A frightening crash with a large farm truck on a Bakersfield highway can leave you with major injuries and lost work hours.
A careless truck driver and the farm owners can be held liable, but their insurers and corporate lawyers may try to dispute your version of what happened.
It’s why victims should try to secure evidence at the scene of a truck accident if possible. Grabbing photos and talking to witnesses are two important steps in building a strong produce truck accident claim.
The Danger of Produce Truck Accidents
Kern County has no shortage of farms, ranches, and orchards along its rural highways. And large trucks carrying fruits, vegetables, and nuts, and even canned goods pass through Bakersfield each day.
These trucks can take up more than one lane, and they can make wide turns. The loads they carry can also make them difficult to control and stop.
The biggest threat is the chance that the truck driver inside isn’t paying full attention to navigating that truck safely.
These are just a few of the dangers that a careless truck driver presents:
- Distracted truck drivers failing to hit the brakes in time to stop for a red light and causing a rear-end collision.
- Truck drivers crossing over yellow lines to cause head-on collisions.
- Careless drivers not checking mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes.
- Produce truck drivers not taking required breaks, becoming fatigued, and causing T-Bone accidents.
- Drivers dropping items (e.g., crates, pallets) on the road that create deadly hazards for drivers in cars, SUVS, and on Motorcycles.
These aren’t hypothetical situations. The statistics show that they happen all the time.
According to data from California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), Bakersfield saw 42 serious truck accidents in 2025. A serious accident means that it involved injuries.
Across Kern County highways, there were 284 serious truck accidents in 2025. That included a heartbreaking 16 fatalities.
What You Can Do to Build a Strong Accident Claim
A truck driver and the farm’s owner and operators (perhaps an agricultural corporation) can be held liable for an accident. But these farms and ranches are often large enough to have their own team of lawyers ready to tear your case apart.
It’s why you need strong evidence for your case. The strongest proof of fault will often be found on the scene of the accident.
If you are left strong enough, and it’s safe enough, try to compile these details before the scene is cleared away:
- Call 911. Request an ambulance if anyone is hurt. Get checked out by paramedics. Go to the ER if they think you should.
- Take photos. Get pictures of the damage to your vehicle and the truck. Show any debris in the road and any skid marks. Get photos of signs showing who the driver works for.
- Get witness contact information. Find out what they saw and make a note of it for your lawyer.
- Swap Information with the Truck Driver. Get driver’s license and truck insurance information. Try to get an employee number from the truck driver if possible.
- Avoid Saying “I’m Sorry” or “I’m fine.” Don’t make these comments to the driver, because an insurance adjuster can twist your words to make it seem like you admitted fault or that you weren’t injured.
- Contact Your Own Insurance Agent. Report what happened even if you weren’t to blame.
- See Your Own Physician. Visit your doctor in the days that follow, even if you’ve been to the hospital. Tell them what happened and get all injuries reexamined. Save all medical receipts.
- Contact an Experienced Bakersfield Car Accident Lawyer.
A skilled Bakersfield truck accident lawyer will have the know-how to build a strong case for you. Your lawyer can collect additional evidence and look into the truck driver’s record. The farm’s hiring and safety record will be fair game. Maison Law works with accident reconstruction teams that can also help prove that a reckless truck driver was to blame.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of damages can be compensated after a produce truck accident?
You should demand compensation for every medical bill you have and every potential medical bill that might arise in the future. This includes all occupational therapy costs as you relearn the skills you need to take care of yourself and perform your work duties. The paychecks you miss while out of work must be replaced. You should also receive support for the pain you’ve endured. The emotional trauma your injuries cause, such as having to give up your favorite hobbies, should be compensated.
How long do I have to file an injury claim after a produce truck crash?
Injured victims have up to two years to file a claim. Wait longer, and your case will likely be tossed out. Victims should speak to a lawyer as soon as possible so that evidence doesn’t get lost and witnesses don’t become hard to find.
What types of documents should I turn over to my lawyer?
Bring witness contact information and information from the at-fault driver. If you’ve already requested the police accident report, bring that too. (If not, your lawyer will obtain it for you.) Bring all of the photos you took at the scene. Bring old pay stubs so you can show how much income you’ve had to say goodbye to while you’ve been too hurt to work.
Contact a Bakersfield Car Accident Attorney
Maison Law offers free case reviews to all injured Kern County farm truck accident victims and their families. It’s a chance to figure out what your injuries are worth and how to hold a commercial truck insurance company fully liable for all of your hardships.
It’s a no-obligation meeting, but you don’t have to worry about money if you need to hire a lawyer. We start work without any upfront fees. We only get paid if we win for your family. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check that a car insurer must write.
