A truck accident can turn your entire life upside down in a matter of seconds, and the steps you take in the hours and days afterward will directly affect your ability to recover physically, financially, and legally.
Arkansas ranks among the top states in the nation for large truck fatalities per million miles driven, according to a December 2023 report by TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit.
With major freight corridors like Interstate 40, Interstate 30, and Interstate 49 running through the state, Arkansans share the road with commercial trucks every single day.
Nationally, 5,472 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks in 2023 alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the vast majority of those victims were occupants of passenger vehicles, not the trucks themselves.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident in Arkansas, knowing what to do next can make all the difference in protecting your health, preserving critical evidence, and securing the compensation you deserve.
This guide walks you through each step, from the moments immediately after the crash to the weeks and months that follow, so you can take control of a situation that may feel overwhelming.
Immediate Steps at the Scene of the Truck Accident
The first few minutes after a truck accident are critical.
What you do at the scene can affect both your safety and the strength of any future claim.
Even if you are in shock, try to stay as calm as possible and follow these steps in order.
Call 911 Right Away
Your first priority is to call 911 or ask someone nearby to do it for you.
Reporting the accident to law enforcement is not optional in Arkansas when someone is injured or there is significant property damage.
The responding officers will create an official police report, which becomes one of the most important documents in your case.
This report will include the officer’s observations, statements from both drivers, witness accounts, and sometimes a preliminary determination of fault.
Without a police report, it becomes your word against the truck driver’s word, which puts you at a serious disadvantage.
If your accident occurred on a state highway, an Arkansas State Trooper will typically respond and investigate, and that report will be filed with the Arkansas State Police Crash Records repository.
Check for Injuries and Seek Medical Attention
Before anything else, assess yourself and any passengers for injuries.
Do not attempt to move if you suspect a spinal injury or any serious trauma.
If it is safe to do so, move to the shoulder of the road or a safe location away from traffic and the truck.
Truck accidents often involve hazardous cargo spills, fuel leaks, or fire risks, so putting distance between yourself and the vehicles is important for your safety.
Even if you feel fine in the moment, understand that adrenaline can mask the symptoms of serious injuries like internal bleeding, traumatic brain injuries, or soft tissue damage.
Many truck accident victims do not feel the full extent of their injuries until hours or even days later.
Always accept medical treatment at the scene if paramedics offer it, and follow up with a hospital visit or your doctor as soon as possible.
Gather Evidence While You Can
If your injuries allow it, the accident scene is where some of the most valuable evidence exists, and it will not last long.
Use your phone to take photos and videos of everything you can, including damage to all vehicles involved, the position of the vehicles on the road, skid marks, debris, road conditions, traffic signs, and any visible injuries you have sustained.
Try to capture the truck’s license plate, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) number displayed on the side of the truck, and the name of the trucking company.
These identifiers are required on all commercial vehicles and will help your legal team track down the carrier’s safety record, insurance information, and compliance history.
If there are witnesses, ask for their names and phone numbers.
Witness statements can be extremely valuable later, especially if the trucking company or its insurer tries to dispute what happened.
Exchange Information With the Truck Driver
Just as you would in any vehicle accident, exchange basic information with the truck driver.
Get the driver’s name, phone number, driver’s license number, and insurance information.
Also, make sure to write down the name of the trucking company that employs or contracted the driver, as this may be a separate entity from the driver.
In commercial trucking, the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, and even the truck’s owner can all be different parties, and each one could share responsibility for the accident.
Do not apologize or make any statements about fault at the scene.
Even a simple “I’m sorry” can be twisted into an admission of liability by an insurance adjuster later on.
Stick to the facts and let the investigation determine who was at fault.
What to Do in the Days Following a Truck Accident
Once you have left the accident scene and received initial medical treatment, the work of protecting your legal rights is just getting started.
The steps you take in the days and weeks after the accident will shape the outcome of your claim.
Get a Thorough Medical Evaluation
Even if you were treated at the scene or in the emergency room, schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor within a day or two.
Some injuries commonly caused by truck accidents, such as herniated discs, concussions, and internal organ damage, may not show obvious symptoms right away.
A thorough medical evaluation creates a documented link between the accident and your injuries, which is essential for your claim.
Keep every piece of medical documentation you receive, including hospital records, imaging results, prescription receipts, physical therapy notes, and any referrals to other providers.
The total cost of your medical treatment plays a central role in determining the value of your case, which is why your medical bills and insurance records matter more than ever in Arkansas injury cases.
It is also important to know that under Arkansas law, you generally do not have to pay for medical bills out of pocket while your case is pending.
Many personal injury attorneys work with medical providers who agree to treat patients on a lien basis, meaning the provider gets paid when the case settles.
Obtain a Copy of the Police Report
The police report is a foundational document for any truck accident claim.
In Arkansas, the Arkansas State Police maintains the central repository of all crash reports and you can obtain a copy through their Crash Report Online Purchase System.
Reports are typically available within 10 business days of the crash.
If a local or county law enforcement agency investigated your accident instead of the state police, you can also request the report directly from that department.
Review the report carefully once you receive it.
If you believe any information in the report is inaccurate or incomplete, your attorney can help you address those issues before they become a problem for your case.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Contact your own auto insurance company to report the accident, but be careful about how much detail you provide.
You are required to notify your insurer, but you are not required to give a recorded statement to anyone, including the truck driver’s insurance company, without first speaking to an attorney.
Insurance adjusters for trucking companies are trained to minimize payouts, and they may reach out to you quickly after the accident hoping to get a statement they can use against you.
Do not sign any documents, accept any early settlement offers, or agree to have your recorded statement taken by the trucking company’s insurer before consulting with a lawyer.
Keep a Detailed Record of Everything
Start a file or folder where you keep every document, receipt, and note related to the accident.
This should include medical bills and records, the police report, photos from the scene, correspondence with insurance companies, records of missed work and lost wages, and a personal journal documenting your pain levels, limitations, and emotional state each day.
This documentation can be powerful evidence of how the accident has affected your daily life, and it helps paint a complete picture for an insurance adjuster or jury.
When to Call a Truck Accident Lawyer
One of the most common questions people ask after a truck accident is how long they should wait before contacting an attorney.
The short answer is that you should call as soon as you are physically able to do so, ideally within the first 24 to 48 hours after the crash.
The First 24 Hours Matter More Than You Think
Trucking companies do not wait to start protecting themselves after an accident, and neither should you.
Most large carriers have rapid response teams that deploy investigators to the accident scene within hours of a crash.
These investigators are not there to help you.
They are gathering evidence, taking photos, interviewing witnesses, and looking for anything they can use to reduce the company’s liability.
If you do not have someone looking out for your interests during this same window, you are already at a disadvantage.
An attorney can step in immediately to level the playing field by sending a preservation letter to the trucking company, which legally requires them to keep all evidence related to the accident, including electronic logging device data, dashcam footage, GPS records, maintenance logs, and the driver’s personnel file.
You Do Not Need to Wait Until You Are “Better”
Many people assume they should wait until they have finished medical treatment before talking to a lawyer, but that can actually work against you.
The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to preserve time-sensitive evidence.
ELD data can be overwritten, surveillance footage from nearby businesses may be deleted, and physical evidence at the scene can be cleaned up or altered.
On top of that, witnesses’ memories of the accident become less reliable with each passing week.
Starting the legal process early does not mean you have to do anything stressful while you are recovering.
A good attorney will handle the investigation, deal with insurance companies on your behalf, and allow you to focus entirely on your health.
Signs You Should Call a Lawyer Immediately
While every truck accident is worth discussing with an attorney, certain situations call for immediate legal action.
If you or a passenger sustained serious injuries that required hospitalization, surgery, or ongoing medical care, you should call right away.
The same is true if a loved one was killed in the crash, if the trucking company’s insurer has already contacted you asking for a statement, if you are being pressured to accept a settlement before you even know the full extent of your injuries, or if there is any dispute about who was at fault.
In Arkansas, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, but the strongest cases are built in the days and weeks immediately following the crash, not months or years later.
Free Consultations Remove the Guesswork
Most personal injury law firms, including Shamieh Law, offer free initial consultations, which means there is no cost and no obligation to find out whether you have a case.
During that first conversation, an attorney can review the basic facts of your accident, explain your legal options, and give you a clear picture of what to expect going forward.
If you are unsure whether your situation warrants legal help, making that call is the fastest way to get a definitive answer.
Why Truck Accident Cases Require Immediate Legal Action
Commercial trucking companies carry significantly more insurance than typical drivers.
The FMCSA requires most interstate trucking companies to carry a minimum of $750,000 in liability insurance, and many carry much more, often $1 million or higher.
While this means there is typically more insurance money available to cover your damages, it also means that the trucking company and its insurer will fight aggressively to protect their bottom line.
Large trucking companies often have legal teams and accident investigators on call around the clock.
They may arrive at the scene of the accident before you have even left the hospital, and they will begin building their defense immediately.
Critical evidence in truck accident cases has a limited lifespan.
ELD data can be overwritten after a certain period, dashcam footage may be deleted, and the truck itself may be repaired or destroyed before your team has a chance to inspect it.
Federal regulations require trucking companies to preserve certain records, but without a legal hold or preservation letter from an attorney, there is no guarantee that all evidence will be maintained.
The sooner you have legal representation, the sooner your attorney can send a spoliation letter demanding that the trucking company preserve all relevant evidence, including driver logs, maintenance records, GPS data, drug and alcohol test results, and the truck’s black box data.
Protecting Yourself From Common Mistakes
Even well-meaning accident victims sometimes take actions that hurt their case without realizing it.
Being aware of these pitfalls can help you avoid costly errors.
Do Not Give a Recorded Statement Without Legal Advice
The trucking company’s insurance adjuster will likely contact you shortly after the accident.
They may sound friendly and concerned, but their goal is to get you to say something that can be used to reduce or deny your claim.
You are under no legal obligation to provide a recorded statement to anyone other than your own insurer, and even then, it is best to have an attorney guide you through the process.
Avoid Posting on Social Media
Anything you post on social media can and will be used against you by the trucking company’s legal team.
A photo of you smiling at a family gathering could be presented as evidence that your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
A comment about the accident could be taken out of context.
The safest approach is to avoid posting anything about the accident, your injuries, or your activities until your case is resolved.
Do Not Accept a Quick Settlement Offer
Trucking companies and their insurers know that injured people are often facing mounting bills and financial pressure.
They may offer a quick settlement that seems generous at first glance but falls far short of what your case is actually worth.
Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, you cannot go back and ask for more money, even if your injuries turn out to be far worse than you initially expected.
Always have an attorney review any settlement offer before you agree to anything.
Follow Your Doctor’s Treatment Plan
If you skip appointments, stop treatment early, or fail to follow your doctor’s recommendations, the insurance company will argue that your injuries must not be very serious.
Consistent medical treatment creates a clear record of your injuries and your recovery, which strengthens your case.
How Shamieh Law Can Help After a Truck Accident in Arkansas
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a truck accident in Arkansas, you do not have to face this fight alone.
At Shamieh Law, our Arkansas truck accident lawyers are here to help. Every client is treated like a member of the family, because that is how we believe people deserve to be treated during one of the most difficult times of their lives.
With over $250 million recovered for clients, our team has the experience, the resources, and the determination to stand up to trucking companies and their insurers and fight for the compensation you are owed.
We get started fast and use the latest technology to analyze evidence, build your case, and pursue answers quickly so that you are never left wondering what comes next.
You pay nothing unless we win your case, so there is no financial risk in reaching out.
Call Shamieh Law today at 501-361-1334 to schedule a free consultation and let us get to work for you.