What to Do After a Head-On Collision with a Semi-Truck

June 9, 2024 / Truck Accidents

Head-on collisions are often devastating accidents that cause significant pain and loss. What victims and their families do after an accident of this magnitude heavily influences the medical and financial outcomes that follow. Knowing what to do after a head-on collision with a semi-truck can save your life and finances and help you rebuild what has been lost.

7 Steps to Take After a Head-On Truck Accident

Sadly, many head-on truck accidents result in fatalities. The sheer power generated makes death or serious bodily injury a common consequence in these types of incidents. When the victim survives, they may be in a position to take certain steps that can prove quite beneficial.

1. Find Safety

In any head-on truck accident case, the safety of the parties involved and the public are of utmost importance. Eliminate additional danger by getting to a safe place and removing your vehicle from the path of oncoming traffic. You should also provide reasonable assistance to anyone in need.

In many cases, these actions aren’t possible. The vast destruction caused frequently disables vehicles and leaves occupants disabled or trapped. When it is possible, crash victims should do what they can to prevent a second traffic event.

2. Call 911

After doing all you can to reach safety, you should immediately call 911. The operator will send the appropriate responders, including police, medical, and fire. When on the scene, the police officer will make a police report. This document is essential to your future compensation claim. Remember that anything you say to the police will be recorded in the report and can be used during the claims process.

Medical responders will work to evaluate and stabilize injured parties. If necessary, the victims will be transported to a hospital. It is recommended that you submit to a full medical evaluation in order to spot any injuries that may not appear obvious at first. The medical evaluation will also generate a crucial record of your injuries, which is necessary for your damages claim.

3. Document What You Can

Evidence is the foundation of any compensation claim. When circumstances allow, you should attempt to document as much of the accident as possible. Your smartphone is an effective tool for this task. Use it to take photos and video footage of:

• Damage to the vehicles
• Injuries
• Behavior and statements of the truck driver
• Various angles of the accident site
• Full shots of the road and road signs
• Road conditions
• Weather conditions
• Location of traffic cams
• Witnesses and their vehicles.

Anything you can gather will likely be of great use to your head-on collision attorney. However, never risk your safety to collect evidence.

4. Exchange Information

In cases such as these, it is often impossible to have an exchange with the truck driver. The victim, the driver, or both may be physically incapacitated beyond the point of normal communication.

If the truck driver is unable to swap information with you, you can still collect sufficient identifying information. Take down the truck’s license plate, make, and model. If possible, try to get the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the driver’s Department of Transportation (DOT) number as well. You may also find identifying marks or logos on the truck that point to a trucking or shipping company.

If you and the truck driver are fine to exchange information, make sure to obtain:

• The driver’s license number
• Insurance information
• Registration information
• Phone number or other contact information
• License plate number and VIN.

You will also want to get the precise make, model, and year of the truck. This information will later prove necessary to start your compensation claim.

5. Speak with Witnesses

Witness testimony can be powerful evidence for your case if gathered soon after an accident. If you are involved in a head-on crash with witnesses present, approach them politely about providing a statement of events relating to the crash. You should also collect each witness’s contact information, including name, telephone, and email.

6. Make Notes of Surveillance Cam Presence

Surveillance cameras are everywhere now. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and municipalities use them on various highways and roadways to help determine the causes of accidents. If you are in an accident, make note of any traffic cameras you see, and remember that footage is typically deleted within 30 days.

You should look around for private surveillance cameras as well, such as business and residential cameras. However, just as in the case of traffic cams, private cam footage is subject to quick deletion. For this reason, it is important to hire an attorney promptly so they can begin pursuing relevant footage before it is deleted.

7. Meet with an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer

Any person who experiences a head-on collision with a semi-truck should contact an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. From the moment your accident occurs, your compensation is at stake. Once an insurance company becomes aware of the crash, it will immediately start searching for reasons to deny the claim. The trucker’s employer will also put up a defense to protect business profits.

In contrast, your truck accident attorney will do everything in their power to recover as much compensation as possible under the law. They fiercely negotiate with those who owe you money and reject compensation offers that are simply too low.

Contact an Experienced Semi-Truck Accident Attorney for Help

Knowing what to do after a head-on collision with a semi-truck can save your life and significantly improve the results of your efforts at seeking compensation. In all cases involving head-on collisions with semi-trucks, accident victims should seek experienced counsel to truly improve their likelihood of receiving fair compensation.

Attorney Mike Stephenson

Attorney Mike Stephenson has 40 years of experience and is a trusted advisor to many individuals and companies. His current practice is dominated by civil litigation in state and federal courts. He focuses much of his time on handling catastrophic injuries caused by all types of accidents, including motor vehicle, trucking, workplace injuries, product liability, just to name a few. Mike is a proven advocate and trial attorney. He has served as lead trial counsel in more than 100 civil jury trials, and has handled litigation in 18 states. [ Attorney Bio ]