San Francisco Truck Accident Attorney

Attorney Michael Rehm — (800) 978-0754

San Francisco Truck Accident Attorney

Commercial trucks operating in San Francisco navigate one of the most challenging urban freight environments in California. The Bay Bridge approach, I-80 through SoMa, Highway 101 through the Mission and Potrero Hill, and the Port of San Francisco cargo operations generate substantial commercial vehicle traffic on corridors already carrying high volumes of passenger vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. The weight and size differential between a commercial truck and any other road user produces disproportionate injury consequences when a collision occurs. Attorney Michael Rehm represents people injured in truck accidents throughout San Francisco and San Francisco County. These claims are filed in San Francisco Superior Court, 400 McAllister Street.

Federal Regulations Governing Commercial Trucks

Commercial motor vehicles operating in interstate or intrastate commerce are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under 49 C.F.R. Parts 300–399. These regulations establish requirements for driver qualifications and licensing, hours of service, vehicle inspection and maintenance, cargo securement, and drug and alcohol testing. Violation of a FMCSA regulation is evidence of negligence per se under California Evidence Code § 669. The most commonly violated regulations in commercial truck accident litigation include hours of service violations under 49 C.F.R. Part 395, driver qualification file requirements under 49 C.F.R. Part 391, and vehicle inspection requirements under 49 C.F.R. Part 396.

Employer and Motor Carrier Liability

A motor carrier whose driver causes a crash while operating within the scope of employment bears vicarious liability under respondeat superior. Civil Code § 1714 imposes a duty of ordinary care on the carrier to hire qualified drivers, maintain vehicles in roadworthy condition, and enforce compliance with hours of service requirements. A carrier that knew or should have known that a driver had a history of violations and continued to employ that driver bears direct liability for negligent hiring and retention. The carrier's driver qualification files, vehicle maintenance records, electronic logging device data, and dispatch records are critical evidence and must be preserved immediately after a crash.

Broker Liability

Many commercial shipments moving through San Francisco involve freight brokers who arrange transportation between shippers and motor carriers. Whether a broker bears liability for a carrier's negligence depends on the extent to which the broker controlled the selection of the carrier and the manner of transportation. A broker that selects a carrier with a documented safety history without verifying the carrier's FMCSA safety rating may bear liability under a negligent hiring or negligent entrustment theory.

Filing Deadlines

The personal injury statute of limitations is two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Claims against the City of San Francisco or SFMTA for road conditions contributing to the crash require a government tort claim within six months under Government Code § 911.2. None of these deadlines are self-executing and tolling may apply.

Attorney Michael Rehm represents truck accident victims throughout San Francisco on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery. Call (800) 978-0754 to arrange a free consultation.

The information on this page is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts. The law can change — statutes are amended, cases are decided, and regulations are revised; nothing on this page should be relied upon as a statement of current law without verification. Deadlines and legal bars discussed on this page are general guides — whether a particular deadline applies, has run, or is subject to tolling, and whether a particular doctrine bars or limits recovery in your case, requires individual analysis. Contact Attorney Michael Rehm to discuss the specific facts of your situation.

San Francisco Truck Accident Attorney

Attorney Michael Rehm — (800) 978-0754