Costa Mesa Truck Accident Lawyer
Hurt in a truck crash? Your medical care comes first. I can investigate the companies involved and the insurance that may cover your injuries.
I'm Joseph Gallo of Gallo Law. Speak with me about your truck injury claim and what to do next. The consultation is free.
Free consultation No attorney's fee unless we recover Available 24/7
Who you'll talk to
Talk With the Lawyer Who Will Investigate Your Crash
At Gallo Law, I'm the Costa Mesa truck accident lawyer you speak with. When you call, I want to know what happened, how badly you were hurt, and what you know about the truck and the companies involved.
The name on the truck may be only the start. The truck, trailer, and driver's work can involve different companies, so I need to understand what each one did before deciding which claims to pursue. I investigate responsibility and the insurance that may cover the loss. If settlement discussions don't resolve the claim, a lawsuit may give us access to more evidence through discovery.
Bring what you have to our first conversation. A report, photographs, or an insurer's letter can help, but you don't need to finish the investigation before calling me.
A case from my practice
A Second Company's Policy Changed One Truck Case
Truck rear-end collision
Los Angeles County
Past result. Your case depends on its own facts.
I represented a client whose car was hit from behind by a truck on the freeway and pushed into another semi. He suffered a serious back injury. The first insurer disputed coverage because the driver wasn't listed on its policy.
I challenged that position. During litigation, information from another defendant led me to a second company and another insurance policy. Finding the policy wasn't enough: I still had to connect that company to the driver's work. The driver's testimony established that he was working for both companies, which helped establish coverage under both policies in that case.
The settlement totaled $1,689,000. It combined one policy's limit with the money still available under another after other injury and property-damage claims had been paid. That is why I investigate both the companies involved and the coverage remaining. This result does not tell us what your claim is worth.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits. The results listed above are not a guarantee or prediction of the outcome of any future case. Some results noted on this site are from attorney Joseph Gallo's career and include results when employed at other law firms and when associating in other law firms. They are not solely the results of Gallo Law, APC but are the results of cases worked on by Joseph Gallo as an attorney.
The companies involved
Responsibility Depends on What Each Company Did
I start with how the collision happened. A concern about the driver's hours calls for different records than a concern about the truck's maintenance or the trailer's condition. Naming a company is only useful if the facts support a claim against it.
For the driver, I look at the conduct involved in the crash and the work being performed. For the businesses behind the truck and trailer, I examine ownership, operation, and any maintenance issue that may have contributed. Those questions guide the records we need.
Delivery-truck cases can raise another question: which business employed or directed the driver? A delivery company's name on a vehicle doesn't settle that relationship. As your truck accident attorney, I need to investigate the arrangement before telling you who may be responsible. A company's involvement alone does not establish liability or insurance coverage.
Preserving evidence
Truck Records Can Answer Questions Scene Photos Cannot
I send a trucking-specific preservation request identifying evidence related to the collision, and I follow up on the traffic collision report. A preservation request tells its recipient to keep relevant evidence. It cannot guarantee that a record exists or that it will be preserved.
The investigation may include:
The driver's work
Logs, timesheets, and training materials that help explain the work and company practices relevant to the crash.
The equipment
Maintenance records when the truck or trailer's condition may have contributed.
Available electronic records
Driving information or event data, depending on the equipment installed.
An electronic logging device records driving-time and duty-status information. It isn't the same as a crash or event recorder, and I don't assume every truck has the same data. FMCSA explains what ELDs record.
I also use insurance searches and available DMV or Department of Transportation records to look for company and policy leads. Those leads need follow-up. Finding a policy and establishing that it covers your loss are separate parts of the work.
What you can do
Get Medical Help First and Collect Evidence Only When Safe
If you need emergency care, get it. Don't enter traffic or delay treatment to take photographs. A family member or friend may be able to help, but only when it is safe.
Useful evidence includes:
- Photographs showing where the vehicles came to rest, as well as close-ups of damage.
- The truck and trailer, including visible company information.
- Witness names and phone numbers.
- The collision report number and correspondence you receive afterward.
Call From the Scene
Talk Through Your Next Step
Through Call From the Scene, you can speak with me about what to do next once immediate safety and medical needs are addressed. The call is free, with no obligation to hire me.
Your attorney
A Costa Mesa Truck Accident Attorney Serving Orange County
Our office is at 3330 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. You can meet with us in Costa Mesa or discuss your case by phone or video if coming to the office is difficult.
I've been licensed in California since 2017. You can read more about my background or see our Orange County truck accident representation. The first conversation is about your crash and the help you need.
Our office
Gallo Law
3330 Harbor Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Before you hire a lawyer
Truck Accident Questions
What if the insurer says the truck driver was not covered?
I can't assess coverage from the words “unlisted driver” alone. I need to review the insurer's position, the policy, the driver's work, and the companies involved. Another policy may matter, as it did in the case above, but that requires investigation. Keep the denial letter and any policy information you receive so we can review them together.
Does a truck's insurance limit tell me what my case is worth?
No. A policy limit is not a valuation of your injuries. Federal insurance requirements vary by carrier, vehicle, cargo, and operating authority. We still need to determine which policies apply, what coverage remains, and what the collision and injury evidence supports. Other claims can reduce the money available under a policy.
How much does a truck accident attorney cost?
The consultation is free. We work on contingency, so you owe no attorney's fee unless we recover money for you. Before you sign an agreement, ask about the fee percentage and responsibility for case costs so you understand both.
How long do I have to bring a California truck injury claim?
California generally allows two years to file a personal-injury lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. A personal-injury claim against a public entity generally must be presented within six months after the claim accrues under Government Code § 911.2. Presenting that claim is a separate step from filing suit. Exceptions and different starting dates can change the deadline, so ask me to review the dates and parties in your case.
What should I bring to the consultation?
Start with the crash date, location, and what happened. Bring photographs, witness details, the report number, insurance letters, and any medical records you have. Missing documents don't prevent a conversation. We can talk through what is available and what still needs to be obtained.
How do I choose a truck accident lawyer near me?
Ask who will handle your case, how that person will investigate the companies involved, how you'll reach them, and how fees and costs work. At Gallo Law, you speak with me. Our Costa Mesa office serves Orange County, and phone and video consultations are available if you cannot come in.
Free consultation
Tell Me What Happened in the Truck Crash
You don't need to resolve an insurance dispute before calling. I can review what you know, explain the investigation your claim may need, and help you decide on the next step. If you're looking for a truck accident lawyer, call me at Gallo Law or request a free case review.
949-414-5508Request a Free Case ReviewFree consultation · No attorney's fee unless we recover · Available 24/7