As a truck driver, staying safe on the road and avoiding accidents of any kind is a top priority. No matter the circumstances, the sheer size (commonly 53 ft long) and weight (up to 80,000 lbs) of trucks make accidents incredibly serious and scary. If you are involved in an accident, the aftermath can be traumatic, chaotic, and confusing. What you do in the moments that follow is important, and pending the circumstances, there are certain recommended steps to take to best protect yourself and those around you.

We created a post-accident safety checklist, shown below. If you're leased onto a carrier, your carrier will likely provide a specific protocol to follow based on their individual policies. If you're running under your own authority, you may choose to implement a policy so that your fleet can be prepared in the event of an accident. Please remember that if any person at the scene requires medical attention, to call 9-1-1 immediately.

Note: Information, content, and materials available on this website are for general informational purposes only. The information does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical, business, accounting, legal or tax advice or opinion. Always be sure to seek professional guidance when applicable.

A Primer on Truck Accidents

Some Statistics

Each year, semi-trucks are involved in an average of 500,000 accidents, resulting in around 5,000 deaths and 130,000 injuries. This means that nearly every 15 minutes, a truck accident results in the death or serious injury of a person.

Definition of Truck Accident

A truck accident occurs when the driver of any operating CMV comes into contact with any person, animal, or other vehicle or inanimate object. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSA) defines an accident as follows:

"An occurrence involving a commercial motor vehicle in interstate or intrastate commerce in which:

• A vehicle was towed from the scene;
• A fatality occurred; or
• A person was injured and required immediate medical treatment away from the crash scene."

The term used to describe this situation is also known as "DOT Recordable". However, any accident is serious and needs to be treated as such.

Common Causes

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include: 

• Driver error through fatigue, aggression, distraction, or under the influence
• A mechanical difficulty, especially related to tires or brakes
• Improperly loaded cargo

A Post-Accident Safety Checklist

The below checklist can be used in the aftermath of any accident. We recommend you download,  print, and keep this checklist in your vehicle so you don't have to try to remember the protocol or think on your feet. The same goes for important phone numbers - save them as contacts in your phone so you know exactly who to call and don't have to spend time looking for the right number. And, as much as possible, remain calm and professional throughout the incident investigation.

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 As always, stay safe!