{"id":97212,"date":"2026-10-31T10:55:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T10:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/catastrophic-truck-accident-injuries\/first-steps-after-truck-accident-florida\/"},"modified":"2026-11-04T22:22:23","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T22:22:23","slug":"first-steps-after-truck-accident-florida","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chglawyers.com\/resources\/catastrophic-truck-accident-injuries\/first-steps-after-truck-accident-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do Immediately After a Truck Accident"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Truck Accidents<\/a> | Serving Florida<\/p>

Hurt in a Truck Accident? Here Is What to Do Right Away<\/h1>

The steps you take in the first hours and days can affect your health and your ability to recover. Here is a plain-language guide from CHG Personal Injury Lawyers, a Florida-based firm.<\/p>

Get a Free, Confidential Consultation<\/a><\/div>
Get a Free, Confidential Consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

By CHG Lawyers \u00b7 Published November 1, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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What to Do Immediately After a Truck Accident in Florida: A Timeline<\/h2>\n

If you were hurt in a truck crash in Florida, the first days affect what proof you will have later. Medical records, crash reports, photos, and witness names are easiest to collect while they are still fresh.<\/p>\n

This guide follows the order that usually matters most:<\/p>\n

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  1. The first minutes at the scene<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. The first 24 hours<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. The first two weeks<\/strong><\/li>\n
  4. The weeks that follow<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This is general information. It is not medical or legal advice for any one person. Follow your doctors’ care.<\/p>\n

    CHG Personal Injury Lawyers is a Florida-based personal injury firm. We serve people throughout Florida. Igor Hernandez is the responsible lawyer for this page.<\/p>\n\n

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    Not sure what your next step is?<\/h3>

    Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

    Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div>
    Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    Why a Truck Crash Is Different From Other Crashes<\/h2>\n

    A truck crash involves more people and companies than a crash between two cars. The driver, the trucking company, the owner of the trailer or cargo, and each company’s insurer may all play a role.<\/p>\n

    Truck crashes also create more paperwork. Some records can be lost if no one asks for them early.<\/p>\n

    A commercial truck may have electronic logs, maintenance files, and driver qualification files. The trucking company keeps these records. You usually cannot pull them from the truck yourself.<\/p>\n

    The First Minutes at the Scene<\/h2>\n

    Protect yourself and others, then call 911.<\/strong> Check everyone for injuries. If you can move your vehicle safely, pull it out of traffic and turn on your hazard lights. If you cannot, stay inside with your seat belt on. The exception is when staying inside is more dangerous.<\/p>\n

    Stay away from traffic.<\/strong> People who stand near the road or walk along the shoulder after a crash are often hit by a second vehicle. Move well away from the lanes if you can.<\/p>\n

    Tell the dispatcher where you are and whether anyone is hurt.<\/strong> Florida law requires the driver in a crash that causes injury to stop at the scene, or as close as possible. The driver must stay until the requirements of s. 316.062 are met (Fla. Stat. \u00a7 316.027<\/a>).<\/p>\n

    Florida law defines “serious bodily injury” as an injury that creates a substantial risk of death, serious personal disfigurement, or long-lasting loss or impairment of the function of a body part or organ (same statute).<\/p>\n

    Watch for a stopped truck.<\/strong> Federal rules require a commercial truck driver who stops on the traveled part of a highway or its shoulder to turn on the hazard flashers right away. This applies unless the stop is a necessary traffic stop (49 C.F.R. \u00a7 392.22<\/a>). If the truck’s flashers are not on, note it in your photos and notes.<\/p>\n

    Exchange basic information, and say less than you think.<\/strong> From the truck driver, write down:<\/p>\n