What to do after a truck accident in Maine is a question that can determine whether an injured person recovers full compensation or loses it. Maine roads – including I-95 through Cumberland County, I-295 near Portland, and Route 1 along the coast – see regular commercial truck traffic, and crashes on these corridors often involve multiple liable parties. This guide covers the immediate steps you need to take, the mistakes that hurt claims, and how Maine law affects your right to recover.
In the immediate aftermath of the accident, you may be confused and traumatized, but following these simple steps will help ensure that you can pursue a fair settlement for damages resulting from the accident.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and more.
At Mann Law, our experienced truck accident attorneys have the knowledge and skills to help you investigate the accident, determine liability, calculate damages you’re owed, negotiate with the insurer for the at-fault party, and aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact our attorneys today for a free consultation.
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, there are several steps you should take to protect your rights and ensure you can seek the compensation you need to recover, medically and financially.
Call 911. Maine law requires police to respond to accidents involving injury, and the responding officer will generate a crash report filed with the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety. If your accident occurred on I-95, I-295, Route 9 through Penobscot County, or another state highway, the Maine State Police typically respond. In Portland or Bangor, local police may be first on scene. You can obtain your crash report from the responding agency or through the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety online portal. This report is foundational to your truck accident claim.
Take photos at the scene – Before the scene has been altered in any way, take pictures of the scene from a variety of angles. Take close-up pictures of any vehicle damage, injuries you sustained, the truck’s license plate, the driver’s registration, the driver’s insurance card, and the driver’s license. You should also take photos of the street layout, including nearby traffic signals, intersections, and signage.
Seek immediate medical treatment – Maine insurers generally require that injured victims seek medical evaluation within 72 hours of a crash to preserve their right to claim benefits. Emergency rooms in Portland at Maine Medical Center, in Bangor at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, or at your closest urgent care clinic can all document your injuries and start the medical record trail your attorney will need.
Report the accident – Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as you are able.
Trucking companies and their insurers move fast after a crash. Black box data, driver logs, and surveillance footage can disappear quickly. Mann Law can help you preserve the evidence your case depends on and fight for every dollar you are owed.
If you were in a truck crash, there are several things you should avoid doing after the accident, including:
Don’t admit fault – Even if the accident was not your fault, you might instinctively try to apologize. Do your best not to. Don’t admit fault in any way, even if you think you may have been partly responsible for the accident. Even if it turns out that you are not at fault, if you admit fault or say that you are sorry, this admission of guilt could be used against you later in court.
Remain calm – Being involved in a truck accident can be traumatizing and confusing. Truck accidents often cause severe injuries and extensive property damage. Despite the unsettling nature of the accident, it’s essential to keep your cool and remain calm. If you behave irrationally, law enforcement may note this in their report. It could put a dent in your credibility as well, which could later hurt your case.
Don’t sign anything – It’s important to remember that insurance companies are for-profit entities. They are loyal to their shareholders, not you. When an insurance adjuster calls you, they will use various tactics to try and reduce the amount of money they must pay out. Their goal is to pay as little as possible. One of the tactics they regularly use is offering you a settlement in exchange for signing a “release.” If you have a solid case, an insurance adjuster may make you an offer right off the bat, and it might even seem generous, but you can be sure that it’s not nearly as much as you deserve. By getting you to sign a release, you are essentially accepting the settlement and forfeiting your right to pursue further legal action against the insurance company. This could mean that down the road, if the settlement doesn’t fully cover your expenses, you could end up paying out of pocket. Never sign a release without first consulting with an experienced truck accident attorney. An attorney can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, improving your chances of getting the settlement you deserve.
Contact one of our seasoned Maine truck accident attorneys at Mann Law today to discuss your case if you have further questions about what to do and what not to do after a truck accident.
Some of the most common types and causes of truck accidents that occur on the roads and highways in Maine include:
Jackknife Accidents
Underride Accidents
Driver Fatigue
Rollover Accidents
Drunk/Drugged Driving
Driver Error/Inexperience
Employer Negligence
Hours of Service Violations
Speeding Accidents
Reckless/Aggressive Driving
Inclement Weather/Unsafe Driving Conditions
Maine is not a no-fault state. Maine operates under a traditional fault-based system, which means the party responsible for causing the crash is financially liable for the resulting injuries and damages. If a truck driver or trucking company caused your accident, you have the right to file a claim directly against their insurance – and to pursue legal action if that claim is denied or undervalued.
Maine’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including truck accident cases, is six years from the date of the crash under 14 M.R.S. Section 752. While six years may seem like a long time, trucking companies and their insurers move quickly to investigate and protect their interests. Evidence such as black box data, driver logs, and surveillance footage can disappear fast. Consulting an attorney as soon as possible after your crash helps preserve the evidence your case depends on.
Maine does not cap compensatory damages (medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering) in truck accident cases. Punitive damages are subject to a cap under Maine law, but standard injury compensation is not limited. This means your recovery is tied to your actual losses, not an arbitrary ceiling – which makes thorough documentation of all injuries and expenses essential.
If you are involved in a truck accident, contacting an attorney as soon as possible is crucial. Investigating truck accidents can be complex, often because multiple parties may share fault.
For example, while the truck driver is usually at least partially responsible, the trucking company could also be liable if they failed to properly maintain the vehicle or provided insufficient training to the driver.
Additionally, other parties, such as parts manufacturers, cargo loaders, the truck owner, or maintenance providers, might also bear responsibility.
Our attorneys will thoroughly investigate the accident on your behalf and identify all possible sources of compensation. Contact our Maine truck accident attorneys at Mann Law today for a free case evaluation.
