What Should Truck Drivers Do at the Scene of an Accident?

April 24, 2023

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What Should Truck Drivers Do at the Scene of an Accident?

A perfectly-maintained rig and safe driving habits can go a long way, but they aren’t always enough to avoid accidents—especially those caused by the negligence of other motorists. Even if there appear to be no injuries or damage, do not leave the scene of a semi-truck accident. Leaving the scene before exchanging information with the other parties and filing a police report is a criminal offense in most states.

Knowing exactly what to do at the scene of an accident is crucial for any commercial truck driver, whether you own your own rig or drive for a company. Here’s what to keep in mind.

Assess Your Injuries and Safely Exit the Truck

Bring your truck safely to a stop and calmly check yourself for injuries. Try not to move any more than necessary until you’re sure you haven’t suffered any serious injuries. If you have been injured, do your best to move as little as possible until emergency personnel arrives. They’ll be able to move you without making your injuries worse.

If you have not been injured, activate the emergency flashers and carefully assess your surroundings before exiting the vehicle. You may be in shock from the accident, and semi-truck accidents can be chaotic. Check for oncoming traffic, and then move to a safe location without leaving the scene.

Set Flares or Reflective Warning Devices

Your awareness of what to do at the scene of an accident can help prevent secondary collisions and make the scene safer for everyone. Even if you weren’t involved yourself and simply passed by a semi-truck accident, it’s a good idea to set flares and warning devices to prevent oncoming vehicles from crashing into the scene. You should absolutely set flares and warnings if your truck was involved, since you could be liable for secondary collisions.

Gather Info and Document the Scene

You’ll need the following information from all parties involved in a semi-truck accident:

  • License plates
  • Vehicle identification numbers
  • Driver’s licenses
  • Vehicle registrations

It’s also important to take as many photos as you can of the entire scene. Any info you provide to the police will help them to piece together what happened—so don’t worry about having too many pictures. Take photos of:

  • Vehicle damage
  • The entire scene
  • Debris
  • Skid marks
  • Surrounding buildings (authorities may be able to use these to find and interview people who witnessed the accident)

You should also know what not to do at the scene of an accident. Don’t admit fault or make any statements, since it could require a more detailed investigation to determine exactly what went down.

File a Report

If you are able to and no one else has done so, already you must file a report of the accident. If you own your semi-truck, report the accident by contacting your insurance company. If you drive for a trucking company, contact your employer. Failure to file a report at the scene could negatively affect your insurance or employment claims.

Learn More About Commercial Driving Safety With International Used Truck Center

Have further questions about protecting yourself from the physical and legal threats of a semi-truck accident? The team at International Used Truck Center is happy to help in any way we can! Contact us today or explore our maintenance guides and tech tips for drivers.

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