What to Do After a Commercial Truck Crash in Lehi

A collision with a commercial truck can change your life in seconds. The size and weight of tractor-trailers, delivery trucks, and other large commercial vehicles make these crashes far more dangerous than typical car accidents. If you were hurt in a truck crash in Lehi, the steps you take early on can protect both your health and your claim.

Lehi sits along the I-15 corridor, and commercial truck traffic passes through the city every day. Truck crash claims involve different rules, more parties, and more complicated insurance than a typical car crash. For our Lehi truck accident practice, see our Lehi truck accident lawyer page.

Immediate Steps After a Truck Crash in Lehi

Get to Safety and Call 911

If you can do so safely, move out of traffic and check for injuries. Call 911 right away. Even if injuries seem minor, get checked by medical professionals. Some serious injuries do not show symptoms right away.

Let Law Enforcement Document the Crash

Officers will create an official crash report, which becomes important evidence. Crashes on I-15 and other state highways are often handled by the Utah Highway Patrol, part of the Utah Department of Public Safety. Cooperate, stick to the facts, and avoid speculating about what happened.

Document the Scene

If you are physically able, photograph vehicle damage, road conditions, skid marks, traffic signs, and visible injuries. Photograph the truck from several angles, including the company name, U.S. DOT number, and license plate.

Get Medical Care

See a doctor as soon as possible, even if you do not think you are seriously hurt. Internal bleeding, brain injuries, and spinal injuries may not be obvious at first. A prompt medical exam also links your injuries to the crash. Delays give insurers an argument that your injuries are not serious or were caused by something else.

Collect Information and Preserve Evidence

Get the truck driver’s name, license number, and employer. Write down the trucking company’s name and contact details, and get insurance information for both the driver and the company. Ask witnesses for their names and phone numbers.

Commercial trucks carry electronic logging devices and engine control modules that record speed, braking, and hours of service. That data can be overwritten if it is not preserved. An attorney can send a preservation letter requiring the trucking company to keep it.

Do Not Admit Fault or Sign Anything

Do not apologize or say the crash was your fault. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company before talking to an attorney, and do not sign documents from the trucking company or its insurer.

Common Causes of Truck Crashes Around Lehi

Heavy Traffic on I-15 and SR-92

The I-15 corridor through Lehi carries steady truck traffic between Salt Lake County and points south. The SR-92 (Timpanogos Highway) interchange adds exits and merges. Heavy traffic, high speeds, and frequent lane changes all raise the risk of serious crashes.

Driver Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Violations

Federal rules limit how long truck drivers can drive without rest. When drivers or companies ignore those limits, fatigue slows reaction time and impairs judgment. Electronic logging data can show whether fatigue played a role.

Improper Loading

Cargo must be properly loaded, balanced, and secured. Overloaded trucks, uneven weight, and unsecured cargo can cause a driver to lose control or drop debris on the road. The company that loaded the cargo may share responsibility.

Poor Maintenance

Brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering problems can cause devastating crashes. Maintenance records can show whether the truck was properly inspected and repaired.

Distracted or Impaired Driving

Truck drivers face the same distractions as other drivers, including phones and in-cab devices. Federal rules require drug and alcohol testing for commercial drivers, and violations can support a claim.

Why Truck Crash Claims Are Different

Federal and State Regulations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets rules for driver qualifications, hours of service, vehicle maintenance, cargo securement, and more. Violations of these rules can help establish negligence.

Multiple Potentially Liable Parties

Instead of one driver and one insurer, truck accident claims in Utah often involve several parties: the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, a maintenance provider, or a manufacturer. Each may have its own insurer and legal team.

Higher Insurance Limits

Federal rules require interstate carriers hauling general freight to carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, and more for certain hazardous materials. More coverage means more resources for serious injuries, but also an insurer with a strong incentive to fight the claim.

More Severe Injuries

Truck crashes often cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, multiple fractures, internal injuries, and permanent disability. See our article on the most common truck accident injuries.

Who Can Be Liable in a Lehi Truck Crash?

The trucking company may be responsible for its driver’s negligence and for its own, such as poor training, pressure to break hours-of-service rules, neglected maintenance, or hiring unqualified drivers.

The driver may be liable for speeding, fatigue, impairment, phone use, or other careless driving. Driver qualification records can show licensing, medical certification, and driving history.

Third parties such as maintenance companies, cargo loaders, and truck or parts manufacturers may share responsibility.

Utah’s Comparative Fault Rule

Utah follows modified comparative fault under Utah Code § 78B-5-818. You can recover if your share of fault is less than 50%, and your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you were 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would recover $80,000.

Utah Insurance Rules That Affect Your Claim

Utah is a no-fault state for car crash injuries. If you were in a car, your own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage pays first for medical expenses (at least $3,000 under the minimum policy) and part of your lost income, regardless of who caused the crash.

To bring a claim against the at-fault parties for general damages such as pain and suffering, your injuries must meet a threshold under Utah Code § 31A-22-309: death, dismemberment, permanent disability or impairment, permanent disfigurement, a bone fracture, or more than $3,000 in medical expenses. Serious truck crash injuries usually meet it.

Compensation in a Truck Crash Claim

Economic Damages

• Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, and future care
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity
• Vehicle and property damage
• Other out-of-pocket costs

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent scarring or disfigurement
• Loss of consortium for a spouse

Punitive Damages

In rare cases, Utah allows punitive damages, but only with clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s conduct was willful and malicious or showed a knowing and reckless indifference to the safety of others. Examples might include knowingly putting an impaired driver on the road or falsifying safety records. For more, see compensatory vs. punitive damages in Utah.

How a Truck Crash Is Investigated

• Electronic data: Engine control module and logging device data showing speed, braking, and hours
• Driver logs and employment records: Hours of service, training, drug testing, and driving history
• Safety and compliance records: FMCSA inspection results, violations, and crash history
• Accident reconstruction: Experts who analyze physical evidence to show how the crash happened
• Witness statements: Gathered early, before memories fade

Deadlines for a Truck Crash Claim

Utah generally allows four years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under Utah Code § 78B-2-307. Wrongful death claims generally must be filed within two years of the death, and claims against a government entity require a notice of claim within one year. For families who lost a loved one, see how to prove negligence in a Utah wrongful death lawsuit.

Common Mistakes That Hurt Truck Crash Claims

Giving a recorded statement: Adjusters are trained to ask questions that can minimize your claim.

Accepting an early offer: Quick offers often come before you know the full extent of your injuries. Once you sign a release, you cannot ask for more.

Delaying or skipping treatment: Gaps in care give insurers room to argue your injuries are not serious.

Posting on social media: Insurers review social media for anything that conflicts with your claim.

Truck Crashes Elsewhere in Utah

London Harker also helps people injured in truck crashes in Sandy and Provo.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do immediately after a truck crash in Lehi?

Call 911, get medical care, document the scene if you can, collect driver and company information, and do not admit fault or sign anything.

How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Utah?

Generally four years from the date of injury, two years for wrongful death, and one year for a notice of claim against a government entity.

Who can be held liable?

Potentially the driver, trucking company, cargo loader, maintenance provider, or manufacturer, depending on what caused the crash.

What if I was partly at fault?

You can recover if your share of fault is less than 50%. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.

What is a truck’s black box?

An engine control module or logging device that records speed, braking, and other data before a crash. It can show what the driver was doing, but it must be preserved quickly.

What does a truck accident lawyer cost?

London Harker handles truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront fees. We explain our fee structure during your consultation.

Talk to London Harker Injury Law

If you were injured in a truck crash in Lehi or anywhere in Utah County, London Harker Injury Law can investigate, identify every responsible party, and deal with the insurers so you can focus on recovering. Learn more on our Lehi truck accident lawyer page or our statewide Utah truck accident lawyer page.