Accidents involving commercial vehicles—such as delivery trucks, semis, company vans, and buses—can be far more complex than typical car crashes. These vehicles are often heavier, cause more damage, and are backed by corporate insurance teams that move quickly to limit liability. If you’re hit by a commercial vehicle in Georgia, knowing the right steps to take can make all the difference in protecting your health, your rights, and your ability to recover compensation.
Whether the at-fault driver was a contractor delivering packages or a trucking company employee operating an 18-wheeler, Georgia law gives you the right to seek damages—but building a strong case requires swift and informed action.
1. Prioritize Medical Attention Immediately
After a commercial vehicle crash, your health is the top priority. Even if injuries seem minor, some symptoms take hours or days to surface—especially with back, neck, or head trauma.
Seeking prompt medical treatment:
Documents your injuries early, which helps prove causation
Prevents insurers from arguing your injuries weren’t caused by the crash
Starts a record for calculating long-term costs and rehabilitation
If you’re unsure whether your condition justifies medical care, it’s still best to get checked. In serious cases, emergency care should never be delayed.
For a closer look at how timing affects your case, see Why Timely Consultation with Personal Injury Lawyers Matters.
2. Call the Police and File an Official Report
Always call 911 after any crash involving injury or damage. In commercial vehicle accidents, an official police report becomes vital evidence for determining fault and documenting the circumstances of the collision.
Make sure to:
Get the officer’s name and badge number
Request a copy of the accident report
Note whether the commercial driver was cited for violations
If you’re physically able, gather witness contact information and take photos of vehicle damage, skid marks, road signs, and injuries.
3. Identify the Company Behind the Vehicle
Unlike typical car accidents, crashes involving commercial vehicles often implicate larger corporate entities, not just the driver. This means more parties could be held responsible, including:
The driver’s employer or trucking company
A third-party maintenance contractor
A vehicle manufacturer (if a defect caused the crash)
If the vehicle was branded, take note of the company name and any license plate or vehicle ID numbers.
To better understand how company vehicle liability works, visit What Happens If the Driver of a Company Car, Truck, or 18-Wheeler Gets Into an Accident?.
4. Don’t Speak with the Trucking Company’s Insurer Without Legal Representation
Soon after the accident, the company’s insurance adjuster may contact you. They may seem helpful, but their goal is to minimize the payout—or avoid it entirely.
Giving recorded statements
Speculating about your injuries
Accepting early settlement offers
Instead, direct all communication to your attorney. Insurers often push for early statements that may later be used against you. Learn more in Why Would an Insurance Company Need Legal Representation?.
5. Document Everything for Your Claim
Start a file with all the documents related to your crash and injuries. This should include:
Medical bills and treatment plans
Lost wages or work documentation
Repair estimates for your vehicle
Out-of-pocket expenses like transportation or assistive devices
Also keep a daily journal of pain levels, medication side effects, and how the injury affects your routine. This can support claims for pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life.
If you’re unsure how damages are calculated, see Understanding Pain and Suffering in Personal Injury Claims: How It’s Calculated.
6. Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney
Commercial vehicle crashes are often governed by federal trucking regulations and involve layers of legal complexity. An experienced attorney can:
investigate whether trucking rules were violated (e.g., hours-of-service, load limits)
Preserve black box data and driver logs before they’re lost or destroyed
Handle negotiations with corporate insurers
Build a case for maximum compensation, including medical care, future treatment, and non-economic damages
At The Law Office of Don Edwards, we represent individuals who have been injured in commercial truck and company vehicle accidents across Georgia. With decades of civil litigation experience and a strong focus on personal injury law, our firm is dedicated to protecting the rights of those injured by negligence on the road.
Explore how we approach these cases at our Auto & Trucking Collisions Practice Area.
