Being involved in a truck accident can be a terrifying and overwhelming experience. Large commercial trucks can cause severe injuries, major vehicle damage, and complicated insurance claims. In the moments after a crash, many people are unsure what steps to take or how to protect themselves.
If you’re in an ambulance right now, or at the side of a highway, or in a hospital and you’re wondering what to do immediately after a truck accident, the most important thing is to focus on safety, medical care, and documenting the accident. The steps you take immediately after a truck accident can affect your health, your insurance claim, and your ability to recover compensation later.
This guide explains what to do after a truck accident, what mistakes to avoid, and how truck accident claims typically work.
What Should I Do Immediately After a Truck Accident?
The moments immediately following a truck accident are often chaotic. You may be injured, in shock, or unsure of what happened. However, taking the right steps can protect both your safety and your legal rights.
1) Get to Safety and Call 911 Immediately
Your first priority after a truck accident is safety. If your vehicle is in traffic and you can move safely, get to the shoulder or a safe area. Turn on hazard lights and check for injuries.
Call 911 immediately. Even if the accident seems minor, always involve the police in a truck accident. Emergency responders can provide medical care and law enforcement will create an official accident report, which may become important evidence later. The absence of an official police report could be presented by the defense as though the crash was not serious enough to warrant attention. This may potentially devalue the amount of your claim.
2) Exchange Information and Identify the Driver, Passenger & Trucking Company
Many commercial trucks are owned by one company, operated by another company, pulling a trailer owned by a third company, and hauling cargo for a fourth company. Because of this, multiple parties may be legally responsible for the accident. Properly identifying the trucking company at the scene can be very important later.
When speaking with the driver, try to obtain and photograph the following information:
- Truck driver’s name and phone number
- Employer or trucking company name
- Insurance company and policy number
- Driver’s license number
- License plate number
- Trailer number
- USDOT number (usually on the truck door)
Truck accident claims often involve the trucking company, not just the driver, so identifying the correct company is extremely important.
3) Gather Evidence at the Truck Accident Scene
3) Gather Evidence at the Truck Accident SceneIf you are physically able to do so, try to gather as much information as possible at the scene of the truck accident. Evidence collected immediately after the crash is often very important because vehicles will be moved, debris will be cleared, and memories will fade.
It is also very helpful to take photographs or video of the accident scene. Try to capture vehicle damage, the truck, license plates, skid marks, traffic signs, road conditions, and the overall scene of the accident. If you have visible injuries, capture those as well.
Take pictures or video of the truck & trailer identification codes, license plates, Department of Transportation numbers and anything else that can show the official documentation of the truck and/or driver.
If there are witnesses, ask for their names and phone numbers. Witness statements can sometimes make a major difference in determining who was at fault.
Documentation helps prove the full value of your claim.
4) Do Not Admit Fault, Discuss or Post the Accident
After an accident, emotions run high and people often say things like “I’m sorry” or “I didn’t see you.” These statements can later be used against you.
Do not discuss:
- Who caused the accident;
- Your injuries in detail;
- How fast you were going;
- Whether you think you were at fault.
Do not post about the accident or your injuries on social media, at this time this is nobody’s business. Social media posts are timestamped as are comments and replies. Engaging with people on social media after an injury-causing truck crash may be construed as if your injuries weren’t serious if you had time for selfies and chatting.
5) Seek Medical Attention as Soon as Possible
One of the most important things you should do after a truck accident is seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you do not go to the hospital from the scene, you should see a doctor shortly after the accident.
Truck accidents frequently cause injuries such as back injuries, neck injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and soft tissue injuries that may not fully appear until hours or days later. Waiting too long to get medical treatment can not only make injuries worse, but insurance companies may argue that you were not really injured.
Medical records are also a key part of any truck accident claim because they connect your injuries directly to the accident.
6) Keep Records of Everything
Your part-time job is now record keeper of everything that has happened, and Start a file and keep records related to the accident, including:
- Medical bills
- Medical records
- Prescription costs
- Physical therapy bills
- Mileage to medical appointments
- Repair estimates
- Lost wages
- Time missed from work
- Pain journal or notes about your recovery
Documentation is critical to recovering compensation after a truck accident because insurance companies and trucking companies do not simply take your word for your losses—they require proof. The more organized and thorough your documentation is, the easier it is to prove the full value of your claim and obtain the maximum compensation available for:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical care
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
7) Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company
You should report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible, but you should be careful about what you say. Provide basic information about the accident, but avoid giving recorded statements or speculating about fault or injuries.
Insurance adjusters often contact truck accident victims quickly and may try to get a recorded statement or offer a quick settlement. These early settlement offers are often much lower than what a claim may actually be worth, especially if injuries require ongoing treatment.
8) Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer
8) Contact a Truck Accident LawyerTruck accident cases are often much more complicated than regular car accident cases. In many truck accidents, more than one party may be responsible, including the truck driver, the trucking company, a cargo loading company, or a maintenance company.
Find a qualified and experienced truck accident lawyer in your state who can investigate the accident, obtain driver logs and black box data, review trucking company records, and handle negotiations with insurance companies.
Because trucking companies and their insurers often begin investigating immediately after an accident, it is often helpful to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.
Who Is Responsible After a Truck Accident?
Determining liability after a truck accident is often more complicated than in a typical car accident. This is because commercial trucks are usually owned and operated by companies, and multiple parties may be involved in the operation and maintenance of the truck.
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, responsibility may fall on the truck driver, the trucking company, the company that loaded the cargo, a maintenance company, or even the manufacturer of the truck or its parts. Trucking companies can sometimes be held responsible for accidents caused by driver fatigue, poor training, overloaded trucks, or failure to properly maintain their vehicles.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can occur for many different reasons, but some causes appear more frequently than others. Driver fatigue is one of the most common causes because truck drivers often work long hours and may drive while tired. Distracted driving, speeding, improper lane changes, overloaded cargo, and mechanical failures are also common causes of truck accidents.
In some cases, trucking companies may violate federal trucking safety regulations, which can also lead to accidents and liability.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Truck Accident?
If you are injured in a truck accident, you may be able to recover compensation for the financial and personal losses caused by the accident. This may include medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and property damage.
Truck accident cases often involve large insurance policies because trucking companies are required to carry significant insurance coverage. As a result, truck accident settlements are often larger than typical car accident settlements, especially when serious injuries are involved.
Mistakes to Avoid After a Truck Accident
After a truck accident, some common mistakes can seriously hurt your claim. People often fail to seek medical treatment, do not take photographs, give recorded statements to insurance companies, or accept quick settlement offers. Another common mistake is posting about the accident or injuries on social media, which insurance companies may monitor.
Avoiding these mistakes can make a significant difference in the outcome of a truck accident claim.
FAQ – What Do I Do After a Truck Accident?
What should I do immediately after a truck accident?
You should call 911, check for injuries, move to a safe location if possible, gather information and photos, seek medical treatment, report the accident to insurance, and consider contacting a truck accident lawyer.
Should I go to the doctor after a truck accident if I feel fine?
Yes. Many injuries do not appear immediately, and seeing a doctor creates medical records that are important for your claim.
Should I talk to the trucking company’s insurance company?
You should be cautious when speaking with insurance companies and avoid giving recorded statements without legal advice.
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim?
The deadline to file a lawsuit is called the statute of limitations and varies by state, but in many states it is around two years from the date of the accident.
