What to Do Immediately After a Truck Accident on I-90 Near Sioux Falls in

Interstate 90 near Sioux Falls is one of the busiest commercial trucking corridors in the region, carrying massive 18-wheelers, tanker trucks, and heavy freight vehicles through South Dakota every single day. When a collision involving one of these enormous vehicles occurs, the consequences for injured victims can be catastrophic — including traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, broken bones, and worse. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a truck accident on I-90, the steps you take in the immediate aftermath will have a direct and lasting impact on your ability to recover fair compensation.

At Northern Plains Justice, LLP, we represent injured victims in Sioux Falls and throughout the surrounding region. We understand that the moments following a serious truck crash are overwhelming, frightening, and physically painful. That is exactly why we have put together this practical guide — so that you know your rights, understand the legal process, and can protect your claim from the very beginning. Whether you were struck in a rear-end collision or a devastating head-on crash involving a commercial truck, the guidance below applies to your situation.

Time is not on your side after a truck accident. Evidence disappears, witness memories fade, and trucking companies dispatch their own investigators to the scene almost immediately to begin building a defense. Acting quickly and decisively — and consulting an experienced attorney as soon as possible — is essential to protecting your legal rights and securing the compensation you deserve.

Immediate Steps to Take at the Scene of a Truck Accident on I-90

The actions you take in the minutes and hours following the crash are critically important. Your physical safety comes first, but your legal claim begins the moment the collision occurs. Every piece of evidence you preserve at the scene can support your case and help establish liability against the negligent truck driver, trucking company, or other responsible parties.

1. Call 911 immediately. Request law enforcement and emergency medical services. A police report is a foundational document in any truck accident claim.
2. Move to safety if possible. If you can do so without further injury, move away from traffic lanes and hazards. I-90 carries high-speed traffic, and secondary collisions are a real danger.
3. Seek medical attention on the spot. Accept treatment from paramedics even if you feel you are not seriously hurt. Adrenaline can mask pain, and many serious injuries — including whiplash — may not present symptoms immediately.
4. Document everything you can. Photograph the truck, your vehicle, road conditions, skid marks, traffic signs, and any visible injuries. Use your phone if it is accessible and safe to do so.
5. Collect witness information. Get the names and contact details of anyone who saw the crash. Eyewitness accounts can be powerful in establishing negligence.
6. Get the truck driver's information. Record the driver's name, license number, insurance carrier, company name, and the truck's DOT number and license plate.
7. Do not admit fault or apologize. Anything you say at the scene can be used against you. Let the investigation determine what happened.

Why Truck Accidents on I-90 Are Legally Complex

Commercial truck accidents are fundamentally different from standard passenger vehicle collisions. Multiple parties may share liability — including the truck driver, the trucking company, a cargo loading contractor, or even a vehicle parts manufacturer. Understanding what to do after a South Dakota truck accident means recognizing that the legal landscape is far more complicated than a typical car crash case.

Federal Regulations and Trucking Company Liability

Commercial trucking is governed by strict federal regulations enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These rules cover driver hours of service, vehicle maintenance, cargo securement, and drug and alcohol testing. When a trucking company violates these regulations and a crash results, that violation can serve as powerful evidence of negligence and liability.

• Hours-of-service log violations indicating driver fatigue
• Failure to conduct mandatory vehicle inspections
• Improperly secured or overloaded cargo
• Hiring drivers with disqualifying safety records
• Inadequate driver training or supervision

Preserving Critical Evidence Before It Disappears

Trucking companies are required to retain certain records — including electronic logging device (ELD) data, GPS records, dashcam footage, and maintenance logs — but these records can be overwritten or destroyed quickly without a legal hold demand. An experienced Sioux Falls truck accident lawyer can send spoliation letters to preserve this evidence before it is gone forever. The same proactive approach applies to other serious road accidents; if you have ever wondered how fault is handled in similar collisions, our resource on how fault is determined after a motorcycle accident in Sioux Falls provides useful insight into the broader liability analysis process.

Medical Care After a Truck Accident: Do Not Delay

One of the most damaging mistakes injured victims make after a truck accident is delaying medical treatment. Insurance adjusters will argue that a gap in treatment means your injuries were not serious — or were caused by something other than the crash. Prompt and consistent medical care protects both your health and your legal claim.

Common injuries sustained in I-90 truck accidents include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, internal bleeding, fractures, and soft tissue injuries like whiplash. If you have been diagnosed with a neck injury, our page on Sioux Falls car accident whiplash injury claims explains your options in detail. For those facing extended recovery, understanding your rights around long-term medical care after an accident in Sioux Falls is equally important — ongoing treatment costs can form a substantial part of your total compensation claim.

Understanding Liability and Fault in Your Truck Accident Claim

South Dakota follows a modified comparative fault system, which means that your compensation may be reduced if you are found partially at fault for the accident. Establishing that the truck driver or trucking company was primarily responsible for the collision is therefore central to maximizing your recovery. This is true whether your accident involved a failure to yield by a commercial driver or a more complex multi-vehicle scenario on I-90.

If you have a pre-existing condition that was aggravated by the crash, do not assume that disqualifies your claim. The law recognizes the "eggshell plaintiff" doctrine, which means a defendant takes a victim as they find them. Our team regularly handles cases involving pre-existing injuries, and you can learn more about how these cases work by reviewing our guide on pre-existing injury car accident claims in Sioux Falls.

Damages You May Be Entitled to Recover

Injured victims in truck accident cases may be entitled to a wide range of compensatory damages. There are no caps on compensatory damages under applicable law, which means that serious injury victims have the opportunity to pursue full and fair recovery for all losses they have suffered.

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Property damage
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• In cases of gross negligence, punitive damages may also be available

The Statute of Limitations: Act Before Your Deadline Passes

One of the most important facts every truck accident victim must understand is the statute of limitations — the legal deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline will bar your claim entirely, regardless of how strong the evidence is. In Louisiana, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is just one year from the date of injury, making Louisiana's deadline one of the shortest in the entire United States. If your accident occurred in the New Orleans area or elsewhere in Louisiana and involves a truck operating through an interstate corridor, you must consult an attorney immediately to ensure your rights are protected within that narrow one-year window.

For accidents on I-90 in South Dakota, separate state deadlines apply — but the urgency is the same. Do not wait. Evidence is lost, witnesses become harder to locate, and insurance companies use delay against you. If you are not sure what legal rights apply to your specific situation, our resource on your legal rights after a serious road accident in Sioux Falls is a helpful starting point for understanding the broader framework.

How Northern Plains Justice, LLP Can Help You

Our firm handles the full scope of serious injury cases that arise from commercial vehicle collisions, including those involving motorcycles and other vulnerable road users. If you want to understand the broader safety picture on Sioux Falls roads, our data on Sioux Falls motorcycle accident statistics illustrates the serious risks that exist across all vehicle types on major corridors like I-90. We also handle cases involving motorcycle accidents in Sioux Falls and other serious personal injury matters throughout the region.

When you work with Northern Plains Justice, LLP, you get a legal team that investigates aggressively, preserves critical evidence, challenges insurance company lowball offers, and fights for every dollar of compensation you are owed. We handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis — meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship with Northern Plains Justice, LLP. Every case is different, and you should consult a qualified attorney about the specific facts of your situation.