A serious truck accident brought morning commute traffic to a standstill on eastbound Highway 4 in Antioch on Tuesday, November 5, 2025. The crash, which involved an overturned big rig truck, occurred near Contra Loma Boulevard at approximately 8:08 a.m., blocking multiple lanes and causing significant traffic disruptions for East Bay commuters. The dramatic scene of the overturned commercial vehicle sprawled across the highway underscored the dangers that truck accidents pose to motorists traveling California’s busy corridors during peak hours.
Details of the Truck Accident
According to the California Highway Patrol, the collision involved multiple vehicles, including a commercial big rig truck that overturned on eastbound Highway 4 at Contra Loma Boulevard. The accident blocked several lanes during the height of the morning rush hour, causing extensive backups along this heavily traveled corridor that connects Contra Costa County communities to the greater Bay Area.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after the 8:08 a.m. report to assess injuries, provide medical care, and begin the complex process of clearing an overturned commercial vehicle from the roadway. The CHP worked to direct traffic around the collision site while tow trucks and hazardous materials teams evaluated the overturned big rig.
At this time, authorities have not released information about the injuries sustained in the crash. The cause of the collision remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
Traffic Impact and Road Closures
The multi-vehicle crash created severe traffic congestion on eastbound Highway 4 during Tuesday morning’s commute. With several lanes blocked near Contra Loma Boulevard, motorists faced significant delays as traffic was forced to merge into the remaining open lanes.
Highway 4 serves as a critical transportation artery for thousands of daily commuters traveling between Antioch, Pittsburg, Concord, and other East Bay communities. Any major incident on this route can have ripple effects throughout the regional transportation network, affecting not only Highway 4 but also alternative routes, such as Highway 160, and local surface streets.
Caltrans and the CHP worked together to provide real-time traffic updates, helping motorists find alternative routes or delay their travel until the scene could be cleared. Clearing an overturned big rig typically requires specialized heavy-duty towing equipment and can take several hours, especially when multiple vehicles are involved and a thorough investigation must be conducted.
Common Causes of Big Rig Accidents on California Highways
Commercial truck accidents involving overturned big rigs can result from various factors, and investigators will carefully examine all potential causes of this collision on Highway 4. Understanding these common causes can help prevent similar accidents in the future.
Driver Error and Fatigue: Truck drivers face demanding schedules and long hours on the road, which can lead to increased risk of error and fatigue. Driver fatigue, distraction, or misjudgment—particularly when navigating curves, interchanges, or congested traffic—can contribute to loss of control and rollover accidents.
Excessive Speed: Big rigs have a high center of gravity, making them particularly vulnerable to rollover accidents when traveling at unsafe speeds, especially on curved sections of highway or when making sudden maneuvers to avoid other vehicles.
Improper Loading: Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can shift during transit, affecting the truck’s balance and stability. Overloaded trucks or trucks with unevenly distributed cargo are at increased risk of tipping over.
Mechanical Failures: Brake failures, tire blowouts, steering system malfunctions, and other mechanical issues can cause truck drivers to lose control of their vehicles, potentially leading to multi-vehicle collisions.
Road and Weather Conditions: While Tuesday morning weather conditions have not been cited as a factor in this particular accident, wet or slippery roads, poor visibility, and construction zones all increase the risk of truck accidents.
Other Driver Actions: The actions of other motorists on the highway can also contribute to truck accidents. When passenger vehicles cut off trucks, fail to maintain safe following distances, or make sudden lane changes in front of commercial vehicles, they may force truck drivers to take evasive action, which can lead to loss of control.
Injuries Common in Multi-Vehicle Truck Accidents
Multi-vehicle collisions involving commercial trucks often result in serious injuries due to the significant size and weight disparity between large trucks and passenger vehicles. While we await information about injuries in this specific Highway 4 accident, these crashes commonly cause:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken bones and fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Crush injuries
- Lacerations and burns
- Whiplash and soft tissue injuries
- Psychological trauma, including PTSD
Even occupants of vehicles that are not directly struck by the truck may suffer injuries in the chain-reaction collisions that often occur when a big rig overturns and blocks multiple lanes of traffic.
Your Rights After a Truck Accident in California
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident on Highway 4 or anywhere else in California, you have necessary legal rights. California law allows accident victims to seek compensation for their injuries, losses, and suffering from those responsible for causing the collision.
Determining Liability: Truck accident cases can involve multiple potentially liable parties, including the truck driver, the trucking company, cargo loaders, maintenance contractors, vehicle manufacturers, and others. An experienced truck accident attorney can thoroughly investigate all aspects of the collision to identify all responsible parties.
Types of Compensation: Victims of truck accidents may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses (both current and future), lost wages and diminished earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and, in cases of catastrophic injury, the need for long-term care and assistance.
Time Limits for Filing Claims: California’s statute of limitations generally provides two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, certain circumstances can shorten this deadline, making it critical to consult with an attorney as soon as possible after a truck accident.
Preservation of Evidence: Trucking companies are required to maintain detailed records, including driver logs, maintenance records, electronic data from the truck’s systems, and employment files. However, these records may be destroyed or lost if they are not preserved promptly. An attorney can send preservation letters to ensure critical evidence is protected.
Why Truck Accident Cases Require Specialized Legal Experience
Truck accident cases differ significantly from typical car accident claims. They involve complex federal and state regulations governing the trucking industry, multiple potential defendants with substantial insurance policies and legal resources, and often catastrophic injuries requiring extensive documentation of long-term medical needs and life care costs.
The trucking industry operates under stringent regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), including rules governing driver qualifications, hours of service limitations, vehicle maintenance requirements, cargo securement standards, and electronic logging device mandates. An attorney without specialized experience in truck accident litigation may overlook critical violations of these regulations that could strengthen your case and establish liability.
Furthermore, truck accident cases often involve multiple layers of corporate entities—the driver may work for one company, another may own the truck, a third party may load the cargo, and maintenance may be performed by yet another contractor. Identifying all potentially liable parties and navigating the complex corporate structures and insurance policies requires legal expertise specific to the commercial trucking industry.
Insurance companies representing trucking interests employ teams of experienced defense attorneys and investigators who begin working immediately after an accident to minimize their exposure, which is why having an attorney who understands their tactics and can match their resources is essential to protecting your rights and maximizing your recovery.
GJEL Accident Attorneys has successfully represented truck accident victims throughout California for over 50 years. Our legal team understands the tactics that trucking companies and their insurers use to minimize their liability, and we have the resources and experience necessary to build compelling cases that hold negligent parties accountable.
We work with accident reconstruction experts, trucking industry specialists, medical professionals, and economists to thoroughly document the cause of the accident and the full extent of our clients’ losses. This comprehensive approach has resulted in millions of dollars in compensation for our clients involved in truck accidents.
Understanding Truck Accident Settlement Calculators
Truck accident settlement calculators are valuable tools that help victims and their attorneys estimate the potential value of a personal injury claim following a collision with a commercial vehicle. These calculators take into account multiple factors that influence settlement amounts, including medical expenses (both past and projected future costs), lost wages and loss of earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, and the degree of fault assigned to each party involved.
While settlement calculators provide valid preliminary estimates, it’s essential to understand that every truck accident case is unique, and actual settlement values depend on numerous variables, including the severity of injuries, the strength of available evidence, the skill of legal representation, and the specific circumstances of the accident. Economic damages, such as medical bills and lost income, are relatively straightforward to calculate.
However, non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life, require experienced legal analysis to be correctly valued. A knowledgeable truck accident attorney can provide a more accurate assessment of your case’s worth by reviewing medical records, consulting with experts, analyzing comparable verdicts and settlements, and understanding how insurance companies and juries in your jurisdiction typically value similar claims.
At GJEL Accident Attorneys, we offer free case evaluations where our experienced legal team can provide you with a realistic assessment of your truck accident claim’s potential value based on our decades of experience securing substantial settlements and verdicts for California truck accident victims. Call us now at +1-866-218-3776 to speak with our experts.
Take Action Today – Get the Help You Deserve
“When a big rig overturns on a busy highway like this, the consequences can be devastating for innocent motorists who were simply trying to get to work or home to their families. If you or someone you love was injured in this Highway 4 crash, please know that you don’t have to face the insurance companies and trucking corporations alone. These cases are complex, involving federal regulations and multiple parties who will all work to protect their own interests—not yours. The most important thing right now is to focus on your recovery and your family, while letting an experienced truck accident attorney handle the legal battle. Don’t give any recorded statements to insurance adjusters, don’t sign anything, and don’t accept any quick settlement offers before you understand the full extent of your injuries and your rights. Time is critical in these cases because evidence can disappear quickly. Reach out to our team for a free consultation—we’ll review what happened, explain your options clearly, and fight to secure every dollar of compensation you deserve. You pay nothing unless we win your case.” — Andy Gillin, GJEL Accident Attorneys
If you’ve been injured in the Highway 4 truck accident in Antioch or any other collision involving a commercial vehicle, contact GJEL Accident Attorneys for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our experienced truck accident lawyers will review your case, explain your legal options, and help you understand the potential value of your claim.
GJEL offers free consultations and charges no fees unless we win your case. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation for your case. Don’t wait to protect your rights. Evidence can disappear, witnesses’ memories fade, and legal deadlines approach quickly.
Remember, prioritizing healing and recovery should be your top concern in the aftermath of such tragic events. Let experienced legal professionals handle the complexities of your case and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Call us today at +1-866-218-3776 or visit our Richmond office to schedule a free consultation with a California truck accident attorney who will fight to secure the maximum compensation available for your injuries. Time is critical in truck accident cases—reach out to GJEL now to ensure your case receives the immediate attention it deserves.
Local Resources and Assistance for Antioch Accident Victims
Suppose you’ve been involved in the Highway 4 truck accident in Antioch or any other traffic collision in the area. In that case, the following local agencies and resources can provide assistance, information, and support:
Law Enforcement and Accident Reports
Antioch Police Department
- Address: 300 L Street, Antioch, CA 94509
- Non-Emergency Phone: (925) 778-2441
- Emergency: 911
- Website: https://www.antiochca.gov/government/police-department/
- Services: Traffic collision reports, accident investigations, victim assistance referrals
California Highway Patrol – Contra Costa Area Office
- Address: 1320 Arnold Drive, Suite 100, Martinez, CA 94553
- Phone: (925) 646-4980
- Traffic Incident Information System (TIIS): 1-800-427-7623
- Website: https://www.chp.ca.gov/
- Services: Highway accident reports, collision investigations, traffic safety information
Transportation and Traffic Information
Caltrans District 4 (Bay Area)
- Phone: 1-800-427-7623 (for road conditions)
- QuickMap (Real-time traffic): https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/
- Website: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4
- Services: Road conditions, traffic updates, highway construction information, QuickMap real-time traffic monitoring
511 Contra Costa Transportation Information
- Phone: 511 (or 817-1717 from cell phones)
- Website: https://511contracosta.org/
- Services: Real-time traffic conditions, transit information, commute planning, traffic incident alerts
Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA)
- Address: 2999 Oak Road, Suite 100, Walnut Creek, CA 94597
- Phone: (925) 256-4700
- Website: https://ccta.net/
- Services: Regional transportation planning, commuter resources, highway improvement projects
Medical and Emergency Services
Sutter Delta Medical Center
- Address: 3901 Lone Tree Way, Antioch, CA 94509
- Emergency Department Phone: (925) 779-7200
- Website: https://www.sutterhealth.org/sdmc
- Services: 24/7 emergency care, trauma treatment, diagnostic imaging
Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Offices
- Address: 4501 Sand Creek Road, Antioch, CA 94531
- Phone: 1-800-464-4000
- Website: https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/
- Services: Urgent care, primary care, specialty services for Kaiser members
Contra Costa Emergency Medical Services
- Phone: (925) 646-4690
- Website: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/1049/Emergency-Medical-Services
- Services: Emergency medical coordination, ambulance services information
Victim Support and Legal Resources
Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Victim/Witness Assistance Center
- Address: 900 Ward Street, Martinez, CA 94553
- Phone: (925) 957-8618
- Website: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/1158/VictimWitness-Assistance-Center
- Services: Crime victim assistance, witness support, compensation claims, court accompaniment
California Victim Compensation Board
- Phone: 1-800-777-9229
- Website: https://victims.ca.gov/
- Services: Financial assistance for crime-related expenses, medical bills, lost wages, and funeral costs
State Bar of California – Lawyer Referral Service
- Phone: 1-866-442-2529
- Website: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Public/Need-Legal-Help/Lawyer-Referral-Service
- Services: Attorney referrals, legal resources, information about choosing a lawyer
Contra Costa County Superior Court
- Address: 1020 Ward Street, Martinez, CA 94553
- Phone: (925) 608-1000
- Website: https://www.cc-courts.org/
- Services: Court records, filing information, case status, self-help resources
Additional Community Resources
Antioch City Hall
- Address: 200 H Street, Antioch, CA 94509
- Phone: (925) 779-6135
- Website: https://www.antiochca.gov/
- Services: Municipal services, community resources, public records
Contra Costa County Health Services
- Phone: (925) 313-6770
- Crisis Line: 1-800-833-2900 (24/7)
- Website: https://cchealth.org/
- Services: Mental health services, crisis intervention, health programs, trauma counseling
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) – Antioch Office
- Address: 3609 Lone Tree Way, Antioch, CA 94509
- Phone: 1-800-777-0133
- Website: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/
- Services: Driver’s license services, vehicle registration, driving records, accident reporting requirements
Trauma Intervention Programs (TIP) of the Bay Area
- Crisis Line: (415) 431-3578
- Website: https://www.tipbayarea.org/
- Services: Free crisis intervention, emotional support for trauma victims, referrals to community resources
These resources can help you navigate the immediate aftermath of a truck accident, obtain necessary documentation, access medical care, and understand your legal rights. For specific legal guidance about your truck accident case and to discuss potential compensation, contact GJEL Accident Attorneys for a free consultation with our experienced legal team.
