Truck Accident on I-79, I-376, Route 28 or the Pennsylvania Turnpike—What Should You Do Next?
Western Pennsylvania's major highways carry passenger vehicles alongside tractor-trailers, delivery trucks, construction vehicles, and other commercial traffic every day.
When a serious collision happens on I-79, I-376, Route 28, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, or another Pittsburgh-area highway, the minutes and days afterward can be overwhelming.
Here are several things to consider.
1. Get Medical Attention
Your health is the first priority.
Some injuries may be immediately obvious, while others may become more apparent after the initial shock of the collision has passed.
Seek appropriate medical evaluation and follow the recommendations of your healthcare providers.
2. Report the Accident
Serious highway crashes often result in a police response.
The resulting investigation may document the vehicles, drivers, witnesses, roadway conditions, and other information relevant to determining what happened.
Keep information that allows you or your attorney to identify the investigating agency and obtain the appropriate records.
3. Preserve What You Can Safely Preserve
If circumstances permit, photographs or video may document:
- Vehicle positions;
- Vehicle damage;
- Skid or tire marks;
- Debris;
- Road conditions;
- Construction zones;
- Traffic signs and signals;
- Weather and visibility; and
- Commercial markings or identifying numbers on the truck.
Safety comes first. Do not place yourself in danger on an interstate or high-speed roadway to obtain photographs.
4. Get Witness Information
Independent witnesses can disappear quickly after a highway accident.
If someone stops and provides information, preserve their name and contact details when safely possible.
5. Be Careful With Insurance Communications
The trucking company or its insurer may begin investigating quickly.
Before providing a recorded statement, signing documents, or accepting a settlement after a serious injury, consider speaking with an attorney about your rights.
6. Consider Evidence That May Be Outside Your Control
Some of the most important evidence may be controlled by other people or businesses.
Depending on the collision, that can include electronic vehicle information, driver logs, dash-camera footage, dispatch records, maintenance documents, and other trucking-company records.
Nearby businesses, highway facilities, or other vehicles may also have captured video.
Identifying and preserving relevant evidence can therefore be time-sensitive.
7. Don't Assume a Police Report Decides the Entire Case
A police investigation can be important, but a civil truck-accident claim may involve additional evidence and legal issues.
The investigation may need to address the truck driver, carrier, maintenance history, electronic evidence, insurance coverage, and potentially other responsible parties.
Injured in a Pittsburgh-Area Truck Accident?
A serious commercial-truck collision can change a family's life in seconds. Understanding what happened—and preserving the evidence needed to prove it—can be an important part of protecting your legal rights.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a tractor-trailer or commercial-truck collision in Western Pennsylvania, contact Frank Walker Law to discuss the accident and your legal options.
If this information could help someone else, please like and share this article with your network. One of your friends, family members, coworkers, or loved ones may need this information after a serious truck accident.
About Frank Walker Law
Attorney Frank Walker of Frank Walker Law is a National Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyer, and Personal Injury Attorney who has been recognized as a Super Lawyer, a member of the National College for DUI Defense, Best Attorneys in America, Best Law firms of America, America’s Greatest Attorneys, and a Top AVVO Rated attorney, with offices in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Morgantown West Virginia.
Additionally, you can find Attorney Walker on YouTube, TikTok, the Pittsburgh Attorney Podcast and the West Virginia Attorney Podcast, where he gives legal tips (not advice!) and discusses the pressing legal issues of the day.
If you or someone you love are facing criminal charges or are seriously injured in an accident, contact Attorney Frank Walker immediately at 412-532-6805 (Pittsburgh), 304-413-0179 (Morgantown), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for aggressive and experienced Criminal Defense or Representation in a Civil Case.