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When a company driver hit you
A company driver works for the trucking company, drives the company’s truck and follows its dispatch. When that driver causes a crash while working, the company is generally responsible along with the driver. The claim usually goes to the carrier’s commercial policy, which is often much larger than what one driver could pay.
For a for-hire interstate carrier with a truck rated 10,001 pounds or more, federal rules require at least $750,000 in liability coverage for non-hazardous property, and more for hazardous loads (49 C.F.R. 387.9). Those are floors, and many carriers carry more. Our page on truck insurance minimums lays out the numbers for California and Washington.
When an owner-operator hit you
An owner-operator owns or leases their own truck. Some run their own small carrier with their own USDOT number. Many others haul loads for a larger carrier under a lease or contract, and the trailer or the cab may show the larger carrier’s name. Who pays can depend on whose name and number were on the truck and whose load it was carrying.
Because these setups vary, a lawyer looks at the lease, the dispatch records and the bill of lading to see who controlled the trip. More than one company may share the blame, along with a broker or shipper in some cases. Our page on who is liable in a truck accident explains how those roles fit together.
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Records that decide who pays
Start with the USDOT number on the cab. The federal SAFER website shows the registered carrier’s name, safety rating, inspections and crash counts (FMCSA SAFER Company Snapshot). See how to look up a trucking company’s safety record for the steps. The police report may list a different carrier, which is worth noting.
Covered carriers must keep a qualification file for each driver, with the application, driving record, road test and medical examiner’s certificate (49 C.F.R. 391.51). They must also keep duty status records, including electronic logs, for six months (49 C.F.R. 395.8). These files often show who the driver was really working for on the day of the crash.
What to do now
Get medical care right away. At the scene, if you can, photograph the cab and trailer, every company name, the USDOT and MC numbers and the plates. Ask the driver who they were hauling for. Get witness names and phone numbers. Write down the report number and claim numbers, and keep every bill and receipt from the crash.
In California, a personal injury lawsuit generally must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1). In Washington, the general deadline is three years (RCW 4.16.080). Expect calls from more than one insurer. Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement to any of them before you talk to a lawyer.
- See a doctor and keep your appointments
- Photograph every company name and number on the cab and trailer
- Ask the driver who they were hauling for
- Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement yet
- Keep medical bills, receipts and proof of missed work
How we can help
When an owner-operator is involved, insurers often point at each other: the driver’s policy says the carrier should pay, and the carrier says the driver was on their own. We request the leases, logs and dispatch records that settle the question. Call (310) 552-6959 or use the form on this page. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
If you are still deciding whether you have a case, read can I sue a truck driver for hitting me. You can also visit our California truck accident lawyer page or our Washington truck accident lawyer page, or browse all accident questions for answers about medical bills and settlement value.
Common questions
What is an owner-operator?
An owner-operator is a truck driver who owns or leases their own truck. Some run their own small trucking company. Many others haul for a larger carrier under a lease or contract. Who pays after a crash depends on those arrangements and whose name and USDOT number were on the truck.
Does the trucking company pay if the driver is an independent contractor?
It can, depending on the facts. A lawyer looks at who controlled the trip, whose authority the truck ran under and whose load it carried. More than one company may share responsibility, and each may have its own insurance policy.
How do I find out which carrier the truck belonged to?
Look for the USDOT number on the cab and search it on the federal SAFER website, which shows the registered carrier. Note every name on the cab and trailer, and check the police report. A lawyer can also request the bill of lading and dispatch records.
Is a company driver personally responsible too?
The driver can be responsible along with the employer, but the claim usually goes to the company’s insurance because it carries far more coverage. In California, an employer is generally liable for crashes its employee causes while on the job.
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Car and truck accident lawyer — Beverly Law
If you were hurt in a car or truck crash in California and Washington, talk to a personal injury attorney. Free, confidential, English or Spanish. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
Related pages
Can I sue a truck driver for hitting me? · Who is liable in a truck accident: the driver, the trucking company or the broker? · Rear-ended by a semi truck: what to do · Hit by a semi truck on the freeway: your rights · Jackknife truck accident: who is at fault? · All car and truck accident questions
Sources
Important: This page is general information about California and Washington law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Last reviewed: November 5, 2026.