Common Injuries Resulting from Truck Accidents
Commercial trucks are more prevalent on the roadways today due to an increased demand for goods. These semi-trucks and big rigs make it possible for the trucking industry to supply consumers with the items they need. However, when an accident occurs with a truck, it can have catastrophic consequences.
The size and weight of these vehicles is much heavier than a typical passenger car or SUV. After a truck accident, it is common to have serious injuries, some of which can change your life forever.
Head and Brain Injuries
In truck accidents, head trauma can cause injury to the brain. It’s important to understand that these injuries can occur even without a direct impact to the head. Traumatic brain injuries are often life-altering, and they may not be apparent immediately after a truck accident.
This is why you should never skip getting medical treatment after an accident, especially one involving a semi-truck. If you develop nausea, confusion, or vision problems, you should seek medical care immediately. Ignoring these signs could result in the development of cognitive difficulties and loss of motor functions.
Back and Neck Injuries
Soreness in the neck and back is common after a truck accident, though it’s wise to have a doctor fully check you out. You may have dislocated discs in your spine or damage to your spinal cord, which could lead to loss of mobility.
Lacerations
The forceful impact of a collision with a truck could mean that you get cut from sharp objects or debris. These injuries range from minor to life-threatening. Even if you have minor cuts, you should make sure you get them treated to prevent infection.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries are among the most serious of all as they can’t be seen from the outside. The blunt trauma from a truck crash can cause your vital organs like your liver, kidneys, spleen, and pancreas to bleed.
Burns
If you’re in an accident with a truck that is hauling gasoline or flammable cargo, you may experience burn injuries. However, burns can occur from coming into contact with hot engine parts or liquids from any vehicle involved in the crash.
Amputation and Disfigurement
Sadly, many truck accident victims will wake up in the hospital where they get the unsettling news of what happened and that they lost limbs or will be permanently disfigured. If you suffer amputation and disfigurement injuries, it will additionally have psychological impacts as you come to terms with your new reality.
Torso Injuries
It’s easy to hit your rib cage and torso in a truck crash. This often leads to fractured ribs that can also puncture your lungs.
Broken Bones
Large trucks can easily crush your vehicle, resulting in fractures to many bones in your body. Some of these injuries may never fully heal even after enduring extensive rehabilitation treatments.
Death
Truck accidents are typically deadlier than accidents that only involve passenger vehicles. If you lost a loved one in a truck accident, you may have had hope when they arrived at the hospital that they could be saved. While nothing can bring them back or take away the heartache you feel, an attorney can help you recover compensation to pay for funeral and burial costs as well as your other expenses.
Click here to find out what to do after you’ve been injured in a truck accident.
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