Local office in San Jose, CA45 E Julian StDirections

Truck accident in San Jose?Talk to a lawyer for free.

Big rigs use US‑101, I‑880, I‑680 and I‑280 through San Jose every day. Trucking companies only have to keep their drivers' logs for six months, so talk to us early.

  • No fee unless we winWe only get paid when you get paid.
  • Zero upfront costYour consultation is free, with no obligation.
  • Hablamos españolNative Spanish speakers. No confusion. No delays.
  • Available 24/7We'll meet you at your home or hospital.
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Call our San Jose office(408) 516-428324/7 line: (800) 985-9565

No attorney's fees unless we recover compensation. Clients may be responsible for case costs. Read the disclaimer

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They are very professional and knowledgeable. I know that if I need to speak with them, they always have taken my calls.
Orchid N.Valero Law Group clientGoogle review

Results that speak.Millions won for injured clients.

We've won over $500 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients, including the truck accident case below.

Recognized for excellence

Avvo Rating: Excellent, Top Rated Personal InjuryTop Rated by Super Lawyers
  • $6.25MPersonal injuryA confidential personal injury settlement.
  • $5MAuto accidentFor a husband and wife after the husband suffered a brachial plexus injury.
  • $2.34MAccident claimA win for a client injured in an accident.
  • $2.1MTruck accidentA settlement for a client with spinal and orthopedic injuries after a crash with a commercial truck.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different.

View all results

Here to protect your interests, not the trucking company's

Trucking companies have a team.You should have one too.

Trucking companies and their insurers have claims staff and lawyers, and they hold the evidence: the driver's logs and the truck's own data. After a crash on US‑101, I‑880 or Capitol Expressway, an adjuster may call within days, and what you say can shape the rest of your claim.

Before you sign anything, ask yourself:

  1. Did the truck driver, the trucking company or another driver cause the crash?
  2. Was the driver over the hours limit, or the truck overloaded or poorly maintained?
  3. Will the settlement cover your treatment and lost income months from now, not just today?

From one of our car accident cases

The insurer's best offer$410,000

What we won for our client$4.4M

A car accident that left our client with a neck injury. Most people would have taken the offer. We won more than ten times as much.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different.

Get my free case review
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Our office in San Jose

Local truck accident lawyers,right here in San Jose.

Not every firm that advertises in San Jose has an office here. We do.

Our office is on Julian Street downtown, under a mile from Highway 87 and a short walk from the courthouses on North First Street. Come in, or we'll come to you anywhere in the Santa Clara Valley.

Nearby officesSalinasStocktonModesto

Why choose Valero Law Group?

We champion every case,big and small.

Whether your case is worth $5,000 or $5 million, we bring the same skill, attention and determination to every client we represent.

So don't let the size of your case keep you from seeking justice: every injury deserves serious representation. Let us fight for the compensation you're owed while you focus on what matters most, your recovery.

They made me feel like a priority, and they put my needs first as a client.

IsabelValero Law Group client

400+five-star Google reviews

Real reviews fromour clients.

  • Samuel M. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $881,000 settlement check
    Samuel M.$881,000
  • Victoria M. smiling in front of the Valero Law Group logo wall with her $625,000 settlement check
    Victoria M.$625,000
  • Karina C. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with her $625,000 settlement check
    Karina C.$625,000
  • Angela M. smiling and pointing to her $625,000 settlement check
    Angela M.$625,000
  • Destiny H. smiling with her $500,000 settlement check
    Destiny H.$500,000
  • Javier P. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $375,000 settlement check
    Javier P.$375,000
I got hit by a semi-truck on the streets and I was severely injured. Eric Sapir was very helpful and caring. He made sure I got the right doctor to take care of all medical needs to help me get my health back on track!
Victoria M.Google review
Read all 400+ of our reviews
Mrs. Romero was extremely helpful! Grateful for the support I received. Will recommend her to others!
Cassandra A.Google review
I recommend this law firm! Leticia R. did an outstanding job in my case. Thank you for making the process smooth!
Erika C.Google review

What you can recover aftera truck accident in California.

More than one company may be responsible for a truck crash: the driver's employer, the truck's owner, the company that loaded it, and others. Each can be held responsible for what it cost you.

Economic damages

The costs you can add up

  • Emergency care, surgery and hospital bills
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Lost wages and lost earning capacity
  • Repairing or replacing your vehicle

Non-economic damages

The harm that has no receipt

  • Pain and physical suffering
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Loss of companionship
  • Lost enjoyment of life
  • $750,000The insurance minimum for most trucking companiesFederal law sets it for carriers hauling freight for hire across state lines (49 CFR §387.9), and California sets the same floor for carriers that stay in the state (Vehicle Code §34631.5). That's 25 times California's $30,000-per-person minimum for a car.
  • 9 in 10People killed in California truck crashes who weren't in the truckIn 2024, 353 of the 391 people killed in crashes involving large trucks in California were in other vehicles, walking or biking (NHTSA).
  • 80%What you keep if you were 20% at faultCalifornia's pure comparative fault rule reduces your award by your share of the blame instead of erasing it.

After a truck crash in San Jose,what comes next.

The report, the truck's records, the companies involved and the rules trucks follow, explained.

Valero Law Group attorneys meeting around a conference table
  • Getting the crash report
    On the freeways through San Jose, from US‑101 and I‑880 to I‑680 and I‑280, the CHP's San Jose office on Junction Avenue takes the report, and you can request it online. On city streets, including Capitol and Almaden Expressways inside San Jose, it's usually San Jose Police: allow at least 45 days, then request the report online, or for $16 by mail or at the Records counter.
  • Write down the truck's details
    On most big rigs, the trucking company's name and its USDOT number are on both sides of the cab. Photograph them, the trailer and its plates, and where each vehicle ended up, and ask witnesses for their names and phone numbers. The name on the door may not be the company that owns the trailer or loaded it, so note everything you can see.
  • The company's records don't last
    Carriers only have to keep drivers' logs for six months, and getting the truck's own data may take the owner's consent or a court order (Vehicle Code §9951). A lawyer can write to the company early and ask it to keep the truck, its data, the logs and any video.
  • Trucks follow their own rules
    Big rigs may not go faster than 55 mph on any California highway and must keep to the right-hand lanes (Vehicle Code §21655). A commercial driver is over the limit at 0.04% blood alcohol, half the limit for other drivers. The CHP inspects trucks and publishes the results of its trucking company inspections.
  • Blind spots and wide turns
    On San Jose's own streets, most of the people killed in crashes with big rigs from 2021 to 2025 were on foot. Big rigs have large blind spots, which the DMV calls No Zones: if you can't see the truck's side mirrors, the driver can't see you. They also often swing wide to turn. If a truck hit you as it turned, write down which way it was turning and where you were.
  • Public agencies have shorter deadlines
    Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. If a public truck or bus, or a road defect, played a part, a written claim is usually due within six months, to the agency that runs the vehicle or the road: VTA for its buses and trains, the City for its streets and vehicles, the County for Capitol and most other expressways, the State (Caltrans) for the freeways.
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Al Barro Foundation: supporting over 400 orphans in Mexico

From the community, for the community.

Hablamos español.

We're a Hispanic-focused firm with native Spanish-speaking attorneys. We understand your family's needs, walk you through every step in your language, and fight to get you every dollar you deserve.

Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.
…they speak excellent Spanish, know how to help, and look out for their clients' best interests.
Yesica H.Google review
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Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.

Common questionsafter a San Jose truck accident.

How long do I have after a truck accident in San Jose?
Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). If a City, County, VTA or Caltrans vehicle or road was involved, a written claim is usually due within six months. Some evidence, like video, may be recorded over, so call us early.
Who is responsible for a truck accident?
It may be the driver and the trucking company they drove for, the company that owns or leased the truck, the company that loaded the cargo, a repair shop or a parts maker. In May 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that federal law doesn't block a claim against a freight broker for carelessly hiring an unsafe trucking company. Often more than one is responsible, and each may have its own insurance.
The driver owned the truck and leased it to a company. Who's responsible?
Federal leasing rules make the carrier take complete responsibility for operating a leased truck during the lease, so the company that hired the driver can be responsible too.
A big rig hit me on a neighborhood street. Was it allowed there?
Maybe not. San Jose bars commercial vehicles over 5 or 7 tons from dozens of signed neighborhood street segments, some only at posted times. The exceptions include pickups and deliveries on that street, permitted construction, utility and government work, garbage collection and emergencies. A big rig on a signed street without one of those reasons was breaking a city rule, which can matter to a claim, so photograph any truck sign nearby.
Was the driver drunk or too tired? How would I know?
After a crash that kills someone, and after some injury crashes, the trucking company must test its driver for alcohol and drugs. The driver's logs show how long they had been driving.
Can you get the truck's "black box" data?
Most big rigs record data such as speed and braking. Getting it may take the owner's consent or a court order (Vehicle Code §9951). We can ask the company in writing to keep it.
Do you have an office in San Jose?
Yes. Our office is at 45 E Julian St, San Jose, CA 95112, in downtown San Jose. Come in if you like, or we'll come to you, at home or in the hospital. Call (800) 985-9565 any time, 24/7.
What does a truck accident lawyer cost?
Nothing upfront. Your consultation is free, and no attorney's fees are owed unless we recover compensation for you. You may be responsible for case-related costs and expenses; we'll explain them before you sign.
Attorney Kyle Valero
Kyle ValeroAttorney, Valero Law Group

Our easy 3-stepcase review process.

We make getting legal help simple.

  1. Free consultationCall us 24/7 or fill out our form. We'll review your case at no cost.
  2. Review your caseOur experienced attorneys investigate and evaluate your case to build the strongest claim possible.
  3. Injury litigationWe fight for maximum compensation, in negotiation or in court.
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Have a question about a potential case?Talk to a San Jose truck accident lawyer today.

Your consultation is always free, with no obligation. We're happy to answer any questions and walk you through your options. No pressure, just honest answers.

(408) 516-4283

24/7 line: (800) 985-9565

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