What To Do After A Truck Accident In Pennsylvania

When a semi-truck hits you, the damage goes far beyond your vehicle. You’re left dealing with serious injuries, pushy insurance adjusters, and a rush of decisions you never expected to make.

And while the trucking company has a response team working against your claim within hours, you’re stuck wondering: What should I do right now, and what if I missed a step?

That’s the right question. If you’re unsure what to do after a truck accident in Pennsylvania, this guide is for you.

Step 1: Get Medical Care Immediately

After a crash with a commercial truck, your health comes first. Don’t wait to “see how you feel.” Injuries from an 80,000-pound vehicle aren’t always apparent right away. Whiplash, post-concussion syndrome, or spinal trauma may take weeks to show up fully, but by then, the insurance company may argue the crash didn’t cause them. A medical record dated shortly after the wreck connects the dots and can help protect your truck accident case from being dismissed or lowballed later.

Didn’t go to the ER immediately after the crash? It happens. But don’t delay any longer. Even a late medical record can be the proof that protects your future. We’ve helped plenty of clients in the same position.

Step 2: Be Cautious With the Insurance Company

Within hours, the trucking company’s insurance adjuster might be calling. They’ll sound friendly. Helpful. Like they’re on your side. They’re not.

Insurance adjusters may ask questions designed to get you to downplay your injuries or admit fault, even indirectly. They may also monitor your social media or hire private investigators. Don’t give a recorded statement. Do not sign anything. Tell them you’re getting legal advice, and then call us.

Have you already talked to them? Don’t panic. We can still step in and make sure the record accurately reflects your account of what happened. The earlier we’re involved, the better, but we know how to handle it either way.

Step 3: Get the Crash Report

The crash report is your case’s foundation. It includes the officer’s documentation of events, citations, and crucial details like road conditions and lane positions. Request the report from the Pennsylvania State Police or the local police department, depending on who responded.

Think the report got something wrong? It’s not unusual. If paramedics took you directly to the hospital, the report likely left out your account of the accident. To set the record straight, we can challenge any report errors using traffic footage, 911 records, or witness accounts.

Step 4: Hold On to Every Detail

You don’t need to organize everything in a folder. But if you have photos, doctor bills, pain journals, car repair estimates, or texts like “I’m still too sore to work,” don’t toss any of it.

These things help build a complete picture of what this crash did to your life, not just your car.

Didn’t keep track of everything? No problem. We know how to piece the evidence together. With your permission, we’ll pull your medical records, calculate lost wages, and contact repair shops. It’s never too late to start.

Step 5: Understand That Trucking Companies Follow Different Rules

Truck drivers don’t operate under the same rules as everyday motorists. Federal regulations control everything from how long they can drive to how often their trucks need inspection. When those rules get ignored, the risk of a crash increases, as does the company’s responsibility.

Are you unsure if the driver or trucking company broke a rule? Most people aren’t, and that’s okay. You may not have access to driver logs, black box data, or safety records. We do, and we know how to uncover violations tied to pressure, fatigue, or poor maintenance—details that often make the difference in serious Pennsylvania truck crash cases.

Step 6: You Can Push Back Against Partial Fault

It’s common for trucking companies to claim you caused the crash or are partially responsible. Maybe you changed lanes, braked suddenly, or didn’t see them coming. That doesn’t mean they’re right.

Pennsylvania follows a comparative fault system. You can still recover compensation if you’re not more than 50% responsible. The way the insurance company divides fault directly affects what you receive.

What if they say it was mostly your fault? That accusation doesn’t end your truck accident case. We can challenge it with black box data, traffic camera footage, eyewitness statements, and expert analysis. These tools often tell a different story—one that may reduce your percentage of fault and protect the value of your claim.

Step 7: Call a Lawyer Before You Sign or Settle Anything

You’re hurt. You’re out of work. You just want it over with.

That’s exactly when the insurance company offers a quick check. But here’s the deal: once you sign, it’s over, even if you need more treatment, even if your condition gets worse.

Truck crash claims are high-stakes. They can involve multiple companies, complex records, and defense teams trained to protect their profits. Our truck accident lawyers fight back by:

• Handling every conversation with the insurance company;
• Working with crash scene experts and trucking pros;
• Demanding internal records they’d rather keep hidden; and
• Calculating the full impact on your life, health, and income.

Does that early offer sound reasonable? Let us take a look. We’ve seen hundreds of “fair” offers that left people short of covering their expenses by tens of thousands of dollars.

Talk to a Pennsylvania Truck Accident Lawyer Who Knows What You’re Up Against

You might think, “I’ve never been in a situation like this, I don’t even know what to do after a truck accident.” That reaction is normal. Most people don’t realize how complicated these cases are until they’re already in the middle of one.

At Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers, we understand how trucking companies operate and how to push back when they try to avoid responsibility. With over 75 years of combined experience, we’ve helped Pennsylvanians move forward after serious truck crashes.

From your first doctor’s visit to your final settlement, we’re with you every step of the way.

If you’re wondering what to do after a semi truck accident, start here: Call or send a message to Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers for your free consultation.