Accidents involving large commercial vehicles tend to be more serious than regular car crashes because of the size and weight of the trucks involved. These cases also tend to be more complicated, as they often involve multiple liable parties, including motor carriers. Find out what you need to know about holding motor carrier companies accountable for injuries in a trucking accident.

What Is a Motor Carrier?

A motor carrier is a company or individual who uses commercial motor vehicles to transport goods or passengers. Common examples include everything from large trucking fleets to independent owner-operators. In California, some of the largest trucking and motor carrier companies are strategically positioned in major logistics hubs like Long Beach, Commerce, Los Angeles, Pomona, and Bakersfield. The key types of motor carriers are listed below:

  • For-hire carriers
  • Private carriers
  • Intrastate motor carriers
  • Interstate motor carriers

What all of these companies and individuals have in common is that they are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

What Is the Chain of Responsibility?

The Chain of Responsibility (CoR) is a legal concept that allows for accountability to be shared across the heavy vehicle supply chain. While truckers are often held legally liable for the accidents they cause, motor carriers and others in the CoR may also be partially responsible. Anyone whose actions or decisions contributed to the circumstances that caused an accident to occur can be held liable, from schedulers or loaders to company executives.

Some of the potential individuals and/or companies that may be included in the CoR are listed below:

  • Consigners
  • Packers
  • Loaders
  • Drivers
  • Operators
  • Receivers

When motor vehicle accident cases come up, a combination of these parties may be held liable for any injuries and other damages that occur.

California’s Vicarious Liability for Trucking Companies

California is particularly strict about holding trucking companies liable for the actions of their drivers. The Golden State’s vicarious liability laws make these companies liable even if they are not found to be directly at fault for the accident. Legally, vicarious liability is known as the doctrine of respondeat superior.

Vicarious liability laws diverge from ordinary negligence laws in that they don’t require the motor carrier to have taken action or have failed to take an action that caused an accident. Trucking companies can be held liable for the negligence or actions of their employees without the need to prove negligence directly. If a trucker causes an accident while they are on the clock, the company can automatically be held liable.

In some cases, trucking companies can still be held vicariously liable for accidents caused by independent contractors. As long as the driver was operating under the company’s authority, the doctrine of respondeat superior should apply.

Direct Liability for Trucking Companies

In some cases, trucking companies are also directly liable for accidents caused by their drivers. This could be the case in any of the circumstances listed below:

  • Hired an inexperienced driver
  • Did not provide adequate training
  • Failed to conduct regular maintenance
  • Did not drug test employees
  • Failed to enforce maximum hours of driving time

Your attorney can help you determine what level of liability the motor carrier holds for the accident that caused your injuries.

When Other Parties Hold Liability

Other parties in the CoR can hold some liability for accidents under certain circumstances. Some examples of these entities are listed below:

  • Cargo loaders. If a third-party loading company did not properly secure the cargo and that led to a crash, they can be held liable. Shifting contents and cargo escaping trailers are both serious hazards.
  • Leasing companies. When commercial vehicles are leased, leasing companies may share some degree of responsibility for accidents caused by their trucks’ drivers.
  • Maintenance contractors. Companies responsible for truck maintenance can also be held liable in some cases, such as when mechanical failures lead to accidents.

How Common Are Trucking Accidents?

In 2025, there were 10,077 trucking accidents in the Golden State. Of those, 260 caused fatalities. Another 4,715 people were injured as a result of crashes involving large commercial vehicles that year. The parties held liable for these accidents varied depending on the circumstances surrounding each crash.

Why Choose Us?

The attorneys at Easton & Easton have extensive experience handling complex trucking accident cases. We know how to protect our clients’ finances when their careers are affected by serious accidents. Our law firm routinely handles high-value cases. One out of every three of our settlements has been worth $100,000 or more. * As a result, we frequently come recommended by doctors and other attorneys.

FAQs

Q: Who Is Responsible for the Chain of Responsibility?

A: Everyone in the supply chain is responsible for the Chain of Responsibility. Any party who can influence or control transport activities shares in the responsibility for keeping heavy vehicles safe. That includes not just packers and loaders but schedulers, receivers, consignors, and even executive staff. Failure to uphold their duties can result in liability for any accident that occurs.

Q: What Are the Responsibilities of a Motor Carrier?

A: The responsibilities of a motor carrier include any duties that relate to maintaining the safe operation of its commercial vehicles. They must enforce driver qualifications, conduct regular maintenance, manage hours-of-service limits, maintain insurance, and complete all the required Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration registrations. If they fail to uphold these duties, motor carriers can be held liable for accidents that result from their failures.

Q: Who Issues Motor Carrier Authority?

A: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issues motor carrier authority, also called an MC number or operating authority. The FMCSA is a division within the US Department of Transportation (USDOT). Motor carriers must apply for an MC number if they receive compensation for transporting freight or passengers across state lines.

Q: Is It Worth Hiring a Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney for a Trucking Accident?

A: It is worth hiring a motor vehicle accident attorney for a trucking accident. Accidents involving motor carriers can be extremely complicated, often involving shared liability among several different parties. If you don’t hire a lawyer, you could miss out on valuable compensation by failing to identify a liable party or potential damages to which you may be entitled.

Hire a Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer Today

If you’re wondering about the CoR because you’ve recently been in a trucking accident, you should hire a motor vehicle accident lawyer right away. Your personal injury lawyer can do more than just explain the relevant motor carrier accident laws. They can handle all the details of the case so that you can focus on healing from your injuries. Schedule a consultation with Easton & Easton to find out what sets our firm apart.

*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.