In California, you generally have two years from the date of a truck accident to file a claim for your injuries. That deadline — the statute of limitations — applies to most injury claims, and missing it can end your case no matter how strong it is.
Some situations shorten that window sharply. If a government vehicle or agency was involved — a public works truck, for example — a much shorter deadline, often about six months, can apply before you can even sue. Identifying who operated the truck early is important for exactly this reason.
Truck cases add a second clock the law does not set: the evidence. The truck's electronic data and the company's records can be overwritten or destroyed within weeks, so even with time left on the legal deadline, waiting can cost you the proof. The safest step is to get advice quickly.