A serious two-vehicle collision on southbound State Route 85 near the Camden Avenue offramp in San Jose brought traffic to a standstill Monday afternoon, leaving both vehicles with major damage and prompting a significant emergency response. The impact between the white Toyota Camry and the box truck was severe enough to render both vehicles inoperable, requiring tow trucks to remove them from the busy highway corridor. Witnesses reported seeing debris scattered across multiple lanes, and the collision created a chaotic scene as other motorists attempted to navigate around the wreckage while emergency crews worked to secure the area.
The crash occurred during a typically busy time on SR-85, a critical commuter route connecting San Jose’s southern neighborhoods with Silicon Valley employment centers, further amplifying traffic disruptions throughout the South Bay. First responders had to carefully manage the scene while also directing traffic away from the accident site to prevent secondary collisions, a common concern when vehicles suddenly slow or stop on high-speed highways.
Details of the State Route 85 Two-Vehicle Collision
The crash occurred at approximately 12:03 p.m. on February 2, 2026, involving a white Toyota Camry and a box truck on southbound SR-85 in San Jose. According to authorities, both vehicles sustained major damage in the collision, which took place in the area near the Camden Avenue offramp—a stretch of highway that sees heavy midday traffic as commuters and commercial vehicles travel through the South Bay.
The circumstances leading up to the crash remain under investigation, but the severity of the damage to both vehicles suggests a high-impact collision. Box trucks, due to their size and weight, can cause devastating damage in accidents with passenger vehicles like the Toyota Camry involved in this incident.
Emergency Response and Traffic Impact
Emergency responders, including the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and local fire department personnel, arrived quickly at the scene to assess injuries, secure the accident site, and begin clearing the roadway. The collision blocked multiple lanes of southbound State Route 85, creating significant traffic backups during the lunch hour when many drivers use this major corridor.
Motorists traveling through the area experienced substantial delays as first responders worked to assist any injured individuals, document the scene, and remove the damaged vehicles. The Camden Avenue offramp area became congested as drivers sought alternative routes to avoid the accident scene.
Tow trucks were dispatched to remove both the severely damaged Toyota Camry and the box truck from the roadway. Given the extent of the damage reported, the cleanup and investigation likely took several hours before normal traffic flow could resume.
Common Causes of Highway Collisions
Accidents on busy highways like State Route 85 can occur for numerous reasons, particularly during midday hours when traffic volume increases. Common contributing factors include:
Driver distraction remains one of the leading causes of highway accidents, with drivers looking at phones, adjusting navigation systems, or simply losing focus on the road ahead.
Following too closely prevents drivers from having adequate reaction time when traffic slows suddenly or a vehicle ahead brakes unexpectedly—a particular concern when large commercial vehicles like box trucks are involved.
Lane change errors frequently cause collisions on multi-lane highways, especially when drivers fail to check blind spots or misjudge the speed of surrounding vehicles.
Speed-related factors can reduce a driver’s ability to respond to changing traffic conditions, and excessive speed dramatically increases the severity of crashes.
Impaired or fatigued driving affects reaction times and decision-making abilities, making accidents more likely at any time of day.
While investigators work to determine the specific cause of Monday’s collision, these factors represent the most common reasons for similar accidents on California highways.
Legal Rights After a Highway Accident
If you or a loved one has been injured in a highway collision involving a commercial vehicle or any serious crash, understanding your legal rights is essential for protecting your interests and securing fair compensation.
Victims of traffic accidents may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and other losses resulting from the crash. When a commercial vehicle, such as a box truck, is involved, multiple parties may share liability, including the driver, the trucking company, and others.
California law requires drivers to carry minimum insurance coverage, but serious accidents often result in damages that exceed these minimums. An experienced personal injury attorney can help identify all available sources of compensation and ensure you receive the full amount you deserve.
Time limits apply to filing injury claims in California. Generally, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, but beginning the legal process sooner allows your attorney more time to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and build a strong case on your behalf.
Documented evidence strengthens your claim, so if you’re physically able after an accident, take photographs of the scene, vehicle damage, and any visible injuries. Obtain contact information from witnesses, and keep all medical records and bills related to your treatment. This documentation becomes crucial when seeking compensation.
Why Choose GJEL Accident Attorneys
At GJEL Accident Attorneys, our team has been fighting for accident victims throughout Northern California for over 40 years. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that serious traffic accidents impose on victims and their families, and we’re committed to securing the justice and compensation our clients deserve.
When someone is injured in a highway collision, especially one involving a large commercial vehicle, they’re often facing mounting medical bills, lost income, and a long recovery ahead. GJEL accident attorneys’ job is to handle the legal complexities so our clients can focus on healing. We investigate every aspect of the accident, work with experts to establish liability, and fight aggressively against insurance companies that try to minimize payouts.
Our track record speaks for itself, with over $1 billion recovered for our clients. We’ve handled countless cases involving highway accidents, commercial vehicle collisions, and catastrophic injuries throughout the Bay Area and Northern California.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case. There are no upfront costs, no hourly fees, and no financial risk to you. We cover all case expenses throughout the legal process and collect our fee only when we secure compensation on your behalf.
Our team provides personalized attention to every client, ensuring you understand your options, stay informed about your case’s progress, and receive the dedicated representation you deserve during this difficult time.
Understanding Your Potential Compensation
After a serious highway accident, victims may be entitled to various forms of compensation depending on the circumstances and severity of their injuries:
Medical expenses include emergency room treatment, hospitalization, surgery, medication, physical therapy, and any ongoing care or rehabilitation needed for your recovery.
Lost income compensates you for wages lost while recovering from your injuries, as well as diminished earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous work.
Property damage covers the repair or replacement of your vehicle and any personal belongings damaged in the accident.
Pain and suffering recognize the physical discomfort, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life you’ve experienced because of the accident and your injuries.
Loss of consortium may apply when injuries affect your relationship with your spouse or family members. A comprehensive evaluation of your case by an experienced attorney ensures that all applicable damages are included in your claim, maximizing the compensation available to you. Beyond the primary categories of compensation, truck accident victims may also be entitled to additional damages that reflect the full scope of their losses.
Future medical expenses are particularly important in cases involving severe or permanent injuries, as victims may require ongoing treatments, surgeries, rehabilitation, or assistive devices for years to come—these anticipated costs must be calculated and included in any settlement to ensure you’re not left financially vulnerable down the road.
Scarring and disfigurement compensation recognizes the psychological and social impact of visible injuries that may affect your self-esteem, relationships, and career opportunities.
Emotional distress and mental anguish damages account for conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and fear of driving that commonly develop after traumatic highway accidents, especially those involving large commercial vehicles. Punitive damages may be available in cases where the truck driver or trucking company engaged in particularly reckless or negligent behavior, such as driving under the influence, violating federal trucking regulations, or knowingly operating unsafe vehicles—these damages are designed to punish wrongdoers and deter similar conduct in the future.
When commercial vehicles are involved, multiple insurance policies may apply, including the trucking company’s commercial liability coverage, which typically has much higher policy limits than standard auto insurance. An experienced attorney knows how to identify all applicable insurance coverage, including umbrella policies and excess coverage, ensuring that every available dollar is pursued on your behalf.
The complexity of calculating fair compensation in truck accident cases—particularly when catastrophic injuries or wrongful death are involved—underscores the importance of working with a law firm that has specific experience handling commercial vehicle accidents and access to economic experts, medical professionals, and accident reconstructionists who can accurately document and value your complete losses.
How Truck Accident Settlement Calculators Help Estimate Your Case Value
Understanding the potential value of your truck accident claim can be challenging, especially when you’re dealing with injuries, medical treatments, and financial stress. A truck accident settlement calculator is a valuable tool that helps injury victims get a preliminary estimate of what their case might be worth based on key factors specific to their situation.
These calculators take into account critical elements such as the severity and type of injuries sustained, total medical expenses (including future treatment costs), lost wages and diminished earning capacity, property damage to your vehicle, the degree of fault or liability, pain and suffering endured, and the long-term impact on your quality of life.
By inputting these details, the calculator uses proven formulas and historical settlement data from similar cases to generate an estimated compensation range. This is particularly valuable in truck accident cases, which often involve higher settlement values than standard car accidents due to the severe injuries typically caused by large commercial vehicles and the multiple liable parties that may be involved, including the truck driver, trucking company, and vehicle maintenance providers.
While a settlement calculator provides helpful insight and helps you understand what factors influence your claim’s value, it’s important to remember that every case is unique. The estimate is just a starting point—an experienced personal injury attorney can provide a more accurate evaluation after reviewing the specific details of your accident, examining police reports, assessing your injuries with medical experts, and identifying all potential sources of compensation. Call us now at +1-866-218-3776 to speak with our experts.
Take Action Today, Get The Help You Deserve
“Highway accidents involving commercial vehicles like box trucks can result in devastating injuries that change lives in an instant. If you were injured in this State Route 85 collision, please know that you have legal rights and options for recovery. Don’t speak with insurance adjusters before consulting an attorney—they often try to minimize your claim or get you to accept a settlement far below what you deserve. Focus on your medical treatment and healing, and let an experienced personal injury lawyer handle the legal battle. California law protects accident victims, and you shouldn’t have to face mounting medical bills and lost wages alone while the responsible parties avoid accountability. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency basis, so there’s no financial risk in learning about your rights. Time is critical for preserving evidence and witness testimony, so I encourage anyone hurt in this accident to reach out to our office as soon as possible. You deserve justice and full compensation for everything you’ve endured.” — Andy Gillin, Managing Partner, GJEL Accident Attorneys
Don’t face the aftermath of a serious highway accident alone. At GJEL Accident Attorneys, we understand that injury victims are already dealing with medical bills, lost wages, and the stress of recovery—which is why we work exclusively on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay absolutely nothing upfront, no hourly fees, and no out-of-pocket costs while we handle your case.
We only get paid if we win compensation for you, and our fee comes directly from the settlement or verdict we secure on your behalf. There’s zero financial risk to you, and you’ll never receive a bill from our office unless we successfully recover damages in your case. Our experienced legal team will investigate every detail of the State Route 85 accident, gather crucial evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and fight tirelessly to maximize your compensation. We’ve recovered over $1 billion for our clients over four decades, and we’re ready to put that experience to work for you.
Call us now at 1-866-218-3776 or visit our Sacramento office for your free, no-obligation consultation. Time is critical for preserving evidence and protecting your rights, so don’t wait—contact GJEL today and let us handle the legal fight while you focus on healing.
San Jose and Bay Area Resources for Accident Victims
If you’ve been involved in a traffic accident in San Jose or the surrounding Bay Area, these local resources can provide assistance:
California Highway Patrol – San Jose Office
Address: 675 Charcot Avenue, San Jose, CA 95131
Phone: (408) 467-5400
Website: www.chp.ca.gov
Services: Accident reports, traffic safety information, collision investigations, and incident documentation for State Route 85 and all California highways
San Jose Police Department
Address: 201 West Mission Street, San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 277-8900 (non-emergency)
Emergency: 911
Website: www.sjpd.org
Services: Accident reports for collisions on city streets, victim assistance resources, traffic collision documentation, and online report requests
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)
Address: 3331 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95134
Phone: (408) 321-2300
Customer Service: (408) 321-2300
Website: www.vta.org
Services: Real-time traffic updates, road closure information, alternative route planning, transit options during traffic incidents
Caltrans District 4 – Bay Area
Address: 111 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 286-5900
Traffic Information: 1-800-427-7623 (1-800-GAS-ROAD)
Website: dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4
Services: Highway conditions, State Route 85 construction and incident updates, traffic management, road closures
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center – Emergency Services
Address: 751 South Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128
Phone: (408) 885-5000
Emergency Department: (408) 885-5160
Website: www.scvmc.org
Services: 24/7 emergency medical treatment, level I trauma center, comprehensive care for serious accident injuries, specialty services
Regional Medical Center of San Jose
Address: 225 North Jackson Avenue, San Jose, CA 95116
Phone: (408) 259-5000
Emergency Services: (408) 259-5050
Website: www.regionalmedicalsanjose.com
Services: Emergency care, comprehensive medical treatment for accident injuries, imaging, and diagnostic services
Good Samaritan Hospital – Emergency Department
Address: 2425 Samaritan Drive, San Jose, CA 95124
Phone: (408) 559-2011
Website: www.goodsamsanjose.com
Services: Emergency care, trauma treatment,and surgical services for accident victims
California Department of Motor Vehicles – San Jose Office
Address: 111 West Alma Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: 1-800-777-0133
Website: www.dmv.ca.gov
Services: Driver records, vehicle registration, accident-related documentation, SR-1 accident report forms, driver license reinstatement
California Department of Insurance – Consumer Hotline
Phone: 1-800-927-4357
Website: www.insurance.ca.gov
Services: Insurance claim assistance, consumer complaint filing, insurance company information, policy guidance
Santa Clara County Superior Court
Address: 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 882-2100
Civil Division: (408) 882-2100
Website: www.scscourt.org
Services: Civil filing for personal injury lawsuits, legal proceedings, court records, and case information
Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office – Victim Services
Address: 70 West Hedding Street, West Wing, San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 792-2997
Website: www.sccgov.org/da
Services: Victim advocacy, compensation assistance, support services for crime victims, including DUI-related accidents
California Victim Compensation Board
Phone: 1-800-777-9229
Website: victims.ca.gov
Services: Financial assistance for crime victims, including hit-and-run accidents and DUI collisions, reimbursement for medical expenses, lost wages, and funeral costs
511 Bay Area Traffic Information
Phone: 511 (or 817-1717)
Website: 511.org
Services: Real-time traffic conditions, incident alerts, travel times, road closures, SR-85 traffic updates, interactive traffic maps
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Phone: 1-888-327-4236
Website: www.nhtsa.gov
Services: Vehicle safety information, recall notices, crash data, safety ratings, defect investigations
California Office of Traffic Safety
Phone: (916) 509-3030
Website: www.ots.ca.gov
Services: Traffic safety programs, accident statistics, educational resources, and grant information
These organizations can provide immediate assistance, documentation, medical care, traffic information, and support services as you navigate the aftermath of a traffic accident on State Route 85 or anywhere in the San Jose area.
