This page was written and reviewed by Michael J. Cefali, Esq. Attorney Cefali is a founding partner of Cefali & Cefali, APC, based in San Juan Capistrano, CA. He holds a Juris Doctor from Chapman University Fowler School of Law and a B.A. in Global Studies & Maritime Affairs from the California Maritime Academy. Widely recognized for his advocacy in personal injury law, he has secured multi-hundred-thousand-dollar settlements in motorcycle accidents, hit-and-runs, and red-light collision cases. He maintains a perfect 10.0 “Superb” rating on Avvo.
Beyond his legal practice, Mr. Cefali actively supports his community through the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, contributes to housing and meal programs for those in need, and enjoys fishing and spending time with his rescue dogs.
The date below reflects when this page was last reviewed for accuracy. Please see our Editorial Guidelines.
If you were injured in a truck accident in Irvine, you may be able to recover compensation from more than one party, the driver, the trucking company, a contractor, or even a parts manufacturer, because commercial truck cases usually involve multiple potentially liable defendants and federal safety regulations that ordinary car crashes do not. A Cefali & Cefali truck accident lawyer investigates every source of liability and pursues the full value of your claim. Call (949) 325-7790 for a free consultation, available 24/7. No fee unless we win.
We represent people hurt in collisions with big rigs, 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, and other commercial vehicles throughout Irvine and Orange County, and we help families who have lost a loved one to truck driver negligence. For a broader county view, including freight corridors, trauma centers, and multi-city coverage, see our Orange County truck accident attorney page.
Where Truck Accidents Happen in Irvine
Irvine sits at the center of some of Orange County's heaviest commercial-truck traffic. Interstate 5 and Interstate 405 both run through the city and converge nearby at the El Toro Y interchange, one of the busiest freeway junctions in Southern California, while the SR-133, SR-241, and SR-261 toll roads carry additional freight between the inland warehouse corridors and the coast. Irvine's large concentration of business parks, distribution centers, and its proximity to John Wayne Airport put delivery trucks and tractor-trailers on surface streets like Alton Parkway, Barranca Parkway, Jamboree Road, and Sand Canyon Avenue throughout the day.
After a serious truck crash in Irvine, the most severely injured are typically transported to UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, the county's only Level I trauma center, with other patients treated at Hoag Hospital Irvine and nearby Orange County facilities. If your case becomes a lawsuit, it is filed in the Orange County Superior Court Central Justice Center at 700 Civic Center Drive West in Santa Ana, which handles all civil personal injury matters for the county.
Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident in Irvine?
The biggest difference between a truck case and a car case is that several parties can share liability. Identifying all of them is often what determines whether there is enough insurance coverage to fully compensate a serious injury. Potentially responsible parties include:
The truck driver, when the crash resulted from speeding, distraction, impairment, or a violation of federal hours-of-service limits.
The trucking company, which is responsible for hiring qualified drivers, training them, maintaining its vehicles, and not pressuring drivers to exceed legal driving hours.
A contractor or separate employer, when the driver was leased or contracted rather than directly employed, spreading responsibility across more than one company.
A parts or truck manufacturer, when a defective brake, tire, coupling, or steering component contributed to the crash, under California product liability law.
A cargo loader or shipper, when an improperly secured or overweight load shifted and caused the driver to lose control.
Federal Trucking Regulations and Unqualified Drivers
Large trucks and buses are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which sets limits on how many hours a driver may be on the road, mandates rest breaks, and requires drivers to hold a valid commercial driver's license (CDL). Trucking companies must also keep driver logs, maintenance records, and hiring files. When a carrier puts an unqualified or unlicensed driver behind the wheel, skips required maintenance, or pressures drivers past their hours-of-service limits, those violations are powerful evidence of negligence, and they are exactly the records we move quickly to preserve before they can be lost.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Driver fatigue, often tied to hours-of-service violations
Equipment failure, such as worn brakes, tires, or steering from skipped maintenance
Unsecured or overweight loads that shift in transit
Impaired or distracted driving
Speeding and following too closely for a vehicle that needs far more stopping distance
Poor weather or road conditions that are more hazardous for large vehicles
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Because of a commercial truck's size and weight, crash injuries tend to be severe and often permanent. The injuries we most commonly handle include:
Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
Broken bones and complex fractures
Internal injuries and organ damage
Neck and back injuries, including whiplash
Amputation and disfigurement
Burn injuries
Fatal injuries giving rise to a wrongful death claim
Types of Truck Accidents
Not all truck crashes look alike, and the type often points to the cause and the liable party:
Jackknife accidents, when the trailer swings out perpendicular to the cab, often from hard braking or a sharp turn
Rollover accidents, frequently caused by speed, fatigue, or improper loading
Rear-end collisions, when a truck following too closely cannot stop in time
Side-impact (T-bone) crashes at intersections
Head-on collisions, among the most catastrophic, often from fatigue or distraction
Underride accidents, when a smaller vehicle slides beneath the trailer
California Law and the Compensation You Can Recover
California is an at-fault state, so the party responsible for the crash (and their insurer) pays for the harm they caused; California has no personal injury protection or no-fault system. A few key rules shape every claim. Under pure comparative negligence (established in Li v. Yellow Cab Co.), you can recover even if you were partly at fault, with your award reduced by your percentage of fault. Under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you generally have two years from the crash to file suit. And in cases of extreme recklessness, such as a knowingly unsafe driver or falsified logs, punitive damages may be available under Civil Code section 3294.
Recoverable damages include economic losses (current and future medical bills, lost wages and lost earning capacity, property damage, and rehabilitation) and non-economic losses (pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life). California places no cap on general damages in an ordinary injury case.
How Cefali & Cefali Handles Your Truck Accident Case
Truck cases are won on evidence that disappears quickly. We move fast to preserve the truck's event data recorder ("black box"), GPS and electronic logging data, and the carrier's driver and maintenance records, sending spoliation letters so that evidence cannot be destroyed. We identify every liable party and insurance policy, work with accident-reconstruction and medical experts to prove fault and value your injuries, handle all negotiation with the trucking company's defense team, and try your case if a fair settlement is not offered. Because we work on contingency, you pay nothing upfront and no fee unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can be held liable in an Irvine truck accident?
Often more than one party. Depending on the facts, the truck driver, the trucking company, a separate contractor or employer, a parts or truck manufacturer, or the company that loaded the cargo may share liability. Identifying every responsible party matters because it determines how much insurance coverage is available to compensate a serious injury.
What makes a truck accident case different from a car accident case?
Truck cases involve federal FMCSA regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, commercial insurance policies, and time-sensitive electronic evidence like the truck's black box and driver logs. That evidence can be lost quickly, so it is important to involve an attorney early who can act to preserve it.
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in California?
Under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. If a government entity is involved, you may have as little as six months to file a claim. Missing these deadlines usually ends your right to recover, so it is best to speak with an attorney early.
What if I was partly at fault for the truck accident?
You can still recover. California follows pure comparative negligence, so your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault rather than eliminated. If you are found 20 percent at fault on a $100,000 claim, you can still recover $80,000. Trucking companies and their insurers often try to shift blame onto the injured driver, which is why an independent investigation matters.
How much does it cost to hire a truck accident lawyer?
Nothing upfront. We handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we win. The fee is a percentage of your recovery, the consultation is free, and if we do not recover money for you, you owe us nothing.
Contact Our Irvine Truck Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you were injured in a truck accident in Irvine, the trucking company's insurer is already working to limit what it pays, and the evidence that proves your case can disappear fast. Cefali & Cefali investigates every source of liability and fights for the full compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We also handle other Irvine personal injury matters. Call (949) 325-7790 today or contact us for a free consultation. No fee unless we win.
Michael Cefali is a dedicated accident attorney based in San Juan Capistrano, California, committed to securing justice and fair compensation for accident victims.
A graduate of Newport Harbor High School, he went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Maritime Affairs from the California Maritime Academy, followed by his Juris Doctor from Chapman University School of Law.
Deeply invested in his community, Michael is an active member of the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, contributing to efforts that provide meals, housing, and support to those in need. Outside of his legal work and volunteer service, he enjoys fishing in Dana Point and spending time with his three rescue dogs—a Chihuahua, a Spaniel mix, and a Shepherd mix.
Driven by his strong belief in justice and fairness, Michael remains steadfast in advocating for individuals harmed by the negligence or inaction of others.
