No matter what you think other drivers or pedestrians may be doing to help you, make that call yourself if you can do so. It ensures you have an official police record of what happened, puts your name on file, and means you have started to create a paper trail for any damage claim you may pursue.

Am I supposed to call the police after being in a truck accident?

The short answer is “Yes.” No matter what you think other drivers or pedestrians may be doing to help you, make that call yourself if you can do so. It ensures you have an official police record of what happened, puts your name on file, and means you have started to create a paper trail for any damage claim you may pursue. While people might admit fault at the scene, you can imagine that their stories later change frequently if the stories aren’t documented in a crash report.

Another factor in having the police present at the crash scene is the investigating officer determines who was at fault. This is important because of the nature of truck accidents. They may ultimately involve local, state, or federal authorities. Truck accidents are typically multijurisdictional, can be complex and confusing, and also involve numerous insurance companies and attorneys.

It’s important to know that commercial truck accidents are not the same as car accidents. In a truck crash, a whole different set of agencies investigates the incident – including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and usually the Texas Highway Patrol (THP). Another factor that complicates truck accident investigations is that there are many different federal and state laws that apply to commercial truck crashes. Truck accidents can be a nightmare for those involved, and this is one of the main reasons, aside from the serious injuries sustained, to discuss your case with an experienced truck accident lawyer.

One other thing to remember in the aftermath of a truck accident is to seek medical care, even if you feel ok or do not think you have been hurt that badly. Your health is your top priority, so get thoroughly examined as soon as possible. Do not refuse care at the scene. Co-operate with paramedics taking you to the nearest medical facility for treatment.

There is the possibility that you sustained life-threatening injuries, but, due to an adrenaline rush, you may not realize it. Do everything possible to take care of yourself. This too creates a paper trail and proves your claims later when you seek compensation for your injuries. It also makes your case easier to prove to a skeptical insurance company that would rather reduce or deny your claim than pay out what it is genuinely worth.

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