Trucking and Transportation

Related Practices

At Selman Breitman, our experienced attorneys are trusted by motor carriers to represent the unique needs of trucking and transportation companies across the United States. Selman Breitman represents a wide variety of motor carriers, private fleet operators, and shippers, both directly and through insurers.

Our trucking and transportation industry attorneys know that representing a motor carrier is a highly specialized responsibility that requires an incredible breadth of regulatory understanding, practical experience and litigation know-how. Our attorneys are seasoned litigators with specific experience in handling trucking and transportation cases involving death, catastrophic injury, cargo losses, property damage and regulatory compliance.

National Legal Leaders In The Industry

Selman Breitman's trucking and transportation attorneys are leaders and members in a variety of recognized industry and legal associations dedicated to trucking and transportation, including but not limited to the Defense Research Institute Trucking Law Committee, Trucking Industry Defense Association, and Transportation Lawyers Association.

Our attorneys are routinely called upon by the trucking and transportation industry to speak to industry groups on issues ranging from best practices in responding to a catastrophic incident, to FMCSA's Compliance, Safety and Accountability (CSA) program, and California's CARB regulations.

Action-Oriented Emergency Response

Through experience, we understand the importance of rapid response to catastrophic incidents, early case evaluation, the economics of transportation litigation, and the need to aggressively defend cases through trial. In order to meet our clients’ needs, we have, at the ready, qualified attorneys, accident reconstructionists, and independent adjusters to respond to our clients at any time in the event of a catastrophic event. 

If you would like to discuss a specific trucking or transportation issue, please contact us to speak with one of our dedicated trucking and transportation attorneys.

Retained by a rental car company to represent them against the State of California Department of Highway Patrol regarding Motor Carrier Permits of the client's commercial truck fleet.

Represented a bobtail truck owner in a wrongful death case involving multiple fatalities. Obtained additional insurance coverage under trailer owner's policy to resolve claims and avoid bankruptcy filing.

Plaintiffs claimed that they were injured when the defendant made a left turn in front of them, causing them severe personal injuries requiring surgery. Obtained settlement of claim on the eve of trial after establishing that plaintiffs' injuries were solely attributed to a prior accident and that plaintiffs had intentionally misled their treating physicians regarding their injuries.

Represented interstate trucking company against plaintiff's claims that she was injured when walking through loading deck as a result of defendant's negligent loading operations. Successfully resolved matter before trial.

Successfully defended interstate trucking company and its driver in federal court against wrongful death action where plaintiffs alleged that defendants violated numerous Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations in causing decedent's death.

Successfully defended interstate trucking company and its driver in an action where plaintiffs alleged that defendants were in violation of Hours of Service regulations, falsified log books and had negligently failed to properly train drivers pursuant to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Obtained successful resolution of the action before trial.

Successfully defended interstate trucking company and its driver in a multi-vehicle accident where plaintiff claimed to have required a further spinal fusion as a result of the accident. Obtained a successful resolution of action before depositions were taken after establishing that the driver of the tractor-trailer was not a substantial factor in causing the accident.

Successfully defended interstate trucking company involved in a catastrophic accident where plaintiff was on the way to her back doctor when the accident occurred. Plaintiff underwent numerous surgical procedures, including the implementation of a spinal-cord stimulator, incurring several hundred thousand dollars in medical special damages. Obtained successful resolution of action before trial after establishing that plaintiff's injuries could not be attributed to accident.

Represented a transport company which was claimed to have intentionally mishandled human remains that had been donated to a state university. It was alleged that this was done for profit, by selling body parts illegally. After over a week of trial, the plaintiffs accepted a settlement from the defendant that was less than the offer made before the start of trial.

Represented a bus company and its driver who were providing para-transit services to members of the public who are not able to use buses running regular routes because of physical and/or mental disabilities. This was a wrongful death case brought by a father whose 16-year old daughter was killed while a passenger in a car involved in the intersection accident with the bus. The plaintiff claimed that the bus ran a red light, causing the accident. The jury returned a defense verdict in favor of the bus company and the driver.

Voluntary dismissal was obtained in exchange for a waiver of costs in an action involving a freeway collision between commercial trucks. The dismissal was obtained early in the handling of the case and before depositions, when plaintiff's counsel was convinced that the plaintiff's factual theory and the vehicle damage were inconsistent, and instead supported defendant's position.

Represented a bobtail truck owner in a wrongful death case involving multiple fatalities. Obtained additional insurance coverage under trailer owner's policy to resolve claims and avoid bankruptcy filing.

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News and Publications

2019 Southern California Rising Stars Announced Todd Haas Coaches Coronado High School Mock Trial Team Eric Freeman Obtains Unanimous Defense Verdict in Las Vegas Jury Trial Admitting Fault Is Not a Blank Check for Medical Treatment Admitting Fault Does Not Mean Accepting Plaintiff's Damages
DRI's The Voice Features Selman’s Defense Win in David Copperfield/MGM Litigation San Francisco Attorneys Named 2018 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Las Vegas Attorneys Named 2018 Super Lawyers 2018 Southern California Rising Stars Announced Selman Breitman Again Ranked a Law360 Best Law Firm for Female Attorneys Law360 Announces 400 Largest U.S. Law Firms Work Vehicle vs. Bicycle: Selman Breitman Prevails, Establishing Plaintiff's Fault & Minimal Damages Selman Breitman Attorneys Honored as 2018 Southern California Super Lawyers Selman Breitman Continues to Grow With Three New Associates ISO Releases New Personal Auto Exclusion For Drivers Engaged In Ride Sharing Business Operations Recent Federal Court Decision Allows CA Reject Foreign Corporations Jennifer Capabianco Convinces Ninth Circuit That District Court Correctly Dismissed Plaintiffs' Complaint Jennifer Capabianco Defeats Artfully-Pled Personal Injury Complaint At The Pleading Stage Of The Case Summary Judgment Obtained In High-Profile Declaratory Relief Action Gregg Thornton Obtains Judgment For Suisun City Paul Stephan Conducts Seminar On Litigating Rental Car Law Jerry Popovich And Selman Breitman's Orange County Office Obtain Another Favorable Verdict Selman Breitman Partner Alan Yuter Wins Major Appellate Case in Missouri Orange County Office Prevails on Behalf of Rental Car Client Sixteen, Unlicensed and Still a Permissive User Litigating Personal Injury Cases in the Rental Car Context - Part Two Litigating Personal Injury Cases in the Rental Car Context - Part One Past Medical Expenses: Amount Paid vs. Amount Billed. the Defense Wins Big in the California Supreme Court Code of Civil Procedure Section 664.6 Gets 86’d CA Supreme Court Limits Duty Owed to Visitors Using Offsite Parking Lots “Going and Coming” Rule Withstands Special Errand Exception In Application To A Supervisory Employee's Independent Conduct Expert Testimony Regarding Positive Marijuana Tests May Not be Admissible in Motor Vehicle Accident Litigation SCOTUS Rules CA Courts Lack Specific Jurisdiction to Entertain Injury Claims by Non-Residents (Bristol-Myers) California Expands Factors in the Vicarious Liability Control Test Understanding Endorsements and Insurance for Truckers Ninth Circuit Holds that Arbitration Provision Prohibiting Concerted Actions Violates the National Labor Relations Act and Is Unenforceable Discounted Amount Paid by a Third Party for an Uninsured Plaintiff's Medical Lien Is Not Admissible Without Evidence to Show it Represented the Reasonable Value for Treatment Court Of Appeal Holds That Doctrine Exempting Hirer From Vicarious Liability For Neglience Of A Person Hired By Independent Contractor Does Not Apply Under Federal Motor Carrier Act Uninsured Plaintiff Can Establish Fair and Reasonable Medical Expenses Through Physician Testimony Notwithstanding Howell v. Hamilton Meats California Enacts New Law On Rideshare Insurance Coverage Medicare Secondary Payer Section 111 Mandatory Reporting Developments Important Medicare Secondary Payer ("MSP") Act Developments Property Casualty 360: Medicare Set-Asides and Third-Party Liability Cases: Part Three Property Casualty 360: Medicare Set-Asides and Third-Party Liability Cases: Part Two Property Casualty 360: Medicare Set-Asides and Third-Party Liability Cases: Part One

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Recent Events

Todd Haas to Speak at SDCBA's 2018 Year in Review
Jennifer Capabianco to Host Roundtable Discussion at Women in Law & Leadership Summit
Paul Stephan Conducts Seminar On Litigating Rental Car Law
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