothing or vehicle parts as evidence.
- Contact us before speaking with the trucking company's insurer or a 'rapid response' team.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
Deadlines that matter
Most California personal-injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). Miss the window and the court will almost always dismiss the case, no matter how strong it is.
Claims against government entities are much shorter — generally a written claim within six months (Government Code §911.2). Crashes involving city vehicles, public buses, or dangerous public-road conditions can fall under this rule.
Exceptions exist in both directions — discovery rules, minors, continuing violations, out-of-state defendants — so don't assume your deadline has passed or that you have time to spare. Call (818) 539-7969 and we'll tell you exactly where you stand.