What to Do if You Come Across a Truck Accident In Alaska: 6 Steps to Take

Commercial trucks are a common sight on Alaska's roadways. According to the American Trucking Association statistics, there are almost 4 million Class 8 large commercial trucks. These trucks transport 11.84 billion tons of freight annually, which is about 72.5% of the nation's freight. Unfortunately, this high traffic volume means those truck collisions are a significant threat to motorists. And with the state's large size and remote location, it's not always easy to get help when needed.

That's why it's important to know what to do if you come across a truck accident while driving through Alaska. This guide will help you take the necessary steps to ensure you know what steps to take if you encounter a truck accident in Alaska. From calling for help to rendering assistance, we've got you covered.

1. Stop And Park In A Safe Distance

While it may be tempting to drive past them, it is important to stop and park your car safely and out of the traffic lanes if the road is blocked.

By doing so, you can help to prevent further accidents and injuries. In addition, you may be able to assist the truck driver or any other accident victims.

But make sure to park your vehicle in a safe manner. If possible, you should move your vehicle out of oncoming traffic and ensure your handbrake is on.

2. Ensure The Area Is Safe

Make sure the accident site is safe before you do anything. This includes turning on your hazard lights and placing flares or cones around your vehicle to increase visibility to other drivers.

And if there's any fuel or hazardous material leakage, keep everyone away from the scene and contact the appropriate authorities.

3. Notify The Police

Call 911 immediately. This, of course, is especially critical if there are injuries or if the accident obstructs traffic.

It's important for you to stay calm despite the situation and call the police right away. Make sure to give the police the exact location of the crash, a description of the vehicles involved, and any injuries you can see.

The police will further investigate the accident and determine what action is necessary.

4. Approach The Truck Only If Necessary

Semi-trucks are large, heavy vehicles that can cause severe damage in the event of an accident. The truck may be carrying hazardous materials. If the truck leaks diesel or you observe other spills emerging from the truck's freight, it could be a dangerous situation.

The truck may also be blocking the road. Approaching the truck could put you in danger of being hit by oncoming traffic.

If possible and safe, try to block off the area with cones or flares to make it easier for the police and ambulance to find the crash site.

The best course of action is to call 911 and wait for emergency services to arrive. Once they are on the scene, they will be able to assess the situation and take the necessary steps to ensure everyone's safety.

That is unless you see someone who needs immediate help. And this brings us to the next step:

5. Render Assistance If It Is Safe To Do So

It is always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to potential injuries. If you come across a crashed semi-truck in Alaska, it is important to assess the situation before taking any action.

If there are no apparent signs of injuries, you may want to wait for emergency responders to arrive before approaching the truck. However, if you see that there are injured people inside the truck, you may want to take action and provide first aid.

But do not try to move any injured person unless this is absolutely necessary because the truck is about to catch fire. Moving an injured person has the potential to turn a minor injury into something severe.

If there are any serious injuries, try to keep the injured person calm and still until help arrives. If you can, move any other people away from the accident scene so they don't get hurt.

Once medical help arrives, they will take over, and you can provide them with any information about the accident.

Always use personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves, if possible. If the truck is on fire, do not attempt to extinguish the flames yourself. Wait for trained personnel to arrive and handle the situation.

Remember, safety is always the top priority. If unsure how to proceed, it is better to wait for professional help than to put yourself or others at risk.

6. Stay At The Scene Of The Accident

In Alaska, it's the law that witnesses who actually saw what happened and what led to the crash must give their names, addresses, and vehicle registration numbers to the police. In addition, witnesses may be asked to give a formal statement to the police about what they saw.

The same is true for a driver whose car was involved in an accident. Leaving the scene in such a situation is a crime in Alaska. The driver could face serious penalties if caught.

And if you have any information about the crash, be sure to share it with the authorities.

Conclusion

In case you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of coming across an accident on the highway in Alaska involving a semi-truck, follow these 6 steps to ensure that you protect yourself and get the help you need.

And if you are in the situation or have any further questions about what to do after a truck accident, don't hesitate to give our team a call. We're here to help.