If you’ve been hit by a semi-truck, prioritize your safety, seek medical attention, report the crash, and document as much of the scene as you safely can. Avoid admitting fault or making assumptions about what caused the collision before the facts are established.

After a major accident involving an 18-wheeler, it can be difficult to know what to do next. You may be dealing with injuries, vehicle damage, insurance questions, and uncertainty about your legal rights. Taking the right steps early can help protect your health and preserve important information about the collision.

Get to a Safe Location

Your immediate priority after a crash should be getting yourself and others out of danger. If you can safely move your vehicle away from traffic, do so. Turn on your hazard lights and remain in a safe location while waiting for help.

If you or someone else is seriously injured, avoid unnecessary movement unless remaining where you are creates an immediate danger. Call 911 and provide the location and information about any apparent injuries.

Seek Medical Attention

Even if you feel relatively fine after the collision, consider getting evaluated by a medical professional. Some injuries may not be immediately obvious, particularly when adrenaline is still affecting how you feel.

Tell your medical provider about any symptoms and follow their recommendations for treatment and follow-up care. Keep records of medical appointments, bills, prescriptions, and other treatment related to injuries from the crash.

Report the Accident

Contact law enforcement and report the collision, particularly when there are injuries or significant vehicle damage. Cooperate with responding officers and provide factual information about what happened.

Avoid guessing about the truck’s speed, distance, or what caused the collision if you don’t know. Focus on what you personally observed and ask how you can obtain a copy of the crash report once it becomes available.

Document the Crash and Preserve Evidence

If you’re physically able to do so safely, photograph or record the vehicles, visible injuries, road conditions, traffic signals, property damage, and surrounding area. You can also collect the names and contact information of witnesses and make notes about the time, location, weather, and circumstances of the crash.

Preserve anything else that could help document what happened. Detailed information collected after large truck crashes can include crash-scene conditions, vehicle inspections, witness interviews, and police reports. Keeping these materials organized can make it easier to understand and support your claim later.

Notify Your Insurance Company

Report the accident to your own insurance company according to the requirements of your policy. Provide accurate information and cooperate with reasonable requests for documentation.

When discussing the crash, stick to the facts you know. Avoid speculating about who was responsible or making statements about injuries before you’ve had an opportunity to understand their full extent.

Be Careful With the Trucking Company’s Insurer

A commercial truck accident can involve the trucking company, its insurer, the driver, vehicle owners, or other parties. An insurance representative for another party may contact you for information about the collision.

Be cautious about providing recorded statements, signing documents, or accepting an early settlement before you understand the extent of your injuries and losses. If you’re unsure how to respond, consider getting legal advice before making decisions that could affect your claim.

Understand Your Legal Options

Truck accident claims can involve complicated questions about driver conduct, vehicle maintenance, company practices, insurance coverage, and other circumstances surrounding the crash. Understanding the factors that may contribute to large truck crashes can provide useful background when considering what happened. 

If you’ve suffered significant injuries, lost income, extensive vehicle damage, or other substantial losses, speaking with a qualified truck accident attorney may help you understand your options. An attorney can review the circumstances of the collision and explain what legal remedies may be available.

Key Takeaways

• Move to a safe location and call 911 after a serious semi-truck collision.
• Seek medical attention even if you don’t immediately notice significant symptoms.
• Give law enforcement factual information and obtain the crash report when available.
• Photograph the scene and preserve medical, insurance, vehicle, and other relevant evidence.
• Notify your own insurance company while avoiding unnecessary speculation about fault.
• Be cautious when communicating with the trucking company’s insurer or considering a settlement.
• If the crash resulted in significant losses, consider consulting a qualified truck accident attorney.