What to Do After a Truck Crash
A crash is chaotic, and what you do in the first minutes affects your safety, the injured, and your job. Commercial drivers have extra duties after a crash, including warning traffic, reporting to the carrier and, in some cases, post-accident drug and alcohol testing.
- Truck drivers
- Bus drivers
- Work vehicles
Right after the crash
- Stop. Leaving the scene of a crash is a crime.
- Protect the scene: turn on flashers, set the parking brake and turn off the engine if there’s a fuel leak or fire risk.
- Call 911 for any injury, fire, hazmat release or blocked road.
- Set out warning triangles within 10 minutes. See Tires & Blowouts for placement.
- Help the injured if it’s safe: don’t move them unless there’s fire or other immediate danger, control bleeding, and keep them warm and calm. See First Aid Basics and Bleeding Control.
- Watch for traffic. Many secondary crashes hit people standing near the wreck. Wear hi-vis and stay off the road.
If you carry hazmat
Keep people back and upwind, tell 911 what you’re carrying, and give responders your shipping papers. Use the Emergency Response Guidebook. See Hazmat Trucking.
Post-accident testing
CDL drivers must be tested for drugs and alcohol after a crash that involves:
- A death, in every case
- An injury treated away from the scene, if you received a citation
- A vehicle towed from the scene because of damage, if you received a citation
Alcohol testing should happen within 2 hours (and no later than 8 hours), and drug testing within 32 hours. Don’t drink any alcohol for 8 hours after the crash or until you’ve been tested. Notify your carrier right away so they can arrange it. See Drug & Alcohol Testing.
Information to collect
- Names, phone numbers, license and insurance information for other drivers
- Vehicle descriptions and license plates
- Names and contact information for witnesses
- Police officer’s name, agency and report number
- Photos of all vehicles, the scene, road conditions, signs and skid marks
- Dash camera footage saved. See Driving for Work
- Time, location and weather
What not to do
- Don’t argue or admit fault at the scene; stick to the facts with police.
- Don’t post about the crash on social media.
- Don’t move the truck unless police tell you to or it’s needed for safety.
- Don’t refuse medical attention if you’re hurt. Some injuries show up hours later.
Afterward
Report the crash to your carrier as company policy requires; carriers keep an accident register for DOT. If you were injured, report it for workers’ compensation. See Workers’ Compensation. Serious crashes are traumatic, and talking to someone can help. See Mental Health & Suicide Prevention.
Standards & references
- 49 CFR 382.303: Post-accident testing
- 49 CFR 390.15: Accident register
- 49 CFR 392.22: Emergency signals
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