What type of injury have you suffered?
Car Accident
- Car Accident
- Head Injury
- Premises Liability
- Products Liability
- Truck Accident
- Wrongful Death
Car Accident
HABLAMOS ESPAÑOL
(877) 880-4090Posted October 11, 2024 | Personal Injury Blog
Trucks are the heaviest vehicles on our roads and have the potential to cause severe accidents and fatal injuries. The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that in 2022, over 120,000 large trucks were involved in crashes that caused injuries – an 18 percent increase in just 6 years. One study found that injuries to the lower extremities were the most common injuries among truck drivers. For car drivers involved in truck accidents, head injuries and neck injuries are commonly reported.
The NSC also reports that 5,837 trucks were involved in fatal accidents in 2022. Whether you escaped with relatively minor injuries from a truck accident or are grieving the loss of a loved one, a truck accident lawyer can fight for justice on your behalf.
In this article, we will examine more details on common truck accident injuries. We will also see how truck accident attorneys can untangle the complexities of these cases and give you the best chance of recovering fair compensation.
As trucks are incredibly heavy, even low-speed accidents can exert huge forces on the vehicles they collide with – and their passengers. The following injuries are commonly reported and could lead to personal injury claims against truck drivers, trucking companies, and other potentially liable parties.
The National Institutes for Health (NIH) states that traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can result from a “forceful bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, or from an object entering the brain.” Truck accidents have the potential to cause all of these scenarios. In severe cases, TBIs can cause long-term disability and even death.
The consequences of TBIs can include:
It costs a lot to continue treating all of these symptoms, some of which may be permanent. If you or a loved one has been left permanently disabled from a TBI caused by a truck accident, it is crucial to seek compensation for past and future medical expenses. An experienced truck accident attorney can advise you on the legal avenues open to you.
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries after any type of car accident, but especially one that exerts as much force as a truck crash does.
The severity of the whiplash depends on several factors, including:
Most people recover from whiplash in a few weeks. However, the Mayo Clinic reports that symptoms can persist for months or even years after your accident. Generally, the more intense your early symptoms are, the more likely they are to cause ongoing pain. Always seek immediate medical attention after a truck accident to create a documented link between your accident and injuries.
The extreme forces exerted on the body in a truck accident can lead to spinal cord injuries for car drivers and passengers. Spinal cord injuries can be extremely serious, potentially leading to partial or total paralysis. This can also cause emotional, psychological, and social ramifications.
Some outcomes include tetraplegia, which means that the following parts of your body are affected by spinal cord injury:
Paraplegia affects the trunk, legs, and pelvic organs but does not affect the arms.
Severe spinal injuries do not always cause immediate symptoms. This underlines the importance of getting a thorough checkup from a doctor as soon as possible after a truck accident. He or she may spot signs of trauma before the pain begins and be able to provide immediate treatment.
Truck drivers benefit from a number of safety systems designed to protect them in the event of an accident. These include crumple zones, airbags, curtain airbags, and seatbelts.
However, the study mentioned at the start of this article examined 43,000 road traffic accidents involving trucks and found that lower extremity injuries were the most common issues truck drivers suffered. Fatalities only resulted when the collision involved another truck.
Lower extremity injuries can include:
Truck drivers rely on their legs and feet for their jobs, so injuries to the lower extremities can lead to a lot of time off work. If you are left with long-term conditions or disabilities, you may not be able to return to work as a trucker. Whatever the extent of your injuries, it is essential to talk to a truck accident lawyer to explore your rights to compensation to restore your losses.
Truck accident lawyers are not medical experts. However, they are qualified to examine your medical records, work with clinical experts, and calculate fair compensation for the injuries you have suffered. Typically, the more serious your injuries, the more compensation you could receive.
Truck accident attorneys will examine the medical expenses you have already incurred.
These costs may include:
Truck accident attorneys also understand that a catastrophic injury may leave you needing medical treatment and therapies for life. Some truck accident victims may also require caretaker support and adaptations to their homes.
Your lawyer may consult medical experts who can verify the long-term costs of your medical needs. These experts may even testify in court to help you secure the damages you need.
Whether you were injured as a truck driver, car driver, passenger, or pedestrian, a truck accident can turn your world upside down. You need to focus on your recovery at this critical time in your life. Rather than battling insurance companies alone, benefit from the legal expertise of a seasoned truck accident attorney with a record of success in similar cases.
The compassionate yet tenacious legal team at Fielding Law is ready to hear your story. Auto accidents are our main focus, and we have a strong track record of securing six-figure settlements for truck accident victims.
We will carefully listen as you tell us about your accident and explain the legal avenues for pursuing fair compensation. Call (877) 880-4090 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free, personalized case evaluation today.
Text edited by Mitchell Fielding, a personal injury lawyer and partner at Fielding Law. Mitchell is known for his hard work ethic, friendly personality and dedication to the law. You can find out personal injury law offices in Taylorsville, UT and Mesquite, TX.