Michael Pines | December 30, 2025 | Car Accidents
Crashes occur daily on California roads, but accidents involving large trucks differ significantly from typical car accidents. Understanding the key differences between truck accidents and car accidents in California is crucial because truck crashes are typically more severe, complex, and challenging to resolve.
When a commercial truck is involved, injuries tend to be more severe, multiple parties may be held responsible, and insurance companies tend to fight harder to limit payouts. These factors change how claims are investigated and handled from start to finish. Keep reading to learn more about the differences between these two types of accidents.
A Truck’s Size and Weight Make Crashes More Dangerous
One of the most notable differences between truck accidents and car accidents in California is the size of the vehicles involved. A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Most passenger cars weigh only a few thousand pounds.
As a result, the force of impact is stronger in these crashes, and vehicles may be crushed or pushed off the road. Even a low-speed collision can cause serious harm when a large truck hits a smaller vehicle. Because of this difference, truck crashes often lead to more significant vehicle damage and more severe injuries, including a higher risk of death.
Common injuries in truck crashes include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Permanent disabilities
Car accidents can also cause serious injuries, but truck crashes are more likely to change a person’s life long-term.
Truck Accidents Often Involve Special Safety Rules
Another key difference between truck accidents and car accidents in California is applicable regulations. Truck drivers and trucking companies must adhere to strict state and federal safety regulations that do not apply to regular drivers.
These rules cover things like:
- How long drivers can stay on the road
- Required rest breaks
- Truck inspections and maintenance
- Cargo loading and weight limits
- Driver training and licensing
Violations of these rules can serve as strong evidence of fault after a truck accident.
Multiple Parties May Be Liable for a Truck Crashes
Car accident claims usually involve one or two drivers. Truck accident claims often involve several different parties that can potentially be held responsible.
Liable parties in a truck crash may include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- A company that loaded the cargo
- A maintenance or repair provider
- A manufacturer of defective parts
Finding out who is responsible takes more time and investigation than in a typical car accident.
Truck Accidents Typically Involve Larger Insurance Policies
Commercial trucks are required to carry much higher insurance coverage than personal vehicles. This is because truck accidents typically cause greater damage and more serious injuries.
Higher insurance limits mean:
- Larger potential settlements
- More aggressive insurance defense tactics
- Longer claim negotiations
Insurance companies often fight harder when large policies are at risk.
Crash Investigations Are More Complex if a Truck Was Involved
Truck accident investigations are more complex than car accident investigations. Important evidence must be collected quickly.
Evidence may include:
- Driver logbooks or electronic driving records
- Truck maintenance reports
- Black box data
- Cargo records
- Surveillance or dash camera footage
This information is not typically available in most car accident cases.
Common Causes of Truck Wrecks and Car Crashes Can Vary
While factors like distracted driving and speeding affect all drivers, truck accidents often involve unique risks.
Common truck crash causes include:
- Driver fatigue from multiple long days of driving in a row
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Overloaded or shifting cargo
- Inadequate driver training
- Pressure to meet delivery deadlines
These factors are less likely to apply in standard car accidents.
Truck Accident Claims Usually Take Longer
Truck accident cases often take more time to resolve than car accident claims.
Delays often arise due to there being:
- Multiple defendants
- Complex evidence
- Serious injury evaluations
- Larger insurance policies
While frustrating, this extra time is often needed to fully understand what caused the crash.
Contact Our San Diego Car Accident Lawyers at Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
The key differences between truck accidents and car accidents in California affect every part of a claim. Truck crashes involve larger vehicles, stricter safety regulations, multiple responsible parties, and more severe injuries. These factors make truck accident cases more complex and more challenging than ordinary car accident claims.
Understanding these differences helps injured individuals understand why trucking cases take longer and why they require a deeper investigation and careful handling. Call our San Diego car accident lawyers at Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
We proudly serve San Diego, San Diego County, and its surrounding areas:
Pines Salomon Injury Lawyers – San Diego Office
835 5th Avenue #302, San Diego, CA 92101
(858) 551-2090
Available 24/7
Pines Salomon Injury Lawyers – La Jolla Office
4660 La Jolla Village Dr. San Diego, CA 92122
(858) 585-9031
Available 24/7
