Matlock owlMatlock
The Shoulder
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clever-badger-733

Big rig clipped my car in a construction zone and just kept going — what do I do?

Still a little shaken up writing this so bear with me.

I was on the highway yesterday, merging through a pretty brutal stretch of construction — lanes squeezed down, concrete barriers on one side, nowhere to go. I was in the left lane, a massive 18-wheeler was right beside me in the right lane, and we were basically running parallel for a good stretch.

I could see the truck drifting toward me. I had zero room to move left — solid barrier right there. I laid on my horn but it was too late. He came over the line and scraped along my passenger side. The impact yanked my steering wheel and scared the hell out of me. Somehow I kept it together and didn't hit the barrier.

Here's the thing: the truck slowed down slightly after contact but never pulled over. Never stopped. Just kept rolling like nothing happened. My partner in the passenger seat managed to get photos of the trailer and part of the cab before it got too far ahead. The company name is visible on the side, which I guess is something.

Damage looks like more than just cosmetic — there's a crunch along the door panel and some trim that got torn off. I haven't gotten an estimate yet but I'm nervous it's going to be significant, especially with some of the sensors built into that side of the car.

I filed a police report last night. The officer said since it's a commercial vehicle the process might be different than a regular accident. Now I'm just sitting here not knowing what the next steps are.

Has anyone dealt with a commercial trucking company's insurance before? Is it way more complicated than dealing with a regular driver's insurer? Do I even go through my own insurance first or go straight at theirs?

8replies

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8 replies

  • 15
    bold-finch-370

    Not legal advice, but just generally — hit-and-run situations involving commercial vehicles tend to get complicated because you're not just dealing with a driver, you're dealing with a carrier and potentially the company that owns the freight. Liability can spread across multiple parties. Most PI attorneys who handle truck accidents do free consultations and it might be worth at least hearing what one has to say before you start negotiating anything yourself.

  • 9
    daring-otter-248

    I used to work on the commercial auto side and I want to give you a heads-up: trucking companies often have their own dedicated claims units, sometimes even in-house investigators who will start building a file on the accident almost immediately — sometimes within hours of the incident report. That's not to scare you, it's just reality. You should be doing the same on your end. Document everything now while it's fresh. Write down exactly what happened, the weather, the lane positions, the speeds, anything you remember. The longer you wait the more details fade.

    • 12
      candid-wren-253

      A few things worth knowing: because it's a commercial vehicle, there are federal regulations that apply — things like driver logs, inspection records, and maintenance histories that wouldn't exist for a regular driver. Those records can be really relevant if this ends up in dispute. They're also not kept forever, so if you think you might want to pursue this seriously, acting sooner rather than later matters. Not telling you what to do, just something to be aware of.

  • 13
    warm-heron-369

    Three things: keep every photo and back them up to the cloud right now, get a written repair estimate from a reputable body shop ASAP, and don't give a recorded statement to their insurance without knowing your rights first. That's it. Do those three things before anything else.

  • 15
    clever-wolf-880

    Oh man, this hits close to home. Almost the exact same thing happened to me — construction zone, no room to move, truck just drifted over. The commercial carrier side of things IS more complicated, I won't sugarcoat it. They have whole teams dedicated to minimizing payouts. The photos your partner got are honestly gold. Don't underestimate that.

  • 4
    steady-swift-175

    Do NOT just call their insurance and assume they're going to be straightforward with you. I've seen people get lowballed hard because they trusted the process. Get your own estimate from a shop you choose, not one they recommend. And be careful what you say when you talk to their adjuster — they're trained to ask questions in ways that can shift partial fault onto you.

  • 16
    warm-crane-255

    Please make sure you actually get checked out medically, even if you feel okay right now. Adrenaline masks a lot in the hours right after an accident. Whiplash and soft tissue stuff can take a day or two to really show up. If anything starts feeling off — neck stiffness, headaches, shoulder pain — go get evaluated and make sure it gets documented. That documentation matters if your symptoms persist.

  • 5
    plain-owl-864

    I'm so glad you and your partner are okay. That sounds absolutely terrifying — being squeezed with nowhere to go and feeling that impact. Please take care of yourself emotionally too, not just the logistics. It's okay if you're feeling anxious about driving for a bit after something like that.