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August 31, 2026

What to Do After a Semi Truck Hit and Run

Written by Pointer & Buelna, LLP. Lawyers For The People, reviewed by Adanté Pointer

Key Takeaways

• A semi truck hit and run still requires calling 911 and moving to safety first.
• Fleeing an injury accident scene is a criminal offense under California law.
• Uninsured motorist coverage often becomes the main path to compensation.
• USDOT numbers, dashcams, and traffic cameras can help identify a fleeing truck.
• Trucking companies can share liability even when the driver is never found.

At Pointer & Buelna, LLP – Lawyers For The People, our California truck accident attorneys know that a semi truck hit and run leaves Los Angeles victims with more questions than answers. The truck disappears, and the injured person is left with medical bills and no clear target for a claim. California law still offers real paths toward recovery, from tracking down the truck to filing an uninsured motorist claim.

What Should You Do After a Semi Truck Hit and Run?

After a semi truck hit and run in California, pull to a safe location and call 911 right away. Document the truck’s details, including the company name, license plate, USDOT number, and trailer number, before seeking medical attention, then report the crash to local police and to your own auto insurer.

The minutes after a semi truck hit and run move fast, and the choices made in that window can shape the entire claim:

1. Call 911 immediately: request medical care and ask the officer to file an accident report.
2. Move to safety: relocate away from traffic only if it is safe to do so.
3. Document the truck: note the company name, license plate, USDOT number, and trailer markings.
4. Photograph the scene: capture vehicle damage, skid marks, and road conditions.
5. Report the crash: notify local law enforcement and your own insurance company.

Under California Vehicle Code Section 20001, a driver involved in an injury accident must stop at the scene, and fleeing carries criminal penalties on top of civil liability. When a driver ignores that duty, our attorneys step in early to start tracing the truck and the company behind it.

Can You Still Recover Compensation if the Truck Driver Fled?

Recovery does not end when a semi truck hit and run leaves the driver unidentified. California law still routes compensation through insurance, including uninsured motorist coverage available under California Insurance Code Section 11580.2, whether that is the victim’s own policy, a witness later identifying the truck, or the trucking company through cargo and dispatch records. Los Angeles carries heavy freight traffic, so a fleeing truck can often be linked back to a carrier even after the driver is gone.

Using Uninsured Motorist Coverage After a Hit and Run

When the truck and driver cannot be identified, uninsured motorist coverage often becomes the strongest option available. State law requires insurers licensed in California to offer this coverage to protect drivers against motorists who cannot be identified or carry no insurance. The California Department of Insurance sets this coverage at a minimum of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per crash, though higher limits are often available and can matter given the size difference between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle.

How Are Semi Truck Hit and Run Drivers Identified?

Even after a truck disappears, several tools help investigators trace it back to a driver and a company. Traffic cameras along freeway corridors often capture license plates or USDOT numbers, while witness accounts describing the trailer color, cargo type, or company logo narrow the search. Trucking companies also keep dispatch logs, GPS tracking, and electronic logging device records that can place a specific truck at the crash location, and comparing those records against the police report often identifies the driver weeks later.

Who Is Liable in a Semi Truck Hit and Run Accident?

Liability in these cases can extend well past the driver who fled. Trucking companies may share responsibility if they failed to properly screen, train, or supervise the driver, or if company policies pressured unsafe conduct. Cargo loaders and maintenance providers can also bear responsibility when unsecured loads or mechanical failures contributed to the crash.

Identifying every liable party matters, since the driver alone may lack the assets to cover serious injuries, while a trucking company’s commercial policy often carries far higher limits.

Contact a California Truck Accident Attorney Today

A semi truck hit and run leaves victims without easy answers, but California law still offers a path toward compensation. Our lawyers at Pointer & Buelna, LLP – Lawyers For The People investigate the crash, pursue uninsured motorist coverage, and work to identify every party responsible, even when the truck never stops. Call us at (510) 822-7476 or contact us today for a free consultation.