Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident in Sherman Oaks?

Arya Firoozmand, Esq. — Founding Partner

Local Sherman Oaks Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Arya Firoozmand is the founding partner at L&F Brown. He grew up in the San Fernando Valley, graduated from El Camino Real High School and UCLA Law School, and has spent his career representing injured clients across the Valley — including Sherman Oaks and the 405 corridor.

When a commercial truck is involved in a crash in Sherman Oaks, the question of who is liable can involve multiple companies and individuals across an entire trucking operation. Unlike a standard two-car accident, a truck accident case may have many defendants, each with their own insurance and legal defense team. Identifying all of them is critical to maximizing your recovery.

The Truck Driver

The truck driver is often the first party examined for liability. Driver negligence in Sherman Oaks truck accidents can include:

• Fatigued driving after exceeding FMCSA hours-of-service limits
• Distracted driving, including cell phone use or eating while driving
• Impaired driving, whether from alcohol, drugs, or prescription medication
• Speeding or driving too fast for traffic conditions on the 405 or 101
• Unsafe lane changes near the US-101/I-405 interchange
• Failure to check blind spots before merging on freeway ramps

CHP crash reports from freeway incidents and LAPD Van Nuys Division reports from surface street crashes both document driver behavior and citations that establish fault.

The Trucking Company

The company that employs the driver is often the more financially significant defendant. Trucking companies can be liable for:

• Negligent hiring of a driver with a poor safety record or inadequate training
• Pressuring drivers to exceed hours-of-service limits to meet delivery schedules
• Failure to maintain vehicles in safe operating condition
• Failure to comply with FMCSA safety regulations

Under the respondeat superior doctrine, the company is automatically liable for the driver's negligence when the driver was acting within the scope of employment at the time of the crash.

The Cargo Owner or Shipper

If improperly loaded or secured cargo caused the truck to tip, spill, or lose control on the 405 or another Sherman Oaks road, the party responsible for loading the cargo may share liability. Federal regulations impose strict requirements on how commercial cargo must be loaded, secured, and documented.

The Maintenance Provider

If a mechanical failure contributed to the crash, such as brake failure, tire blowout, or steering malfunction, the company responsible for the truck's maintenance may be liable for failing to keep the vehicle in safe operating condition.

The Vehicle or Parts Manufacturer

If a defective vehicle component or replacement part caused the failure, the manufacturer may face product liability claims in addition to the negligence claims against the driver and trucking company.

How Federal Regulations Create Liability

The FMCSA imposes comprehensive regulations on commercial trucking. Violations of these regulations, including hours-of-service rules, vehicle inspection requirements, and driver qualification standards, are powerful evidence of negligence. These regulations exist specifically to prevent the kinds of crashes that harm motorists on the 405 and 101 near Sherman Oaks.

If you were hurt in a truck accident in Sherman Oaks, do not try to navigate these complex liability questions alone. Contact a Sherman Oaks truck accident lawyer at L&F Brown serving Sherman Oaks for a free case evaluation. We investigate every defendant and every source of coverage available to you.