Burbank Truck Accident Lawyer

A truck accident involves any motor vehicle collision with a commercial vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 10,000 pounds. These vehicles include 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, tanker trucks, delivery vehicles, and flatbed haulers.

In 2023, 392 people were killed in large truck crashes across California, making it the second-deadliest state in the nation for these collisions according to NHTSA crash data. Seventy percent of those fatalities were occupants of passenger vehicles. Burbank’s position along Interstate 5 and State Route 134, combined with significant freight activity tied to the city’s industrial and entertainment sectors, places local residents and commuters at elevated risk.

Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle in Burbank

Commercial truck collisions take many forms, and each presents distinct evidentiary and liability considerations. Our firm handles a range of trucking claims in Burbank and the surrounding area.

• Rear-end collisions. A fully loaded semi-truck traveling at highway speed requires considerably more stopping distance than a passenger car. When a truck driver fails to maintain safe following distance or misjudges braking time, the resulting impact can be devastating. Many of these crashes involve distracted truck driving or fatigue from exceeding hours-of-service limits.
• Jackknife accidents. A jackknife occurs when the trailer swings outward from the cab, often sweeping across multiple lanes. These incidents frequently result from sudden braking, wet pavement, or improperly distributed cargo. On corridors like I-5, a single jackknife event can involve several vehicles.
• Underride collisions. When a smaller vehicle slides beneath the trailer of a tractor-trailer, the result is often catastrophic or fatal. These crashes cause severe truck collision injuries including traumatic brain injuries and crush injuries.
• Car accidents. Collisions involving commercial trucks and passenger cars require careful fault analysis. The sheer size disparity between the vehicles often determines the severity of the outcome.
• Rollover crashes. An overloaded or improperly secured trailer can become unstable during turns, lane changes, or sudden maneuvers. Rollovers on Burbank surface streets can block intersections and endanger nearby pedestrians and motorists. The size disparity between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle makes these collisions worse than a standard traffic accident.
• Wide-turn collisions. Large trucks making right turns often swing into the left lane first to accommodate the turning radius. Vehicles traveling alongside the truck may be struck or squeezed during this maneuver, causing significant side-impact damage.
• Cargo spill accidents. When freight is improperly secured, it can fall from the trailer onto the roadway, creating hazards for every vehicle in the area and triggering chain-reaction crashes. Big rig accidents often involve cargo loading failures in addition to driver error.
• Tire blowout collisions. Commercial trucks operate under enormous weight loads, and a tire failure at highway speed can cause the driver to lose control entirely. Debris from blowouts also strikes vehicles in adjacent lanes.

Why Choose Seber Bulger Law as My Truck Accident Lawyer in Burbank, CA?

Plaintiff-Focused Representation in Burbank

Jonathan Seber and Jim Bulger founded Seber Bulger Law to represent injured plaintiffs exclusively. Both attorneys earned their law degrees from Fordham University School of Law and are members of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles. Jonathan was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, and was recognized by The National Trial Lawyers as a Top 40 Under 40 attorney. Jim has held a Super Lawyer designation since 2019 and has been featured on KTLA.

That experience is what you want from a personal injury lawyer in Burbank, CA handling a serious truck accident claim.

Proven Results and Contingency Fees

Seber Bulger Law has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients across Los Angeles County, including a $4 million settlement in a medical malpractice case. The firm handles every truck accident case on a contingency fee basis. There are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

What Is Important to Understand About a Truck Accident Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Truck Accident Cases

California negligence law requires a plaintiff to establish that the defendant owed a duty of care, breached that duty, and that the breach caused the plaintiff’s injuries. In a truck accident, the duty of care extends well beyond the driver. Trucking companies, maintenance contractors, cargo loading teams, and parts manufacturers may all bear responsibility depending on the facts.

Damages in a Burbank truck accident case typically fall into two categories. Economic damages cover losses with a verifiable dollar amount: medical expenses, hospitalization costs, rehabilitation, lost wages, and diminished future earning capacity. Non-economic damages compensate for physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium for the injured person’s spouse or family members. California does not cap non-economic damages in standard personal injury claims.

California also follows a pure comparative negligence standard. If the injured person shares partial fault for the collision, they may still recover damages, but the award is reduced by their percentage of responsibility.

What Are Important Aspects of a Truck Accident Case?

Truck accident cases differ from standard motor vehicle collision claims in several meaningful ways. Commercial carriers are subject to federal regulations administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, including hours-of-service requirements, vehicle inspection protocols, and driver qualification standards. A violation of these regulations can serve as strong evidence of negligence.

Identifying all liable parties is another critical aspect. Holding negligent drivers and their employers accountable often requires establishing that the driver, the trucking company, a third-party maintenance provider, the entity responsible for loading cargo, or a component manufacturer each contributed to the collision. Each may carry separate insurance policies, and claims against each require distinct evidence.

Preserving evidence after a crash is essential. Electronic logging device data, driver inspection reports, maintenance records, and onboard camera footage can be overwritten or destroyed within days. A truck accident attorney in Burbank can issue preservation notices to prevent the loss of these records before they disappear.

What Is the Truck Accident Case Timeline?

Every truck accident case follows a different path, but a general timeline includes the following phases.

1. Investigation and medical treatment. The attorney reviews the accident report, gathers physical and electronic evidence, and the client begins appropriate medical care. This phase typically lasts several weeks to a few months.
2. Maximum medical improvement. Treatment continues until the client reaches a point where further recovery is unlikely. Duration varies depending on the severity and type of injury.
3. Demand and negotiation. The attorney prepares a demand package documenting all losses and submits it to the relevant insurance carriers. Negotiations may take several weeks to several months.
4. Litigation. If the insurer’s offer does not adequately compensate the client, the attorney files a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. Discovery, depositions, and potential trial can extend the process by a year or more.
5. Resolution. The case concludes through settlement agreement or jury verdict.

Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim is two years from the date of injury. Missing this deadline generally results in the permanent loss of the right to pursue compensation.

What Should You Bring to Your Truck Accident Consultation?

A small amount of preparation helps the attorney evaluate the viability of your claim during an initial meeting. Consider bringing:

• The police report or incident report number
• Photographs of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and any visible injuries
• Medical records and billing statements related to your treatment
• Insurance correspondence, including any communications from the trucking company’s insurer
• Contact information for any witnesses

The initial consultation at Seber Bulger Law is free and confidential. We review the facts, assess the strength of the claim, and explain the steps involved in pursuing recovery.

Most Dangerous Locations for Truck Accidents in Burbank

Burbank’s geography and transportation infrastructure create several high-risk corridors for commercial truck traffic. Volume is especially concentrated near distribution centers, industrial zones, and highway interchanges.

Dangerous streets and intersections:

• San Fernando Boulevard between Burbank Boulevard and Glenoaks Boulevard, where commercial deliveries and truck staging create persistent congestion and frequent conflicts between large vehicles and smaller cars
• Victory Boulevard near the industrial areas in eastern Burbank, where heavy truck traffic mixes with residential side streets
• Olive Avenue between Victory Boulevard and Alameda Avenue, a corridor carrying mixed commercial and commuter traffic
• The intersection of Buena Vista Street and Empire Avenue, adjacent to entertainment studios and freight staging areas

Dangerous highways:

• Interstate 5 through Burbank, where northbound and southbound freight traffic merges with commuter traffic during peak hours
• State Route 134 between its junction with I-5 and the Hollywood Way exit, a segment with compressed merges that create blind spots for large trucks
• The I-5/SR-134 interchange, one of the more congested freeway junctions in the San Fernando Valley

The Burbank Police Department conducts targeted enforcement and education in high-collision areas throughout the city. The Burbank Public Works traffic division manages over 200 signalized intersections to improve flow and reduce crash risk.

Reach Out to Seber Bulger Law to Schedule a Consultation

If you or a family member sustained injuries in a truck accident in Burbank, our firm is prepared to review the claim at no cost. We represent clients on a contingency fee basis, and there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation. Our attorneys respond to inquiries promptly, and consultations are often available the same day. Contact us to schedule a free case evaluation with our Burbank truck accident lawyer.

At Seber Bulger Law, we are committed to holding negligent parties accountable in every trucking matter we handle.