// RIGHT AFTER THE CRASH
What to do
right now.
No form to fill in, no obligation — just the six things that matter most in the hours after a truck accident, in order. Bookmark this page or share it with anyone at the scene.
- 01
Get safe, then call 911
Move out of traffic if you can do so safely. Call 911 even if injuries seem minor — a police report is often the single most important piece of evidence in a truck accident claim, and some injuries (especially head and spinal injuries) don't show symptoms right away.
- 02
Get medical attention, even if you feel "fine"
Adrenaline masks pain. Get checked by paramedics at the scene or a doctor within 24 hours — both for your health and because a documented gap between the crash and your first treatment is a standard defense tactic used to argue your injuries aren't related to the accident.
- 03
Document everything you can
Photos of the vehicles, the scene, skid marks, road conditions, your injuries, and the truck's company name/DOT number if visible. Get names and phone numbers of any witnesses — they're often impossible to trace later.
- 04
Get the trucking company's information
The truck's DOT number, the carrier name (may differ from the logo on the truck), and the driver's name and license number. This is what lets an attorney identify the right insurance policy and pull the carrier's federal safety record.
- 05
Preserve evidence before it disappears
Electronic logging device (ELD) data can legally be overwritten in as little as 7 days. Dashcam footage cycles even faster. An attorney can send a formal evidence-preservation letter to the carrier immediately — the sooner this happens, the more evidence survives.
- 06
Don't give a recorded statement to the trucking company's insurer
Their insurance adjuster's job is to minimize what they pay, and a recorded statement taken before you fully understand your injuries can be used against you later. You're not obligated to give one. Talking to your own attorney first costs nothing and protects you.
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// CONTINUE READING
- See the full claims process → — what happens after you file, step by step.
- Find your state's filing deadline → — some states give you as little as one year.