What to do after a semi-truck crash in Indiana

A crash with a tractor-trailer is not like a fender-bender with another car. The truck belongs to a business, the business has insurance adjusters and often a rapid-response team, and much of the most important evidence is electronic and stored on equipment you do not control. What you do in the first few days can make a real difference later.

What should I do after a semi-truck crash in Indiana?

Get medical care, call 911 so police document the crash, and photograph the truck’s company name, USDOT number, and trailer number. Get witness names, keep your own vehicle as it is, and don’t give the trucking company’s insurer a recorded statement until you understand your rights. Most Indiana injury lawsuits must be filed within two years.

At the scene, if you are able

1. Call 911. Ask for police and an ambulance if anyone is hurt. On Indiana interstates, the Indiana State Police often investigate truck crashes; in cities, it may be local police or the county sheriff.
2. Move to safety. If your vehicle can be moved and it is safe, get out of live traffic. If not, stay belted in with your hazard lights on until help arrives.
3. Photograph the truck’s identity. The cab door usually shows the motor carrier’s name and its USDOT number. Also photograph the trailer number, both license plates, and any company name on the trailer. These identify who operated and who owned the equipment.
4. Photograph the scene. Vehicle positions, skid marks, debris, spilled cargo, road and weather conditions, construction signs, traffic signals, and your injuries.
5. Get names and numbers. Other drivers—including other truck drivers—often see what happened. Ask the officer for the report number and the officer’s name.
6. Be careful what you say. Stick to facts with police. Avoid guessing about speeds or distances, and do not apologize or argue with the truck driver.

In the first 24 to 72 hours

• See a doctor, even if you feel “okay.” Brain injuries, spinal injuries, and internal injuries are common in truck crashes and are not always obvious at first. Tell the provider you were in a crash with a commercial truck, and follow up on referrals.
• Notify your own insurance company. Your policy likely requires prompt notice. Your own coverage, such as medical payments or underinsured motorist coverage, may matter later.
• Keep your vehicle as it is. Don’t let it be repaired, salvaged, or crushed until someone has checked whether its own event data recorder (airbag module) or photos are needed.
• Ask a lawyer about a preservation letter. Truck engine data, electronic logging device (ELD) records, dash-cam video, and dispatch messages can be overwritten or discarded on routine schedules. A written demand to preserve them should go out quickly. See truck black box and ELD evidence.

When the trucking company’s insurer calls

It is common for a carrier’s insurer to reach out quickly. The adjuster may be friendly and may ask for a recorded statement, a broad medical authorization, or a quick signature on a settlement. You are not required to give the at-fault party’s insurer a recorded statement. Early offers are often made before anyone knows how serious an injury is or what future care will cost, and a signed release usually ends the claim for good.

A short, polite response is enough: you are getting medical care and will have someone follow up. Then talk with a lawyer before saying more.

Documents to gather and keep

• The crash report number. Indiana crash reports can usually be obtained from the investigating agency, and the Indiana State Police directs the public to the state’s online crash-report vendor.
• Photos and videos from your phone, plus any dash-cam footage from your own vehicle. Back them up.
• Medical records, bills, and receipts, including mileage to appointments.
• Proof of missed work, such as pay stubs or a letter from your employer.
• A simple journal of pain, sleep, limits on daily activities, and missed events. Details fade fast.
• Your own auto insurance policy, including the declarations page.

How the trucking company can be identified

The USDOT number on the truck can be looked up on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s public SAFER system, which shows the company’s registration and inspection history. FMCSA’s licensing and insurance records can help identify the insurer on file. In many cases the tractor, the trailer, and the carrier belong to different companies, and a shipper, freight broker, or repair shop may also be involved. Learn more about who can be liable in an Indiana truck crash.

Indiana deadlines to keep in mind

• Two years is the general deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit in Indiana (IC 34-11-2-4). Wrongful death claims generally must also be filed within two years (IC 34-23-1-1).
• 180 or 270 days is the notice deadline if a government vehicle or road condition is involved: written notice is required within 180 days for a city, county, or other local government and 270 days for the State (IC 34-13-3-8 and IC 34-13-3-6).

Waiting until near a deadline makes it harder to find every responsible company, and some evidence may already be gone. See Indiana truck accident filing deadlines for more detail.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Skipping or delaying medical treatment, which insurers often use to argue an injury is minor.
• Posting about the crash or your activities on social media.
• Signing a release or a broad medical authorization from the trucking company’s insurer.
• Letting your damaged vehicle be destroyed before it has been documented.
• Assuming the truck driver’s company will “do the right thing.” Its insurer’s job is to limit what it pays.

Hurt in a crash with a semi or commercial truck anywhere in Indiana? Call 1-800-265-9881 or use the free case review form. There is no obligation, and we can talk with you about preserving truck evidence right away.

General information only—not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different; deadlines can be shorter in some situations. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.