Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident in North Hollywood?

Arya Firoozmand, Esq.

Local North Hollywood Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Arya Firoozmand is the founding partner at L&F Brown. A Woodland Hills native and El Camino Real graduate, he earned his law degree at UCLA and has spent his career representing injured clients across the San Fernando Valley.

Liability in a truck accident is rarely as simple as pointing at the driver who hit you. Unlike car accident cases, where fault typically falls on one or two drivers, truck accident cases in North Hollywood can involve a chain of responsible parties, each carrying separate insurance coverage and each trying to deflect blame onto someone else. Understanding who is liable, and proving it, is the key to recovering the full compensation your injuries warrant.

The Truck Driver

The truck driver is often the most obvious liable party, but their negligence can take many forms. On the 170 Freeway, common driver errors include following too closely in heavy traffic, failing to check blind spots before changing lanes, driving at excessive speed for conditions, and operating the truck while fatigued. On Lankershim Blvd, drivers of delivery trucks and box trucks frequently run red lights, make wide turns that encroach on adjacent lanes, and double-park in ways that force other vehicles into dangerous situations.

Distracted driving is an increasing factor. Despite federal regulations that prohibit commercial truck drivers from texting or using handheld phones while driving, violations are common. Cell phone records and electronic data from the truck can establish whether the driver was using a device at the time of the crash.

Driver fatigue is another critical issue. Federal hours-of-service regulations limit the number of hours a truck driver can operate in a given day and week. These limits exist because fatigued driving impairs reaction time, judgment, and awareness as severely as alcohol. Electronic logging devices, which are required on most commercial trucks, record when the driver was on duty, driving, and off duty. If the data shows the driver exceeded legal limits, that is powerful evidence of negligence.

The Trucking Company

The trucking company can be held liable in two ways. First, under the doctrine of respondeat superior, an employer is responsible for the negligent acts of its employees committed within the scope of employment. If the driver was on duty and performing work-related tasks when the crash occurred on the 170 or Lankershim Blvd, the company is liable for the driver's negligence.

Second, the trucking company may be independently negligent. This includes negligent hiring, where the company hired a driver with a poor safety record, a history of violations, or without conducting the background check required by federal regulations. Negligent training, where the company failed to properly train the driver on the specific vehicle, route, or cargo being hauled. Negligent supervision, where the company knew or should have known the driver was violating hours-of-service rules or engaging in unsafe practices. And negligent maintenance, where the company failed to inspect and maintain the truck as required by federal regulations.

Trucking companies are required to maintain detailed records of driver qualifications, training, drug and alcohol testing, vehicle inspections, and maintenance. These records can be obtained through discovery and used to establish the company's independent liability.

The Cargo Loading Company

If the crash was caused by shifting or falling cargo, the company responsible for loading the truck may be liable. Federal regulations establish specific requirements for cargo securement, including weight distribution, tie-down strength, and blocking and bracing. If cargo was improperly loaded, overloaded, or inadequately secured, and that contributed to the crash, the loading company shares liability.

This scenario is more common than many people realize on the 170, where commercial trucks carry everything from construction materials to entertainment industry equipment moving between production facilities in the Valley and studios in Hollywood and Burbank.

The Maintenance Provider

Commercial trucks require regular inspection and maintenance under federal regulations. If a maintenance company failed to properly service the brakes, tires, steering, or other critical systems, and that failure contributed to the crash, the maintenance provider may be liable. Brake failure is one of the most common mechanical causes of truck accidents, and it is often traceable to inadequate maintenance.

The Vehicle or Parts Manufacturer

In some cases, a defective truck component causes or contributes to a crash. Defective brakes, tires, steering systems, coupling devices, or lighting can all lead to accidents. Under California's strict product liability law, a manufacturer can be held liable for defective products without the need to prove negligence. If the evidence shows that a defective part contributed to your crash, the manufacturer may be added as a defendant.

Government Entities

If a road defect contributed to the truck accident, the responsible government agency may share liability. This can include the City of Los Angeles for defective road conditions on Lankershim Blvd, Magnolia Blvd, or other local streets, or Caltrans for defective conditions on the 170 Freeway. Government claims are subject to a six-month filing deadline for a government tort claim, which is much shorter than the standard two-year statute of limitations.

How Liability Is Investigated

Proving liability in a truck accident case requires a thorough investigation that begins immediately after the crash. Here is what that investigation involves.

The police report. CHP investigates crashes on the 170 Freeway. LAPD handles crashes on North Hollywood streets. The report documents the scene, driver statements, witness information, and the responding officer's observations.

Electronic data from the truck. The event data recorder captures pre-crash data including speed, braking, and acceleration. The electronic logging device records the driver's hours of service. GPS data shows the truck's route and speed history. All of this data must be preserved immediately, before it is overwritten or altered.

Trucking company records. Driver qualification files, training records, drug and alcohol test results, vehicle inspection reports, and maintenance logs all provide evidence of the company's compliance or non-compliance with federal regulations.

Traffic camera footage. Caltrans cameras on the 170 and surveillance cameras from businesses along Lankershim Blvd and Magnolia Blvd may have captured the crash. This footage is typically overwritten within days.

Accident reconstruction. In complex truck crash cases, an accident reconstruction expert analyzes the physical evidence, vehicle damage, skid marks, and electronic data to determine exactly how the crash occurred and who is at fault.

What You Should Do Now

If you were injured in a truck accident in North Hollywood, the most important step is to retain an attorney who can begin the investigation immediately. The trucking company's insurer is already building its defense. Evidence is being overwritten and records may be altered. A North Hollywood truck accident lawyer can issue preservation letters, subpoena the truck's electronic data and the company's records, and retain accident reconstruction experts before critical evidence disappears.

Our North Hollywood personal injury team handles truck accident liability cases on the 170 Freeway, Lankershim Blvd, and throughout the area. We know how to identify every liable party and pursue every available source of insurance coverage. Consultations are free and we work on contingency. Call us today.