What is the first thing I should do after a truck accident?

Your first priority is safety. Move away from traffic if possible and call 911 immediately. Even if you feel fine, request emergency medical services because many truck accident injuries like internal bleeding or traumatic brain injuries may not show symptoms right away.

What evidence should I collect at a truck accident scene?

Photograph the vehicles, road conditions, skid marks, traffic signs, and any visible injuries. Get the truck USDOT number and company name from the cab door. Collect contact information from witnesses. Do not move the vehicles unless necessary for safety, as their positions are important evidence.

Should I talk to the trucking company insurance adjuster after an accident?

You should be very cautious. Insurance adjusters work for the trucking company and their goal is to minimize the payout. Anything you say can be used to reduce your claim. It is generally advisable to speak with a truck accident attorney before giving any recorded statements.

What to Do After a Truck Accident

What to Do After a Truck Accident in San Antonio

The moments and days following a truck accident are critical — both for your physical recovery and for your ability to pursue a successful legal claim. Unlike a typical car accident, truck crashes involve commercial insurance carriers, federal regulations, and corporate legal teams that begin building their defense immediately. The steps you take right after the accident can make or break your case.

At the Law Offices of Ronald A. Ramos, P.C., we have guided hundreds of San Antonio truck accident victims through this process. This guide covers what you should do at the scene, in the hours and days afterward, and how to protect your legal rights while focusing on your recovery.

At the Accident Scene

Call 911 immediately. Texas Transportation Code Section 550.026 requires that accidents involving injury, death, or significant property damage be reported to law enforcement. A police report creates an official record of the accident, documents the truck driver’s statements, and may include the officer’s preliminary determination of fault. For truck accidents, request that the responding agency dispatch a commercial vehicle enforcement officer if available — they are trained to inspect trucks and document regulatory violations at the scene.

Seek medical attention even if you feel fine initially. Adrenaline and shock can mask serious injuries including traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and spinal cord damage. Tell the paramedics about every symptom, no matter how minor it seems. Your medical records from the scene become critical evidence linking your injuries to the accident.

Document everything you can. If you are physically able, use your phone to photograph the accident scene from multiple angles, including damage to all vehicles, the truck’s license plate, DOT number, and company name displayed on the cab or trailer. Photograph skid marks, road conditions, traffic signals, and debris patterns. Take photos of any visible injuries. Note the names and badge numbers of responding officers, and collect contact information from witnesses.

Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster at the scene. You are not legally required to provide one, and anything you say can be used to reduce or deny your claim later. Politely decline and say you will cooperate through your attorney.

In the First 24 to 48 Hours

Get a thorough medical evaluation. Visit an emergency room or your primary care physician within 24 hours, even if you were evaluated at the scene. Some injuries — particularly soft tissue injuries, concussions, and internal injuries — may not present symptoms until hours or days after the accident. A prompt, documented medical evaluation creates a clear record connecting your injuries to the truck accident.

Report the accident to your own insurance company as required by your policy, but keep the conversation factual and brief. Provide the basic facts — date, time, location, and the other parties involved — without speculating about fault or the extent of your injuries. Do not agree to give a recorded statement without legal counsel.

Begin a personal injury journal. Write down everything you remember about the accident while details are fresh. Document your symptoms daily, noting pain levels, limitations on daily activities, emotional effects, and how the injuries affect your work and family life. This contemporaneous record becomes valuable evidence when calculating non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

Preserving Critical Evidence

Truck accident evidence can disappear quickly. Electronic logging device (ELD) data may be overwritten within days. Dashcam and surveillance footage from nearby businesses is often recorded over within 24 to 72 hours. The trucking company’s dispatch records, driver qualification files, and maintenance logs may be altered or destroyed if not preserved immediately.

This is why contacting a truck accident attorney as soon as possible is essential. Our legal team sends spoliation preservation letters to the trucking company, the driver, and any other potentially liable parties within hours of being retained. These letters put the defendants on legal notice that they must preserve all evidence related to the accident — and that destruction of evidence will result in sanctions and adverse inferences at trial.

In time-sensitive situations, we file emergency motions for temporary restraining orders compelling evidence preservation, and we may dispatch our own accident reconstruction team to the scene to document physical evidence before it is cleaned up or degraded by weather and traffic.

Mistakes to Avoid After a Truck Accident

Do not post about the accident on social media. Insurance companies and defense attorneys actively monitor plaintiffs’ social media accounts. A photo showing you at a family event, a check-in at a gym, or even an innocent status update about feeling better can be taken out of context and used to argue that your injuries are not as serious as claimed.

Do not sign any documents from the trucking company or its insurer without having them reviewed by your attorney. This includes medical authorization forms that give the insurer access to your entire medical history — not just records related to the accident. Do not accept a quick settlement offer. Early offers from trucking company insurers are almost always significantly below the true value of your claim and are designed to close the case before the full extent of your injuries is known.

Do not miss follow-up medical appointments. Gaps in your treatment record give the defense an argument that your injuries resolved on their own or were not as serious as claimed. Follow your doctor’s treatment plan consistently and attend all scheduled appointments, therapy sessions, and diagnostic tests.

The Texas Statute of Limitations

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. For wrongful death claims, the two-year period runs from the date of death, which may be later than the accident date. While two years may seem like a long time, the investigation phase of a truck accident case — gathering evidence, retaining experts, and building your claim — can take many months. Delaying action puts critical evidence at risk.

Contact Our San Antonio Truck Accident Attorneys

If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident in San Antonio, the most important step you can take is contacting an experienced attorney who understands federal trucking regulations and evidence preservation. The Law Offices of Ronald A. Ramos, P.C. offers free consultations and handles all truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. Call (210) 308-8811 or reach out online — the sooner you act, the better we can protect your rights and your claim.