What to Do After a Truck Accident: Step-by-Step Guide for Victims

By Emery Ledger on August 8, 2025

What to Do After a Truck Accident

Knowing what to do after a truck accident can ensure your safety and prepare you to pursue a personal injury claim to recover your damages. A semi truck is much larger than a passenger vehicle. Getting into an accident with one means the odds are against you.

Steps to Take After a Truck Accident

The first steps to take after a truck accident include taking a look at the situation. Next is figuring out what actions you should and are able to take. You may or may not be able to collect evidence after an accident with a semi truck. Immediate safety is paramount. If you’re seriously injured, skip these steps. Instead, get medical treatment on scene as soon as possible.

Remain Calm and Ensure Safety

Take a breath and check for obvious injuries or threats. Moving your car out of the way is a good idea. However, only do so if it’s drivable and you’re capable of control. If you have a safety kit in your car, carefully use the contents to warn oncoming drivers – again, only if safe to do so.

Call 911 Immediately

If you’re wondering who to call after a truck accident, call 911. You’re going to need an emergency response to take care of you and anyone else involved in the accident. An accident outcome is much better when emergency services are on the scene as quickly as possible, especially if you or any other parties need medical care.

Seek Medical Treatment Right Away

Don’t turn down an offer of treatment at the scene, and transportation to the hospital by EMS. Your injuries should be looked at by a medical professional. You may think that your injuries are minor because you’re mobile and conscious. At issue is the potential for silent injuries that take time to show up. Immediate medical attention gets you ahead of those injuries as well as supporting a personal injury case in the future. 

Try to Find and Speak With Witnesses

There may have been bystanders and Good Samaritans who saw the accident unfold. Get as many names as possible and ask if they will provide their contact information. Also ask if they could make a short statement. Usually, this is the job of the responding police officer. But there may be an issue if witnesses don’t want to stay until emergency personnel arrive on scene.

Document the Scene with Photos and Notes 

This is one of the most important parts of the truck accident checklist. Photos show the truth of the situation, which is hard to argue against. Taking notes of what you’re seeing backs up what’s being shown in the pictures. Taking these steps before the accident is cleaned up clearly shows what happened to cause the accident. 

Exchange Information Carefully

You and the truck driver need to exchange information for future contact. Make sure you double-check the information the driver gives you. Also check to make sure that the truck driver took your information and wrote it down correctly. Ask the truck driver for information that includes:

• Driver’s license
• Truck registration
• Insurance
• Employer information 
• Watch What You Say at the Scene

It’s important to know what to say at the scene. The attorneys for the truck driver and company are going to be looking for information that helps their case. Anything you say that can indicate you’re at fault can be used to undermine your case. This is true even if the evidence supports the fact that you have little to no blame in causing the accident. 

Avoid Social Media Posts

To protect yourself, never post about the details of your accident on social media. It may be okay to mention getting into an accident with a semi-truck, but exclude any particulars or photos. Insurance companies and defense lawyers watch your social media accounts for your comments. They’re looking for information that they can use for their benefit. Staying quiet and saying very little, if anything, online about the accident is the best approach.

Filing a Truck Accident Claim Process

The truck accident claim process begins once the scene has been cleared and you have assessed the extent of your losses. Your two primary options for filing your claim include personally negotiating with the insurance company or consulting a personal injury lawyer. The major drawback to directly filing the claim with the insurer is that the insurer doesn’t have to negotiate in good faith. This is why it’s best to quickly hire a truck accident attorney to negotiate on your behalf. 

Complete a Preliminary Accident Report

The preliminary accident report is a personal log of the accident and more. You write down everything you remember and track expenses, damage to your vehicle, and how you feel every day. Some of the things you should track include:

• The events that led to the accident
• Anything you can remember from the impact and immediate aftermath
• Injuries sustained from the accident
• Damage to your car
• Expenses related to recovering from the accident
• Daily symptoms related to your injuries
• Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer

Once you’ve taken the initial steps on scene and immediately after, get in touch with a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. A personal injury lawyer with experience in truck accident cases can help guide you through the process and recover maximum damages from the accident. A specialized lawyer understands the often complicated federal and state laws that apply to the trucking industry. They can use this knowledge on your behalf to fight for a just settlement.

Use This Truck Accident Checklist for Guidance

Keep this truck accident checklist handy in case you get into a collision with a semi. It helps you take the right actions and protect yourself in the time immediately following an accident. Most importantly, stay put if you’re seriously injured. Emergency responders can and will help with evidence collection that helps support your case. 

At Ledger Law Firm, we’re familiar with how an accident with a semi truck can impact your life. Our experienced and compassionate team of personal injury lawyers is trained in federal and state trucking laws, rules, and safety regulations. We’re ready to fight for your rights and reach a fair and just settlement that covers your losses and helps you move forward.

FAQs – What to Do After a Truck Accident

What Is the First Thing You Should Do After a Semi-Truck Accident?

The first step after a truck accident is to stay calm and assess the situation for immediate danger. If it’s safe, move your vehicle out of the way and use your emergency kit to alert oncoming traffic. If you’re seriously injured, stay still and wait for emergency responders.

Who Should You Call Following a Truck Crash?

You should immediately call 911 after a truck accident. Emergency services will dispatch medical help, police officers, and firefighters if necessary. Prompt reporting also ensures that an official accident report is created, which is critical for your personal injury claim.

Why Is Medical Evaluation Crucial After a Truck Accident?

Even if you feel fine after the crash, seeking immediate medical treatment is vital. Some injuries, like internal trauma or concussions, may not present symptoms right away. Prompt medical care not only protects your health but also supports your injury claim documentation.

How Can Eyewitnesses Support Your Truck Accident Claim?

Eyewitness statements help verify how the accident occurred. If you’re able, speak to nearby witnesses, gather their contact information, and ask for a brief statement. Their testimonies can validate your version of events and serve as strong evidence in your case.

Why Is Taking Photos After a Truck Accident Important?

Photos provide clear, timestamped visual evidence of the scene, damage, injuries, and road conditions. Documenting everything as soon as possible helps preserve details that might be lost once the scene is cleared, strengthening your legal case.

What Information Should You Collect from the Truck Driver?

Exchange essential information with the truck driver, including their license number, insurance provider, vehicle registration, and employer contact details. Double-check the accuracy of the data to ensure it’s useful during your claim or lawsuit.

Should You Talk About the Accident on Social Media?

No, avoid posting about the truck accident on social media. Insurance adjusters and defense attorneys may monitor your online activity. Even innocent posts can be twisted to cast doubt on your injuries or credibility.

How Does the Truck Accident Claim Filing Process Work?

After receiving medical treatment and collecting evidence, you can either file a claim directly with the truck driver’s insurance company or hire a truck accident lawyer. Since insurers often aim to minimize payouts, having a lawyer negotiate on your behalf is usually the smarter option.

What Is a Preliminary Accident Log and Why Keep One?

A preliminary accident report is your personal journal documenting the crash, medical treatments, expenses, and symptoms. Recording everything from the timeline of the accident to your recovery progress creates a detailed account that helps support your compensation claim.

Why Hire a Lawyer After Being Hit by a Commercial Truck?

Truck accident attorneys are skilled in handling claims that involve federal trucking laws, commercial liability, and complex accident scenarios. They can gather the right evidence, negotiate with insurers, and represent you in court to maximize your compensation.

Emery Ledger

Emery Brett Ledger brings more than 27 years of experience to personal injury law. He founded & led The Ledger Law Firm in securing over $100 million in compensation for clients with life-altering injuries & complex claims. Licensed in California, Texas, & Washington, Emery earned his law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. His practice areas include car & truck accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, maritime claims, & mass tort litigation. He has been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100, Mass Tort Trial Lawyers Top 25, and America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys. Emery also received the 2025 Elite Lawyer Award & holds a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating with Platinum Client Champion status. His legal work has been featured on CNN, Forbes, NBC, & ABC.