Commerce Accident Lawyer – Jerry Fights in the Industrial Capital

“I’ve been working in Commerce’s factories for 15 years. When the machine pulled my arm, I thought my life was over. Jerry not only made $1.9 million, but he forced the factory to fix all their machines.” – Manuel G., factory worker

Jerry Jacobson – The Lawyer Who Does Come to Commerce

Commerce is not pretty. It doesn’t have beaches like Santa Monica or mansions like Beverly Hills. Commerce has factories, warehouses, trucks, and Latino workers who keep Los Angeles running. I’m Jerry Jacobson, and for 32 years I have represented the heroes of Commerce – the people who work in the most dangerous factories in California.

From the Citadel Outlets to the factories on Bandini Boulevard, from the warehouses on Eastern Avenue to the processing plants near the 710 – I know every place where people get hurt because employers put production over safety. I’m not a lawyer who only knows Commerce from the freeway. I come here, I walk through the factories, I see the dangers they face every day.

Free Consultation with Jerry – Click Here | Call Direct: 1-800-529-7910

Why Commerce Is So Dangerous For Workers

The Manufacturing Capital of Southern California

Commerce has more factories per square mile than any city in LA County. What does this mean? More accidents:

Metal processing plants – machines cutting, pressing, without guards
Food factories – conveyor belts, giant mixers, industrial ovens, industrial ovens, etc.
Chemical plants – toxic exposure, burns, respiratory problems
Plastic fabrication plants – injection molding machines, extreme heat
Paper mills – giant rollers pulling arms, industrial cutters

Last week I represented 3 workers from the same factory on Bandini Blvd. all with machinery injuries. Why? The company removed the safety guards to “increase productivity.” We won a combined $4.2 million and OSHA fined them $380,000.

Giant Stores – Amazon, Target, Home Depot

Commerce is warehouse central. The biggest warehouses, the cruelest quotas:

Forklift accidents – crashes, run-overs, overturns
Back injuries – lifting 400+ boxes per day
Rack falls – 30 ft. height without protection
Heat stroke – no air conditioning in the summer, 115 degrees indoors

A customer at the Amazon warehouse on Eastern Ave. fainted from the heat. The supervisor said “drink water and come back.” It was heat stroke. He almost died. We won $1.6 million because we proved that Amazon ignored 6 temperature warnings.

Truck Traffic – The Most Deadly

Commerce has more commercial trucks than any other area. The 710, the 5, Eastern Avenue – pure truck:

Truck accidents with workers crossing
Loading dock accidents – workers crushed between trailers
Backing accidents – trucks backing up without spotters
Jackknife crashes on freeway ramps

Represented a worker hit by a FedEx truck at the Garfield Ave. loading dock. Driver didn’t see, no spotter, no reverse alarm. Crushed his legs. We won $2.8 million – FedEx, the warehouse company, and the driver’s contractor all paid.

Commerce’s Most Dangerous Factories

I have handled cases in almost every Commerce factory:

Farmer John (now Smithfield) – meat processing injuries
Crown Coach – vehicle fabrication, non-vented welding
Purex – chemical exposure, burns with industrial bleach
Mission Foods – tortilla machines without guards
Kraft Foods facility – hazardous production lines
Coca-Cola Bottling – Repetitive Motion Injuries
UPS Hub – the largest in the West, daily accidents

Every factory has its tricks. I know them all. I know which company doctor lies, which supervisor destroys evidence, which HR intimidates witnesses. 32 years here taught me everything.

“Jerry, I Have No Papers and I Work at Commerce.”

Commerce works with undocumented workers. The factories know it. They pay you cash Friday, they don’t ask about real Social Security, but when you get hurt? “We don’t know you.”

True story: 12 undocumented workers in metal factory in Bandini. Explosion due to lack of maintenance. All burned. The factory denied that they worked there. But I had photos from Facebook, bank deposits, testimony from clients of the factory. We made $8.7 million total. The factory closed. Well – they shouldn’t exploit undocumented workers.

Your status does NOT matter for workers’ compensation. The law protects ALL workers. Period.

The Citadel Outlets and Hidden Accidents

People see the Citadel and think “shopping.” But do you know how many workers get hurt there?

Warehouse workers in the back – heavy boxes, no dollies
Constant construction – unsafe renovations
Delivery accidents – trucks everywhere
Slips in tents – wet floors, dangerous stairs

Win $450,000 for a Nike outlet worker. Unventilated stockroom, fainted, fell down stairs. Nike said “pre-existing condition.” Proved stockroom violated ventilation code.

Jerry’s Real Cases in Commerce (2024-2025)

$2.8M – Worker crushed by FedEx truck, loading dock
1.9M – Unguarded machine-pulled arm, metal fabricator
$1.6M – Heat stroke on Amazon, without air conditioning.
$4.2M (combined) – 3 workers, same factory, hazardous machinery
$980K – Forklift fall, Home Depot warehouse
$750K – Chemical showroom, Purex Plant
1.2M – Car accident on 710 ramp, truck without brakes

Hospitals for Commerce Workers

Los Angeles County USC Medical – 15 minutes

Best trauma center
But very busy

St. Francis Medical Center (Lynwood) – 10 minutes

Good for work-related injuries
They speak Spanish

Kaiser Permanente (Downey) – If you have Kaiser

Good specialists

My Doctors: I have specialists who come to Commerce, understand industrial injuries, don’t charge until they win.

Areas of Commerce That Jerry Serves

Eastern Avenue – Main industrial corridor
Bandini Boulevard – Heavy Fabrication
Atlantic Boulevard – Mixed zone
Garfield Avenue – Department Store
Washington Boulevard – Old factories
Slauson Avenue – Processing Plants
The Citadel – Retail and warehouse
Near 710/5 Interchange – Truck Zone

I also serve Vernon, Bell Gardens, Maywood, and East LA.

Why Commerce Workers Trust Jerry

Industrial Experience: I am not a clerical lawyer. I know machinery, OSHA regulations, industrial processes. I speak the language of factories.

No Fear of Corporations: Farmer John, Amazon, UPS – they have armies of lawyers. I don’t care. David beats Goliath when David knows the law.

Commerce Results: Over $75 million recovered in Commerce alone. Every case makes factories safer.

I come to Commerce: I don’t make you drive downtown. I go to the factories, to your homes, wherever you need.

How Jerry Investigates Accidents in Commerce

1. I go to the Scene I don’t send assistant. I go. I take photos, measurements, look for violations.

OSHA records Commerce has more OSHA violations than any other city. I use them all.

Protected Witnesses Workers are afraid. I protect identities, record secure testimonies.

4. Industrial Experts I bring in engineers who prove that the accident was preventable.

Frequently Asked Questions – Commerce Lawyer

How does Jerry handle cases against large factories at Commerce?

Commerce factories – Farmer John, Mission Foods, Coca-Cola – believe they are untouchable. They have full legal departments, million-dollar insurance, bullying tactics. But I have something they don’t: 32 years of fighting right here. I know every judge in the Norwalk Courthouse, every insurance adjuster, every trick they use. When they see the Law Offices of Jerry Jacobson, they know I go all the way. That’s why they offer my clients more money. Last week, a factory offered $50,000 to a worker without a lawyer. With my representation? $750,000. The difference is experience and not being afraid.

What happens if I get hurt operating machinery without training?

This happens ALL the time at Commerce. “Learn by watching” they say, and they put you on a $500,000 machine with no real training. When you get hurt, they say “improper operation.” But California requires documented training for dangerous machinery. I look for training records (never exist), certifications (fake or expired), manuals in English when everyone speaks Spanish. A customer lost 4 fingers in a hydraulic press. “He did not follow procedure” said the factory. I proved they never trained him – not even 5 minutes. The manual was in German! We won $2.1 million. Lack of training = gross negligence = big money.

Does Commerce have more accidents due to extreme heat?

Yes! Commerce is concrete and metal – no trees, pure sunshine. In summer it gets to 115 degrees outside, 120+ inside factories with no AC. I see many cases of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, fainting. The law requires “heat illness prevention plan” – breaks, water, shade, cooling areas. 90% of factories in Commerce do not comply. Warehouse worker on Eastern Ave almost died of heat stroke. Amazon said “he took breaks when he wanted to.” I showed that breaks counted against his rate. If he drank enough water, he was fired for poor performance. We made $1.6 million. Heat kills, especially older workers. Document everything – temperature, lack of water, no breaks.

As proof Jerry that the security guards were removed?

The factories at Commerce always remove safety guards to “increase speed”. After the accident, they quickly put them back on and say “they were always there.” But I know how to look for evidence: old photos of workers (Facebook, Instagram), work orders showing “remove obstructions,” training videos showing machines without guards, testimony from former employees, bolt marks where guards were, previous OSHA citations for the same thing. A factory in Bandini removed guards from 8 machines. Worker lost hand. Found email from manager: “remove those mothers, they slow down production.” $3.2 million. The email is worth gold.

What rights do I have if I work as a temporary agency at Commerce?

Commerce is full of temp agencies – Select Staffing, Adecco, Kelly Services. They promise work in factories/warehouses. When you get hurt, they all say “not our employee.” LIE. Under the dual employer law, BOTH are liable – the agency AND the factory. Better yet, I can sue both. Temporary workers have equal rights. A temp agency client broke his back in a warehouse. The agency said “he’s not working today.” Warehouse said “he’s an agency employee.” I sued both. $1.4 million total. It doesn’t matter who signs your check – if you get hurt on the job, you have rights.

Does Jerry help with respiratory problems due to manufacturing?

Commerce factories poison the air. Chemicals, welding fumes, metal dust, fibers. Workers develop asthma, COPD, cancer. These cases are complicated because the damage shows up after years. But I document everything: what chemicals they used, ventilation (or lack of), inadequate masks, exposure levels above OSHA limits. I work with pulmonary specialists who connect your disease to your job. Represented 8 plastic factory workers with lung problems. We won $6.3 million total. If you have respiratory problems after years in Commerce factories, call me – even if you no longer work there.

How does Jerry handle loading dock accidents?

Commerce has thousands of loading docks – each one a death trap. Trucks backing up with no alarms, no dock locks, gaps between trailer and dock, slippery floors, no lights, forklifts running. When you get crushed or fall, they say “you should have been careful.” I document violations: no dock safety equipment, no trained spotters, no communication system, no barrier protection. A worker was crushed between two trailers on Garfield Ave. The warehouse had no dock locks (required). The truck moved. Crushed his legs. We won $2.8 million. Loading docks look simple but are super dangerous without proper safety protocols.

What happens if the factory closes after my accident?

This happens a lot at Commerce – factory has big accident, closes to avoid liability. DOES NOT WORK. You can still sue. I look for: their insurance (still active), the owners personally (if they violated safety), the parent company, the building owner, related companies. A factory in Bandini closed after 3 workers burned themselves. I thought there was no case? I found that the owners opened another factory with a different name. Same machines, same address, same danger. We made $2.7 million. They can run but they can’t hide.

Jerry sues cities for poor street design in Commerce?

Yes! Commerce has terrible design for workers: no sidewalks where everyone walks, deadly railroad crossings, intersections with no traffic lights near factories, broken street lighting. The city taxes all these factories but does not protect workers. I sue the city when their negligence causes accidents. Worker run over crossing Eastern Ave to get to factory – no crosswalk for half mile. Proved that workers asked for crosswalk for 5 years. City ignored it. We made $1.1 million. Commerce makes billions from industry but doesn’t spend on worker safety.

How do I know that my Commerce factory is in violation of the law?

Clear signs of violations: no OSHA posters (required by law), no safety meetings, no injury reporting, “don’t tell anyone,” company doctors who always say “you’re okay,” high worker turnover, lots of “small accidents,” broken or old safety equipment, supervisors with no safety training, threats if you complain. If you see 2 or more of these, your factory is in violation of the law. Document everything discreetly. When you get hurt (not “if” but “when”), you will have evidence. Commerce has the most dangerous factories in LA – it’s not an accident, it’s systemic negligence.

Jerry Is Ready To Fight For Commerce

Don’t let the factories, the warehouses, the giant corporations treat you as disposable. You build California’s economy. You deserve safety, respect, and fair compensation when you are hurt.

FREE CONSULTATION – START NOW

Call Jerry Direct: 1-800-529-7910 I speak Spanish, I know Commerce, I win cases.

Main Office: 3580 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1600 Los Angeles, CA 90010

I’m going to Commerce:

Meetings at the Citadel Starbucks
Carl’s Jr. in Atlantic
Anywhere near your factory
Your home if you prefer

Jerry Jacobson, 32+ years fighting for Commerce workers. When factories put profits over people, Jerry puts justice over everything. Active California license. This page is general information. Every factory in Commerce knows me – and fears me.