What to Do After a Truck Accident in Wichita: A Step-by-Step Guide

Authored by Bradley A. Pistotnik — well-known and highly experienced Wichita truck accident lawyer; author of the book “Truck Accidents Kill,” and an authoritative speaker on trucking safety.

Coverage Area: Wichita Metro (Sedgwick County & surrounding communities) and Western Kansas — defined here as any county west of a north–south line that runs ~10 miles east of Topeka, bounded by Nebraska (north), Oklahoma (south), and Colorado (west).

Your First Priorities

• Move to a safe location and call 911 (or *47 for Kansas Highway Patrol).
• Accept EMS evaluation; follow up with a physician—symptoms can worsen with time.
• Photograph vehicles, scene, skid marks, debris, signs, lighting, and weather—only if safe.
• Capture truck identifiers: carrier name, USDOT/MC numbers, trailer number, license plate.
• Collect witness names and phone numbers.

Preserve the Truck-Specific Evidence

• ECM/“black box” and telematics data around the crash window.
• ELD/HOS records, dispatch notes, and bills of lading for the trip.
• Maintenance, inspection, and repair records under Part 396.
• Company policies and driver qualification files that speak to hiring and supervision.

These records can cycle or be overwritten (49 CFR §395.8(k), §395.11 record retention requirements). We send preservation letters immediately and schedule inspections to lock in data.

Talking to Insurers

• Notify your own insurer to preserve med-pay/PIP benefits.
• If the trucking insurer calls, you can decline a recorded statement until you have counsel.
• Avoid signing blanket medical releases for the at-fault carrier.

Track the Financial Impact

• Keep a simple damages log: missed work and wage info, out-of-pocket costs, mileage.
• Maintain a symptom journal (pain levels, sleep, limitations) to support non-economic damages.

Who May Be Responsible

• Truck driver and motor carrier (vicarious liability, negligent training/supervision).
• Broker/shipper if control, routing, or loading decisions contributed.
• Maintenance contractors and parts manufacturers for mechanical failures.
• Government entities for road defects (special notice rules can apply).

Injured in a truck crash in Wichita or Western Kansas? Call Bull Attorneys for a free, confidential consultation. 24/7. We move fast to preserve ELD/telematics and black-box evidence. 316-684-4400.