Truck accident lawyer in Los Angeles: Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
A commercial carrier may control the records you need to explain a collision. We investigate the truck, its operator and the companies responsible for keeping it safe.
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At a Glance
- What it is: an injury claim after a semi-truck, 18-wheeler or commercial delivery vehicle causes a collision.
- Where we help: we represent injured motorists and passengers in Los Angeles and surrounding communities.
- Why us: David Lederer and John Nojima bring their former insurance defense background to commercial carrier disputes.
- Proof: the firm has a 4.5-star rating from 41 Google reviews.
- Next step: call (310) 312-1860 to arrange a free truck accident consultation.
Quick Answer
Driver logs, electronic logging device data, maintenance records and the truck's event data recorder can help establish what happened before impact. Each source answers a different question, and the carrier may not control them all. We identify the record holders and request preservation before repairs or routine deletion make the evidence harder to obtain. An incomplete police report does not end that investigation.
Truck accident lawyer in Los Angeles from Lederer & Nojima is for people who suffered injuries in a commercial vehicle collision and want the responsible companies identified, so you can pursue compensation without relying on the carrier's account of the crash.
A sideswipe by a semi-truck can leave you with an unclear crash report and no view into the driver's workday. Hours-of-service records may show when the driver worked and rested. Dispatch messages may explain delivery pressure. A vehicle inspection can reveal a mechanical problem that a roadside photograph would miss. None of those records proves a case alone; we compare them with the physical damage and witness accounts.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations address driver hours and vehicle maintenance, among other safety requirements. Cargo loading can create another source of responsibility. The driver, trucking carrier, cargo company, maintenance contractor or truck manufacturer may have different roles and insurance policies. We investigate the actual relationships rather than treating each company name on the paperwork as a liable defendant.
David Lederer and John Nojima previously defended insurers, including trucking carriers in injury litigation. That background informs how we examine a defense investigation and prepare a demand. We arrange investigators and appropriate experts when the case requires them, and explain the contingency agreement before representation begins. Our attorney fee depends on recovery, not an hourly bill you must pay while healing.
Former Insurance Defense
David Lederer and John Nojima used to defend insurers. Now they use that knowledge to pressure carriers that try to delay, discount, or deny injury claims.
No Fee Unless We Win
You pay no upfront attorney fee. Our attorney fee comes from the recovery. If we do not recover, there is no attorney fee, and the written agreement explains how case costs are handled.
Free Consultation 24/7
Call any time after an injury. We can protect evidence, deal with insurers, and explain your next move before deadlines pass.
Which truck accident records help explain who caused the crash?
Hours-of-service records and ELD data
An electronic logging device (ELD) records information about a commercial driver's duty status. We compare those records with dispatch communications and other available timestamps when fatigue is a concern. A log violation can support liability when it is connected to the collision, and the logs can still matter in discovery before that link is shown. We also examine whether the records conflict with what the driver reported.
Black box data and preservation
A truck's event data recorder (EDR), sometimes called a black box, may contain speed, braking and other vehicle information. Equipment differs, so there is no single deletion schedule for every truck. We seek preservation of the vehicle and available electronic data, then assess the proper method for an inspection or download without changing the evidence.
Separate companies and separate duties
A carrier may point to the cargo loader, while a maintenance contractor disputes responsibility for a failed part. Contracts and inspection records help explain who controlled each task. We identify the parties whose conduct contributed to your injury and examine their policies. A company's involvement in transportation does not, by itself, establish liability.
Driver blame and federal defenses
The defense may contend that your vehicle cut across a lane or left the truck too little stopping distance. We compare that account with camera footage, damage patterns and reconstruction evidence. We also assess any federal preemption argument against the particular claims at issue. Federal trucking rules do not make every state injury claim disappear.
What evidence and losses belong in a truck accident claim?
- Driver logbooks, hours-of-service records and available electronic logging device data, compared against the trip timeline rather than read in isolation.
- Black box downloads, dashcam recordings and photographs of the truck and passenger vehicle before repairs change the damage patterns.
- Inspection reports, maintenance documentation and available carrier safety information that help identify a preventable equipment problem or an overlooked repair.
- Cargo loading records and communications that show who secured the load and whether shifting freight contributed to the crash.
- Medical bills and treatment recommendations that document the collision injuries, rehabilitation needs and any future care your providers support.
- Employment records showing missed work or reduced earning ability, together with an account of pain and limitations in your daily activities.
What should I do after a commercial truck collision?
- 1
Get emergency help and protect your safety
Call 911 for injuries or an unsafe roadway. Stay clear of moving traffic and let responders manage the truck and cargo. Do not enter a dangerous area to photograph damage. Your treatment and the safety of the people at the scene come before evidence collection.
- 2
Record the truck's identifying details
If you can do so safely, photograph the carrier name, license plate and identifying markings on the tractor and trailer. Keep the driver's information and police report number. The tractor, trailer and delivery paperwork may name different businesses, which helps us work out who holds the relevant records.
- 3
Save witnesses and camera sources
Ask witnesses for contact details without coaching their account. Save your dashcam file in its original form and note nearby cameras. Tell us where you saw cameras so we can seek the correct footage. Businesses may record over footage before anyone requests it.
- 4
Document treatment and work restrictions
Describe your symptoms and the collision to your medical provider. Keep discharge instructions and follow the treatment plan. Record missed shifts and tasks you cannot perform. If an earlier condition affects the same body part, explain what changed after the crash rather than leaving that history out.
- 5
Ask counsel about preservation and insurer requests
Contact the firm before authorizing vehicle disposal or signing a settlement release. We review preservation needs for driver logs, truck data and maintenance records. Follow your own policy's reporting obligations and ask us about requests for recorded statements. Keep copies of communications from every insurer involved.
- 6
Protect the filing deadline
Most California personal injury lawsuits have a two-year deadline under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, although exceptions can change the calculation. Evidence preservation requires attention much sooner. Bring the collision date and any government involvement to the consultation so we can evaluate the deadlines that apply to your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you investigate a semi-truck sideswipe when the crash report is unclear?
Who reviews driving records and maintenance logs in a truck case?
Will the trucking company hand over its black box data if I ask?
Do I have to pay attorney fees before the investigation starts?
Where is the Lederer & Nojima office?
Our office is at 12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 480, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Call (310) 312-1860 to schedule a free consultation, or see our Google Business Profile for directions and reviews.
Legal references
General information, not legal advice. Primary sources for the rules described on this page:
Related Practice Areas
Lederer & Nojima, LLP
12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 480, Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 312-1860
Results may vary. Every case is unique. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Discuss the truck records, injuries and insurance questions with Lederer & Nojima at (310) 312-1860 in a free consultation.
Former insurance defense attorneys. No fee unless we win.