Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident in Granada Hills?

Arya Firoozmand, Esq.

Local Granada Hills Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Arya Firoozmand is the founding partner at L&F Brown. He attended nearby El Camino Real High School, graduated from UCLA Law School, and has spent his career representing injured clients across the north Valley communities including Granada Hills.

Truck accident liability in Granada Hills is rarely as simple as pointing the finger at the truck driver. While the driver's negligence is often the immediate cause of the crash, the trucking company, vehicle manufacturer, maintenance providers, and cargo loading companies may all share responsibility. Identifying every liable party is critical because it maximizes the insurance coverage available to compensate your injuries and ensures that no responsible party avoids accountability.

The Truck Driver

The driver is the most obvious potential defendant. Common forms of driver negligence in Granada Hills truck accidents include fatigued driving, which is one of the leading causes of truck accidents nationwide. Commercial drivers on long hauls through the San Fernando Valley may exceed their federally mandated hours of service, driving while dangerously tired. Distracted driving, including phone use, eating, and adjusting GPS while navigating Balboa Blvd or the 118 freeway, is another frequent cause.

Speeding is particularly dangerous for large trucks because their stopping distance is much greater than a passenger vehicle's. A fully loaded truck traveling at 55 mph on the 118 freeway needs roughly 400 feet to stop, nearly twice the distance of a car. Impaired driving, whether from alcohol, drugs, or prescription medication, also causes truck crashes. FMCSA regulations require drug and alcohol testing, and violations indicate negligence.

Improper lane changes, failure to check blind spots, and running red lights on Granada Hills streets like Chatsworth St and Zelzah Ave are additional driver-related liability factors.

The Trucking Company

The trucking company is often the most important liable party because it carries the largest insurance policy and has the deepest pockets. Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, an employer is liable for the negligent acts of its employees committed within the scope of employment. If the truck driver was working at the time of the crash, the trucking company is vicariously liable for the driver's negligence.

Beyond vicarious liability, the trucking company may be directly liable for its own negligence. This includes negligent hiring, such as hiring a driver with a poor safety record, DUI convictions, or insufficient training. Negligent supervision, such as failing to monitor a driver's hours-of-service compliance or ignoring complaints about a driver's behavior, is another basis for direct liability. Negligent maintenance, such as failing to inspect and repair the truck according to FMCSA requirements, can be established through maintenance logs and inspection records. Encouraging or tolerating hours-of-service violations to meet delivery deadlines is also a basis for direct liability.

The Vehicle or Parts Manufacturer

If a mechanical failure contributed to the truck accident, the manufacturer of the truck or the defective component may be liable under product liability law. Common defective components in truck accidents include brake systems that fail due to design or manufacturing defects, tire blowouts caused by defective construction, steering system failures, and defective coupling devices that cause trailers to disconnect.

Product liability claims against manufacturers do not require proof of negligence. Under California's strict liability law, the manufacturer is liable if the product was defective and the defect caused the crash.

The Cargo Loading Company

Improperly loaded cargo is a significant cause of truck accidents on roads like Balboa Blvd and the 118 freeway. Overloaded trucks have longer stopping distances and are harder to control. Unevenly loaded cargo shifts the truck's center of gravity and can cause rollovers, especially on turns and curves. Unsecured cargo can fall from the truck and strike other vehicles or create road hazards.

FMCSA regulations establish specific cargo securement requirements. The company responsible for loading the cargo may be liable if violations of these rules contributed to the crash.

Maintenance and Repair Companies

If a third-party maintenance company was responsible for inspecting and repairing the truck, and a maintenance failure contributed to the crash, that company can be held liable. For example, if a brake inspection was conducted negligently and the brakes failed during the accident, the maintenance provider shares liability.

Government Entities

If road design or maintenance defects contributed to the truck accident, the government entity responsible for the road may share liability. The City of Los Angeles maintains local streets in Granada Hills, and Caltrans is responsible for the 118 freeway. Government claims require filing an administrative claim within six months.

How Liability Is Proven

Proving liability against multiple parties requires a thorough investigation. Your attorney obtains the truck's electronic data recorder and ELD data, the driver's qualification file, hours-of-service logs, drug test results, and the truck's maintenance and inspection records. LAPD or CHP provides the police report. Surveillance footage from businesses along Chatsworth St or Balboa Blvd may capture the crash. Accident reconstruction experts analyze the physical evidence. Medical records from Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills document your injuries.

A Granada Hills truck accident attorney at L&F Brown handles this comprehensive investigation and pursues claims against every liable party. Contact our Granada Hills team for a free consultation.

Multiple Defendants in Granada Hills Truck Accident Cases

Truck accident cases near Balboa Blvd, Chatsworth St, Zelzah Ave, and Rinaldi St typically involve multiple liable parties, each with their own insurance coverage. Identifying and pursuing all responsible parties maximizes your available recovery.

The truck driver may be liable for negligent driving, including speeding, distracted driving, driving under the influence, or violating hours-of-service regulations. The trucking company is vicariously liable for the driver's negligence under the doctrine of respondeat superior. The company may also be directly liable for negligent hiring, inadequate training, failure to maintain the vehicle, or encouraging drivers to violate safety regulations.

The cargo loading company may be liable if improperly loaded or secured cargo contributed to the crash. Overloaded trucks are harder to stop and more likely to roll over. Improperly secured cargo can shift during transit, causing the driver to lose control.

The truck manufacturer or maintenance provider may be liable if a mechanical failure caused or contributed to the accident. Brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering system malfunctions can all result from defective components or inadequate maintenance.

Each of these defendants carries separate insurance. Commercial trucking policies typically provide $1 million or more in coverage, and additional umbrella or excess policies may be available. Your attorney at L&F Brown identifies every responsible party and every available insurance policy to build the strongest possible case. Litigation, if necessary, proceeds at Chatsworth Courthouse, where truck accident cases require specialized knowledge of federal regulations and multi-party liability.

If you were injured in a truck accident in Granada Hills, contact L&F Brown in Granada Hills for a free case evaluation. There are no upfront costs and no fees unless we win your case.