What Are the Most Common Truck Accident Injuries?
Tractor trailers are the biggest and heaviest vehicles on the road. When they are involved in an accident, the damage is often much worse than an accident involving passenger vehicles.
Since these trucks are so large, any wreck with them is more likely to cause injury. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 35% of truck accidents result in injury, and about 1% of these accidents result in a fatality.
Though death is not nearly as common sustaining injuries in these accidents, some of these injuries can be quite serious. Even if you don’t find yourself fighting for your life after a crash with a semi-truck, you may find that the quality of your life has been majorly impacted as a result of this accident. Some of the most common injuries that occur as a result of a truck accident are:
Head Injuries
Head injuries most commonly occur from head-on collisions, although they can be incurred during any accident. The most common head injury sustained in truck accidents is a concussion. Though concussions can seem minor from a pain standpoint, they can also change the structure of your brain for months after the accident. You can also sustain broken facial bones that may be caused by the force of impact or from your airbags deploying.
Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are typically very devastating and can occur from both open-headed injuries or closed head trauma, although brain injuries may not always be immediately apparent. Injuries like brain bleeds, subdural hematomas, and comas are common with brain injuries. Even after the injuries have healed, a TBI can result in personality changes and difficulty with cognitive function.
Neck and Back Injuries
Injuries of the neck and back can range from minor pain to debilitating injuries, like slipped discs or a dislocated spine. However, even a minor injury to these parts of your body can seriously affect the quality of your life, as you use your neck and back in almost everything you do. Job responsibilities can easily become very difficult with these injuries, making it unlikely for victims to be able to return to work or even resume their normal life activities.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Being involved in a truck accident that affects your spinal cord can have devastating impacts on your life. If your spinal cord becomes injured in a crash, it can result in paralysis, especially if left untreated.
Broken Bones
Accidents with trucks involve a lot of force, so fractures may occur more easily in wrecks with trucks than in other traffic accidents. Common fractures include broken ribs, arms, and legs, though fractures can occur all over the body. If these fractures do not heal correctly, they can leave the patient with lasting impairments.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries happen in crashes largely because of blunt force trauma. Surprisingly, seat belts are a common source of internal injuries in serious car accidents — although the outcome without a seatbelt in these accidents would likely be far worse. Crash forces can cause injuries to your internal organs, such as your spleen, liver, kidney, bladder, or pancreas, which causes these organs to bleed. These injuries may not always be immediately apparent and can be difficult to treat, and are one of the primary reasons you should always see a doctor as soon as you can after a crash, even if it doesn’t look like anything is wrong.
Lacerations
Scratches and cuts are likely in any car accident but are also likely to happen in big-truck collisions. Lacerations can be extremely painful and cause scars that may never heal or fade.
Burns
Burn injuries can occur if the truck accident causes a fire-related to the fuel in either vehicle. Additionally, if the truck is transporting hazardous or flammable materials, fires may be more likely to occur. Burns can be fatal or cause significant scarring or even dismemberment. Burns are extremely painful and slow to heal, which can leave the victim susceptible to infections or other complications.
Get In Touch with an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer
These are just a few of the injuries that serious truck accidents can cause. Whether the cause of the accident is due to the trucking company, the driver, or another party, they may be held liable for your injuries under Florida state law. You may be able to receive compensation for reimbursement of your medical bills, as well as monetary damages due to the pain and suffering caused by the accident and the related injuries. You may also receive compensation to help make up for any job loss or reduced earning potential caused by the accident.
If you or someone you love was involved in a truck accident, then you can increase your chances of financial and medical recovery by seeking reasonable compensation from all parties involved. Call Darrigo & Diaz to speak to a truck accident lawyer in Tampa during a free, no-risk, no-obligation case evaluation. Call (813) 774-3341 or contact us online to schedule your free, confidential appointment now!
