Truck Accident Injuries

Like any motor vehicle crash, truck accidents can occur without a moment’s notice, forever altering the lives of the individuals involved. These injuries are not likely to be simple cuts and scrapes that, if given sufficient time, will heal without medical intervention. Instead, these are likely to be catastrophic injuries requiring immediate medical attention and one (or more) corrective surgeries to address.

Some of these injuries may result in lifetime impairments or limitations that will affect not only the injury victim but also his or her loved ones for decades to come.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

Crash victims who are hit by a negligent or careless truck driver and their families should be prepared to face serious or even catastrophic injuries. Even in cases where truck drivers are following the appropriate speed limit, an accident at what might be considered “low speed” (i.e., 25 miles per hour, for example) can inflict significant pain and trauma on the occupant of a passenger car.

Some of the injuries that an occupant of a passenger car might suffer in a truck accident include:

• Traumatic brain injuries: These are significant brain injuries that can be inflicted by blunt force trauma (i.e., the driver hits his or her head on the steering wheel), “whiplash”-type acceleration and deceleration movements (i.e., the head of a rear-ended motorist flies backwards and then forwards violently), or piercing injuries (i.e., glass or metal pierces the skull and injuries the brain). Depending on the severity of the injury, the victim may be left with significant disabilities and may require round-the-clock care and attention.
• Head, spine, and neck injuries: The occupant of a motor vehicle that is involved in a crash with a truck may suffer temporary or permanent paralysis if his or her spinal cord is damaged in the crash. A broken neck may result in permanent paralysis, while a broken back my only impact those body parts below the location of the break. In any event, the victim will face decreased earning potential as he or she will be limited in the type of work he or she can perform – if he or she is able to perform any work at all. Accompanying these economic losses are the pain and suffering that usually accompany having to accept the limitations that a broken neck or spine or damaged spinal cord cause.
• Broken bones: A truck accident is violent and traumatic, and the force of the impact can snap ribs, arms, legs, and other major bones. Depending on the nature of the break, a broken bone can take months to heal and may require surgeries to insert rods or other stabilizing devices to assist the bone in healing. While most bones do eventually heal, it can be a painfully long process. The victim may not be able to return to work for some time, which can cause the victim and his or her family to experience financial difficulties.
• Amputation/loss of limb injuries: When an arm or a leg is crushed in a crash or a sharp piece of metal causes a deep gash, medical professionals may determine that it is necessary to amputate the injured limb in order to prevent further damage from occurring to the body. While this may be necessary to preserve the individual’s life, it is not situation easily accepted by the injury victim. The victim’s life is usually upended – not only may he or she have to find other work that he or she can perform given his or her limitations, he or she may need to find new hobbies or pursuits because of the loss of a limb.
• Burns: Truck accidents may cause fuel or other flammable materials to spill. If these materials ignite, the ensuing fire can cause second- or third-degree burns to the occupants of a car. Serious burn injuries may leave painful and obvious scars. Although medical procedures are available to treat these serious burns and reduce the appearance of scars, they may not be 100 percent effective.

The Road to Recovery After Truck Accident Injuries

Any injuries suffered by the occupant of a car that is involved in a truck accident may be eligible for financial compensation from the truck driver and/or his or her trucking company if the injury victim is successful in proving that the truck driver operated his or her truck in a careless or negligent way and this carelessness caused or contributed to the victim’s injuries.

Proving the necessary elements to obtain compensation is not always easy, however. That is why the assistance of a truck crash lawyer like Ken Stern of Stern Law, PLLC is always advisable. By consulting with and identifying important experts and other witnesses and preserving vital evidence, Ken Stern will be able to fight vigorously on behalf of you or your injured loved one and help you obtain monetary damages that can help you or your loved one heal from truck accident injuries. Call Stern Law, PLLC today at (844) 808-7529 for assistance.