Truck accidents require immediate, specific actions that differ from standard car accident steps. Trucking companies send rapid response teams to accident scenes, and the injuries are often severe. So the steps you take in the first hours after a truck accident can significantly affect the outcome of your legal claim. Attorney Damoun Yazdi at The Accident Network Law Group handles truck accident cases throughout Southern California. He advises clients on the critical steps to take right after a commercial truck hits them.

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Key Takeaways

  • Call 911 immediately: a police report is essential in truck accident cases, and the officer should note any visible FMCSA violations
  • Photograph the truck including its DOT number, license plates, company name, and any visible damage or regulatory violations
  • Do not speak with the trucking company’s representatives or their insurance adjusters without first consulting an attorney
  • Seek emergency medical care immediately, even if you feel fine at the scene
  • Contact an attorney as quickly as possible; trucking companies’ rapid response teams begin their investigation within hours

Step 1: Call 911 and Stay at the Scene

Call 911 immediately if you have any ability to do so. For accidents involving commercial trucks, a police response is essential. The responding officer will note all relevant information, including the truck driver’s commercial driver’s license (CDL) number, the truck’s DOT number, any visible regulatory violations (such as overweight loads, missing safety equipment, or signs of fatigue), and witness information.

California Vehicle Code Section 20001 requires you to stop at the scene of any accident involving injury. Leaving the scene of a truck accident is a criminal offense that can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the severity of the injury.

Step 2: Document Everything You Can

While waiting for emergency responders, document everything possible if you are physically able.

Photograph the truck from multiple angles, focusing on the truck’s DOT number (required by federal law on all commercial vehicles), the trucking company’s name and logo, the truck’s license plates (both the tractor and the trailer), any visible damage, cargo markings, and condition of the tires and equipment. Take wide shots showing the positions of the vehicles and close-up shots of damage and any debris.

Photograph your own vehicle damage, your injuries, and road conditions. If you see tire marks, road gouges, or other physical evidence, photograph those as well.

Get witness information. Get the full names and contact information of everyone who witnessed the accident. Independent witnesses with no connection to either party provide the most credible testimony.

Step 3: Seek Medical Care Immediately

Even if you feel relatively fine after a truck accident, go to an emergency room or urgent care facility immediately. The forces involved in truck accidents can cause internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal injuries that may not be immediately symptomatic. Adrenaline can mask significant pain.

From a legal standpoint, a gap between the accident and your first medical visit gives the trucking company’s insurer ammunition to argue your injuries were not serious or were not caused by the accident. Emergency room records from the day of the accident create the critical link between the collision and your injuries.

Step 4: Do Not Speak to the Trucking Company or Its Insurer Without an Attorney

The trucking company’s rapid response team and its insurance adjuster’s sole purpose is to protect the trucking company and minimize your claim. They may approach you at the accident scene or contact you within hours or days of the accident. They may seem friendly and sympathetic. Do not give any recorded statements, sign any documents, or accept any payments without consulting an attorney.

Your statements to the insurance adjuster are not casual conversation. They are recorded and will be used to dispute your claim. Even a casual statement like ‘I think the truck came out of nowhere’ can be used to argue you had inadequate time to observe what happened and therefore cannot accurately reconstruct the events.

Step 5: Contact a Truck Accident Attorney Immediately

Attorney Yazdi can send evidence preservation letters to the trucking company within 24 hours, requiring them to preserve the truck’s black box data, ELD records, driver logs, maintenance records, drug and alcohol test results, and employment file before these records are overwritten or destroyed.

He began his career as a paralegal at a personal injury firm and later served as a law clerk at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, giving him investigation skills critical in truck accident cases.

California Laws Relevant to Truck Accident Claims

California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 sets the two-year statute of limitations. FMCSA regulations (49 CFR Parts 390-399) govern trucking company obligations. California Vehicle Code Section 16056 (amended by SB 1107, effective January 1, 2025) sets minimum auto insurance at $30,000/$60,000/$15,000, though commercial trucks must carry significantly higher federal minimum coverage. California follows pure comparative negligence (Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 1975).

Nicky C

Nicky C

★★★★★

I can't explain in this short review how much Damoun and his team mean to us, but I'll try. My husband was in a near fatal motor cycle accident. He was T-boned by a pick up truck 4 months after we had our baby girl. The stress, fear and sadness I felt could not be measured I had no idea what to do or what happened. I'm so lucky we connected with Damoun and his group. It was a weekend and of course he was working lol. They really took care of us and put our minds at ease. The care and love they give their clients is unreal and I still can't believe how lucky we were to find them. Please if you need help, want someone who cares and will work for you this is the group. Damoun Yazdi you are amazing and so is your group we love you guys. Thank you for changing our lives for the better and for caring.

Contact The Accident Network Law Group About Your Truck Accident Claim

Commercial trucking companies begin building their defense within hours of a crash, which is why Attorney Damoun Yazdi at The Accident Network Law Group moves just as quickly, sending preservation letters for black box data, driver logs, and maintenance records before they can be lost or overwritten.

If you were injured by a commercial truck, the consultation is free and we handle truck accident claims on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover for you. Our team serves Riverside, Costa Mesa, Rancho Cucamonga, Apple Valley, Victorville, and Bakersfield, and throughout Southern California. Se habla espanol.

Legal Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The outcome of any case depends on its specific facts and circumstances. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Contact The Accident Network Law Group for advice about your individual situation.