Every year, the US experiences about 500,000 truck accidents, ranging from minor crashes to serious accidents with severe injuries and sometimes fatalities.
With large semi-trucks weighing well over 30,000 pounds, truck accidents are nothing less than catastrophic. Commercial truck drivers are more predisposed to accidents given their long working hours and tight deadlines.
That said, if you happen to escape a truck accident with your life, you still have to worry about crash-related injuries. Remember, you don’t have to be a truck driver to fall victim to a truck accident. In fact, the occupants of the other vehicle are more likely to suffer more serious injuries than the truck driver in a head-on collision with a truck.
Today, we’ll be looking at the most common injuries you should expect after a truck accident.
Head Injuries
Victims of a truck crash are more likely to suffer from head injuries when they collide head-on with the truck. These head injuries can be anything from a concussion, contusion to skull fractures that affect the brain. Other types of head injuries include brain cell death or brain damage.
There’s also a chance that victims may have broken facial bones following the accident. Regardless of the case, it’s crucial that victims seek prompt medical attention after suffering any head injury. Some head injuries have delayed symptoms that occur weeks or even months after the accident.
Spinal Cord Injuries
It’s easy to injure your spine after crashing into or crashing with a 30,000-pound truck. Spinal cord injuries are extremely dangerous and can cause partial or total paralysis. The type of paralysis depends on the location and extent of the injury.
For instance, damage to the middle back of the spine causes paraplegia or leg paralysis. Spinal injuries at the neck or cervical level result in quadriplegia, which is paralysis in all four limbs. Most spinal cord injuries are devastating and have life-long repercussions.
Back Injuries
Back injuries are a cluster term for all types of injuries to the back, including spinal cord injuries. Other types of back injuries include strains, sprains, and herniated discs. Serious back injuries result in chronic pain, while severe ones cause impairment.
Neck Injuries
Neck injuries are also common in truck accidents, which means injury to the joints, ligaments, and muscles in the neck. The most common cause of neck injuries in truck crashes is whiplash. Whiplash occurs when an event makes your head jolt backward and then forward quickly.
Most whiplash cases heal on their own, but sometimes whiplash-associated disorders, or WAD, may lead to impairment. That’s why it’s important to seek medical attention if you think you've suffered from whiplash following a truck accident.
Broken Bones
Truck crashes can result in broken ribs, legs, arms, and fractures in other parts of the body. Broken bones are a result of the impact forces during accidents.
Some broken bones heal within a few months with only a cast to facilitate the healing process. However, in severe cases, victims might have to undergo surgery.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries, as the name connotes, are injuries to the body’s internal organs. If you happen to sidestep fractures, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries, you still have to worry about internal injuries. Some of these internal injuries have delayed symptoms and will show up later on.
Surprisingly, some of the internal injuries victims get are caused by airbags designed to protect them. Too much force from the airbags can cause abdominal trauma and lead to internal injuries. The force may injure your spleen, bladder, pancreas, or kidneys.
Disfigurement and Amputation
Amputation may occur in truck crashes because of crushing after an accident. It could also be the consequence of a different type of injury, like a burn, for instance. Amputation or disfigurement will require continued treatment until complete recovery.
In severe cases, victims might need prosthetics to help them with their day-to-day activities. In most cases, caretakers are necessary to assist victims with their day-to-day tasks. This can be expensive, which is why getting help from a truck accident attorney may be necessary to ease your financial load.
Burns
Burns are usually the result of ruptured fuel tanks, specifically the trucks. Fire spreads fast and it could engulf both the truck and the other vehicle in the accident. There are different burn degrees depending on the severity of the burns.
Burn victims must seek prompt medical attention for initial care. After that, doctors can determine whether reconstructive surgery is necessary for the event of disfigurement.
Cuts and Lacerations
Cuts and lacerations are minor injuries but can sometimes be fatal. Sometimes deep cuts can lead to massive bleeding that ultimately leads to death. These cuts result from broken glass shards, sharp metal, and other objects in the car.
It’s crucial that you seek medical care, even for cuts that don’t seem serious. That’s because the open cuts could get infected and lead to life-threatening complications.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
With about half a million car accidents every year, one can’t help but wonder what causes these accidents. Well, here are a few common causes of truck accidents in Georgia.
Driver Fatigue
Truck drivers have to drive over long distances for hours on end. Driving without rest can lead to driver fatigue and drowsiness. Extreme fatigue can make truck drivers fall asleep at the wheel, leading to accidents.
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Other Drugs
Sometimes, truck drivers use amphetamines and other drugs to stimulate them to keep driving. These drugs and alcoholic drinks result in impaired judgment, which increases the probability of accidents.
Distracted Driving
Truck drivers need to stay alert and keep their eyes on the road at all times. The same goes for other drivers sharing the road with truck drivers. Even tiny distractions can lead to trucks crashing into other vehicles and vice-versa.
Truck Accidents Are Dangerous
Clearly, truck accidents are nothing to laugh about, with serious injuries and even death. Remember, you can call a truck accident lawyer following a truck accident to get the compensation you deserve. You don’t have to carry the financial baggage of your truck accident injuries alone.
Injured in a truck accident? Talk to us today, and we’ll help you get a fair settlement for your injuries.