Been in a truck crash?
If so, then you are part of the 388,000 truck accidents that occur in the U.S every year. That is a number that accounts for real families, real injuries, and real people with their lives changed in an instant.
The problem is:
The majority of people do not even know what to do after a collision with a large commercial truck. They’re shaken, confused, and more often than not, severely injured. When you don’t know the proper steps to take after a crash, victims unknowingly sabotage their ability to collect the full compensation they deserve.
The sad thing is, truck accidents are even deadlier. 74.9% of truck accidents that involve a collision with a single motor vehicle are fatal. These vehicles can weigh in up to 80,000 pounds.
What you’ll learn:
- The First Steps That Save Lives
- How to Protect Your Legal Rights From the Start
- The Essential Evidence You Need to Gather
- When to Call a Lawyer
Keep Safety as Your Priority
Your safety (and the safety of everyone involved) should always be your top concern.
The moments right after a truck accident is total chaos.
Before doing anything else, you need to move everyone to a safe location without further injuring yourself. Turn on the hazards and set up flares or traffic cones if possible.
Call 911 and request an ambulance, even if everyone seems okay. Some truck accidents involve injuries that aren’t immediately visible. Soft tissue damage, internal bleeding, and spine injuries can develop later. A police report will also be needed to document the incident.
Emergency responders are trained to handle these situations. They’ll evaluate injuries, secure the crash scene, and start the documentation process.
Never move someone who may have suffered a spinal injury. Wait for the professionals.
Get Medical Help Regardless
Fun fact that might surprise you?
Truck accident victims sometimes walk away from a crash thinking they’re okay only to later discover catastrophic injuries days or weeks later.
Wait, what? Yes. Our adrenaline masks the pain, and some accidents like collisions with internal bleeding don’t show up right away.
Don’t be that person! That’s why you need to call a qualified lawyer who specialises in truck accidents immediately after a collision. Truck accident cases are complicated and involve many parties. You need legal counsel with experience in truck accidents and knowledge of federal trucking regulations.
Getting medical help ASAP is actually a 2-for-1 move:
- It protects your health by identifying hidden injuries early on
- It strengthens your legal case by creating an official medical record
Insurance companies always argue that their client’s injuries were not caused by the accident. When there is a delay in medical treatment, they’ll assert that you suffered the injury somewhere else.
Even if you don’t think you are injured, get checked out by a doctor. You’re not. Let the professionals decide that for you.
Document The Scene While You Can
If you can physically do it, begin collecting evidence at the crash scene ASAP.
The truck accident scene will not be preserved forever. Towed cars, cleanup crews, and the passage of time will erase the evidence. You need to collect it while it’s fresh.
Take photos of:
- All damage to vehicles from different angles
- The crash scene, including skid marks
- Visible injuries
- Street signs and traffic lights
- Truck’s license plate and DOT number
Collect contact information from all parties involved — the truck driver, other drivers, and witnesses. Don’t rely on the police to do this. In some cases, witnesses will leave before the officers can interview them.
Write down a detailed account of what happened right after the crash.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
There’s a lot you don’t know about insurance companies.
They are not your friends. Their job is to pay out as little money as possible, not help you. The trucking company’s insurance provider might reach out to you very soon after the crash. Sometimes, they might even contact you within a couple of hours.
You will get the phone call and it will be from a very friendly and helpful person. They will ask you a lot of questions. They might also offer you a quick and easy settlement.
It is at this point that you need to keep your mouth shut and not say anything stupid.
Remember this! The first settlement offer is always less than your claim is worth. Truck accident claims often go for hundreds of thousands of dollars, but insurance adjusters may offer a fraction of that right at the beginning.
Insurers are in the business of paying out as little as possible.
When dealing with insurance companies:
- Provide only basic facts about the accident
- Do not speculate about who is at fault or who was to blame
- Do not give recorded statements without consulting with a lawyer
- Never sign any release forms or waivers without having them reviewed first by your lawyer
Think of everything you say as being on record, and insurance adjusters have a knack of twisting words to their advantage.
Who Could Be Held Responsible
Truck accidents are different from standard car accidents because there may be more than one at-fault party.
The liability doesn’t just stop with the driver. You may have a case against:
- The trucking company for negligent hiring
- The truck manufacturer for a defective part
- The maintenance company for shoddy repair jobs
- The cargo loading company for not securing the freight properly
Truck accident cases are complicated by the sheer number of potentially liable parties. Every trucking company has its own legal team and insurance company working against you to reduce or eliminate responsibility.
Keep Records From Day One
Keep good records from the moment of the accident.
Document everything about your injuries, medical treatment, and financial losses:
Medical records: Doctor visits, tests, procedures, and medications
Lost earnings: Medical bills, lost income from missed work, travel expenses
Property damage: Repair costs, rental car expenses, damaged personal items
The more detailed your records, the more robust your case will be.
Don’t Delay In Calling a Lawyer
Time is not on your side with truck accident claims.
Evidence is lost or destroyed, witnesses forget, and statutes of limitations place deadlines on when you can file legal actions. The trucking company’s lawyers and insurers start working on your case the moment the accident occurs. You should as well.
Many truck accident victims make the mistake of thinking they can deal with insurance companies on their own. But truck accident cases are not simple fender benders. They involve complex regulations and defense tactics.
A qualified truck accident lawyer will:
- Investigate the crash and preserve vital evidence
- Deal with all communications with insurance companies
- Accurately value your claim
- Negotiate assertively for maximum compensation
Lawyers that specialize in truck accidents usually work on contingency, which means you don’t pay if they do not win.
Posting On Social Media Is A Mistake
We live in a world that is connected 24/7 via smartphones. So it’s only natural that you would want to share your experience on social media.
Don’t do it.
Insurance companies are notorious for trolling the social media accounts of accident victims. They’re looking for anything they can use against you. Even an innocent-looking post about an evening out can be used to dispute your injury claims.
You can save yourself a lot of heartache by not posting anything on social media until your case is settled.
Your Rights In A Truck Collision
Truck accident victims have a legal right to compensation from all the damages caused by the collision.
This includes tangible things like medical bills and lost income. But truck accident victims are also entitled to compensation for more nebulous damages like:
- Future medical expenses and rehabilitation costs
- Permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The trucking industry is one of the most heavily regulated by the federal government. These regulations are in place to help prevent truck accidents.
It stands to reason then that when the trucking companies and drivers violate these safety regulations, they need to be held fully accountable.
Summing It Up
Truck accidents are life-altering events. You need to act fast, but you also need to plan your actions carefully.
The steps you take in those first few hours and days after the accident will determine whether you get fair compensation, or whether insurance companies get to take advantage of you.
