You just got into an accident. Your truck is on the shoulder. Adrenaline is pumping. You need to know exactly what to do right now — not tomorrow, not when you get home, but in the next 60 minutes. The actions you take (and do not take) in the first hour after a crash will determine how the insurance claim goes, whether you face FMCSA violations, and how your CSA scores are affected for the next two years.
This guide gives you the 12 steps every commercial truck driver must follow after an accident. Print it. Save it to your phone. Keep it in your cab. You will be glad you did.
CRITICAL RULE: Do NOT admit fault. No matter what happened, say only: "I need to speak with my insurance company." Do not apologize. Do not speculate. Do not explain what happened to the other driver or bystanders. Anything you say can and will be used against you in court.
12 Steps: What to Do After a Truck Accident
![Detail illustration: Truck Accident: What to Do in the First 60 Minutes [2026]](/generated/inline-truck-accident-what-to-do-first.webp)
Check for Injuries and Call 911
Before anything else, check yourself for injuries. Then check on others if it is safe to leave your cab. Call 911 immediately if anyone is hurt, if there is significant vehicle damage, or if the road is blocked. Even if injuries seem minor, call 911 — some injuries are not apparent right away, and you need an official record of the incident.
When speaking with 911, provide your exact location (mile marker, highway name, direction of travel), the number of vehicles involved, and whether anyone is injured. Stay calm and stick to facts.
Move to a Safe Location If Possible
If your truck can be safely moved without destroying evidence or causing further hazards, pull onto the shoulder or to a safe area away from traffic. If the truck is stuck in a live lane and it is not safe to get out, stay in your cab with your seatbelt fastened and the hazards on until emergency services arrive. Otherwise, get out on the side away from traffic and stand behind a barrier such as a guardrail, well away from the road. A disabled truck on an active roadway is a secondary-accident magnet: do not stand between your truck and traffic.
Turn on Hazard Lights and Set Warning Triangles
Activate your four-way flashers immediately and keep them on at least until the triangles are out. On a divided highway or one-way road, FMCSA regulations (49 CFR 392.22) require you to place reflective warning triangles:
- 10 feet behind the vehicle (or in the direction of approaching traffic)
- 100 feet behind the vehicle
- 200 feet behind the vehicle
Place them as soon as possible, and in any event within 10 minutes of stopping. On a two-way road the layout changes: one triangle 10 feet and one 100 feet behind the truck toward approaching traffic, and one 100 feet ahead. Walk out with the triangles only when it is safe: if the truck is stuck in a live lane and it is not safe to get out, keep the hazards on and stay belted in the cab until responders arrive. Failure to set triangles is itself an FMCSA violation and can result in additional citations.
Do NOT Admit Fault
This is the most important legal step you will take at the scene. Do not say "I'm sorry," "It was my fault," "I didn't see you," or anything that could be interpreted as an admission of guilt. The only statement you need to make is:
"I need to speak with my insurance company."
Fault determination is a complex legal and insurance process. Road conditions, the other driver's actions, mechanical factors, traffic signage, and many other variables are considered. You may think you were at fault when you were not. Let your insurance company and attorneys handle fault determination.
Take Photos and Video — Everything
Your smartphone is your best friend right now. Once everyone is safe and you are out of traffic, document every detail of the scene, but never walk into a live lane for a photo:
- All damage to your truck (every angle, close-ups and wide shots)
- All damage to the other vehicle(s)
- The overall accident scene (positions of vehicles, road layout)
- Road conditions (wet, icy, potholes, construction, debris)
- Weather conditions
- Traffic signs, signals, lane markings
- Skid marks on the road
- The other vehicle's license plate
- Any visible injuries
- Dashcam footage (do NOT delete or overwrite it)
Take a video walkthrough of the entire scene. Narrate the time, date, and location as you record. The more documentation you have, the stronger your position in the insurance claim.
Exchange Information with the Other Driver
Collect the following from every other driver involved:
- Full name
- Phone number
- Insurance company and policy number
- Driver's license number and state
- License plate number
- Vehicle make, model, and year
Provide the same information from your side. Do NOT discuss the accident details, fault, or what happened. Just exchange information and move on.
Get Witness Contact Information
If any bystanders or other drivers stopped and witnessed the accident, ask for their names and phone numbers. Witness statements can be critical if fault is disputed. Write their information down or take a photo of their ID if they offer. Witnesses often leave the scene quickly, so get their information before they go.
Call Your Insurance Company
Report the accident to your insurance carrier as soon as possible — ideally from the scene. Have your policy number ready before you call. Give them the basic facts: when, where, how many vehicles, injuries (if any), and the other driver's insurance information. Your insurance company will assign a claims adjuster and guide you through the next steps.
If you have multiple insurance policies (commercial auto, cargo, general liability), call the commercial auto policy first.
Call Your Dispatcher or Safety Manager
Your motor carrier must be notified immediately. The dispatcher or safety manager needs to:
- Coordinate a post-accident drug and alcohol test if required
- Arrange for cargo and vehicle recovery
- Begin internal accident reporting procedures
- Contact the company's legal team if necessary
If you are an owner-operator running under your own authority, you are your own safety manager. This means you are personally responsible for arranging the post-accident drug and alcohol test if the accident meets the criteria (see section below). If you are leased on to a carrier, that carrier arranges it.
File a Police Report
Always request a police report, even for seemingly minor accidents. Whether a police report is legally required is set by the law of the state where the crash happened. The police report documents the scene, the positions of vehicles, witness statements, and the officer's observations. This report will be referenced by insurance companies, attorneys, and possibly the FMCSA.
Ask the responding officer for the report number and the police department name. You will need this when filing your insurance claim.
Get Post-Accident Drug & Alcohol Test (If Required)
Under 49 CFR 382.303, you are required to undergo a post-accident drug and alcohol test if the accident meets specific criteria (see the table below). This is not optional — failure to comply is treated the same as a positive test result.
While waiting for the test: Do NOT consume any alcohol for 8 hours following the accident or until you are tested, whichever comes first. Stay readily available for testing until you have been tested or your employer tells you testing is not required; otherwise it can be treated as a refusal (49 CFR 382.303(e)). Medical care comes first: the rule never delays treatment for anyone hurt, and you may leave the scene to get help or emergency medical care.
Document Everything in Writing Within 24 Hours
While your memory is still fresh, write down a detailed account of the accident. Include:
- Exact time and date
- Location (city, highway, mile marker, intersection)
- Weather and road conditions
- What happened immediately before the accident
- Exactly how the collision occurred
- What happened after the collision
- Any conversations at the scene (who said what)
- Names and badge numbers of responding officers
This written account protects you if details become disputed weeks or months later. Keep it in a safe place and share it only with your insurance company or attorney.
When Is a Post-Accident Drug Test Required?
Federal regulations under 49 CFR 382.303 specify exactly when a post-accident drug and alcohol test is mandatory for CDL drivers. The rules depend on three factors: whether there was a fatality, whether you received a citation, and whether there were injuries requiring transport or vehicles towed from the scene.
| Accident Condition | Citation Issued to CMV Driver? | Test Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Fatality (any person dies) | Does not matter | YES — always |
| Bodily injury requiring medical transport away from the scene | YES | YES |
| Bodily injury requiring medical transport away from the scene | NO | No (federal); check company policy |
| Disabling damage to any vehicle requiring towaway | YES | YES |
| Disabling damage to any vehicle requiring towaway | NO | No (federal); check company policy |
| No fatality, no injury transport, no towaway | Any | No (federal); check company policy |
Testing Timeframes
| Test Type | Must Be Completed Within | If Missed |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol test | 8 hours of the accident | Stop attempting; document the reason in writing |
| Drug test | 32 hours of the accident | Stop attempting; document the reason in writing |
Refusing to test = positive result. If you refuse a post-accident drug or alcohol test, it carries the same consequences as a positive test result. This means immediate removal from safety-sensitive duties, a Clearinghouse record, and the full return-to-duty process with a Substance Abuse Professional. Do not refuse the test.
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What NOT to Say at the Scene
In the stress of the moment, drivers say things they should not. Here is what to avoid:
- "I'm sorry" — This can be interpreted as an admission of fault in many states
- "It was my fault" — Never admit fault. Let investigators determine that
- "I didn't see you" — This admits negligence and inattention
- "I was looking at my phone" — This is admitting a federal violation (49 CFR 392.80 and 392.82)
- "My brakes were acting up" — This admits a pre-trip inspection failure or a maintenance deficiency
- "I was running late" — This implies you were speeding or driving aggressively
- "I've been driving for 14 hours" — This may imply an hours-of-service violation
Stick to one phrase: "I need to speak with my insurance company and my attorney." Say this to the other driver, to bystanders, and even to responding officers if you feel unsure about a question. What you must give police is set by the law of the state where the crash happened, usually your license, registration, and insurance information. With the officer, stick to facts and do not guess. You can politely decline to make a recorded statement at the scene.
Reportable vs. Non-Reportable Crashes
Not every fender bender counts as a "crash" in the eyes of the FMCSA. Understanding the difference between reportable and non-reportable crashes matters because only reportable crashes affect your CSA scores and carrier safety record.
FMCSA Definition of a Reportable Crash
A crash is DOT-reportable if it involves a commercial motor vehicle and results in at least one of the following:
- Fatality — any person dies within 30 days as a result of the crash
- Injury — any person requires immediate medical treatment away from the scene (transported to a hospital or medical facility)
- Towaway — any vehicle involved is towed from the scene due to disabling damage (cannot be driven away under its own power)
Non-Reportable Examples
- Parking lot scrapes and bumps where all vehicles drive away
- Mirror clips on narrow roads with no injuries, where every vehicle drives away
- Tire blowouts causing you to hit a guardrail with no injuries, when the truck drives away or is towed only for the tire (a flat tire alone is not disabling damage)
- Backing into a dock or fixed object with minor damage and no injuries
Important: Even non-reportable accidents should be documented with photos and reported to your insurance company. A "minor" incident can turn into a lawsuit weeks later when the other driver suddenly claims neck pain. Without documentation, you have no defense.
How Accidents Affect Your CSA Scores
Every reportable crash is entered into the FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS) under the Crash Indicator BASIC. The crash counts are public: your SAFER Company Snapshot lists fatal, injury, and tow-away crashes for the last 24 months, with no finding of fault. The Crash Indicator BASIC itself is not public: only you, logged in to your own safety profile, and enforcement can see it. FMCSA uses it to decide which carriers to warn or investigate; a safety rating comes only from a compliance review.
How CSA Crash Scoring Works
- Each reportable crash adds severity points to your record
- Crashes with an injury or a fatality carry a severity weight of 2: a fatal crash weighs the same as an injury crash
- Tow-away-only crashes carry a severity weight of 1; a hazardous materials release adds 1 more
- More recent crashes (within the last 6 months) are weighted more heavily than older crashes
- Crash data stays on your record for 24 months
- High crash indicator percentiles can trigger FMCSA interventions: warning letters, investigations, targeted inspections, and compliance reviews
Insurance Impact
Beyond CSA scores, accidents directly hit your wallet through insurance premiums:
- At-fault accident: Expect a higher commercial auto insurance premium at renewal; how much depends on the insurer, the claim, and your loss history
- Multiple at-fault accidents: Your carrier may be non-renewed (dropped) by the insurer entirely
- Non-fault accident: May still raise your premium, depending on the insurer
- Accident history: Insurers look at several years of loss history when quoting. One bad year can keep your premiums higher for years to come
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How to File an Insurance Claim Properly
Filing the claim correctly from the start prevents delays, denials, and underpayment. Here is the process:
Step 1: Report Immediately
Call your insurance company from the scene or within hours of the accident. Most commercial auto policies require prompt reporting — delays can be grounds for claim denial.
Step 2: Provide Documentation
Give your insurer everything you collected at the scene:
- Police report number and department
- All photos and video of the scene and damage
- The other driver's information (name, insurance, license plate)
- Witness names and phone numbers
- Your written account of the accident
- Dashcam footage (if available)
Step 3: Get Repair Estimates
Obtain at least two repair estimates for your vehicle. Your insurer may also send their own adjuster or recommend a repair shop. Do not authorize repairs until your claims adjuster approves them.
Step 4: Track Lost Income
If your truck is out of service, document every day of lost revenue. This includes loads you could not take, deadhead miles to and from the repair shop, and rental or replacement vehicle costs. Your commercial auto policy may include downtime coverage — check your policy.
Step 5: Do Not Accept the First Offer Without Review
Insurance adjusters may offer a quick settlement. Before accepting, make sure it covers all vehicle damage, cargo damage, lost income, and any medical expenses. Consult with your attorney if the accident involved injuries or significant property damage.