What Are the Types of Injuries Suffered in Trucking Accidents?
May 24, 2022 | Truck Accidents
Since semi-trucks are much bigger and weigh more than anything else on the road, accidents involving them can be disastrous. These accidents can cause severe damage to whatever and whoever they strike. Hence, truck accident injuries are much more potent than car-on-car accidents.
Seek the highest quality truck accident attorneys to help you receive the compensation you deserve. Look for a law firm with a successful reputation for truck accident litigation. Whether you experience minor or major injuries, truck accident lawyers know your pain and suffering because we see it all the time. Below, you will find the injuries one can sustain from a trucking accident.
The Different Types of Truck Accident Injuries
Truck accident injuries can be catastrophic. If the accident doesn’t kill the victim, it will usually leave them with horrible wounds that take years or even decades to recover. Many times, truck accident victims who barely survive the crash consult with an attorney because they find their quality of life much different. Their suffering is unacceptable and tragic.
The most common truck accident injuries attorneys see include:
- Back and neck injuries
- Broken bones
- Burn injuries
- Head injuries
- Internal injuries
- Lacerations
- Rib and torso injuries
- Seat belt injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Wrongful death
Back and neck injuries can include minor neck pain and more severe injuries like spinal dislocated discs. Since the back and neck are essential to everything one can do, damage to these areas will prevent victims from returning to work and their daily routines.
Since truck accidents are so forceful, it leaves room for occupants to break bones during the wreckage.
Trucks that haul hazardous materials such as gasoline or petroleum products are the leading culprit for burn injuries. Burn injuries can also result from truck accidents. Burns are even more common in these accidents if flammable cargo is present.
Any head trauma in an accident can result in an injury to the brain, which can be completely life-altering. Brain injuries can happen even in the absence of direct trauma to the head. While these injuries may not be immediately apparent, that does not mean they don’t exist.
The symptoms that can develop include but are not limited to confusion, nausea, vision problems, and various cognitive difficulties. These injuries can be some of the most heartbreaking because victims can ultimately lose cognitive and motor functions. Victims may never be the same again after suffering a brain injury in severe instances.
Internal injuries from powerful blunt trauma can cause internal bleeding to organs like the bladder, liver, kidney, pancreas, and spleen. Injuries like these are difficult to treat.
The lacerations from a truck accident can be painful and tend to leave massive scars that may never heal properly.
Rib and torso injuries can be severe since the rib cage protects the body’s vital organs.
Most seat belt injuries cause whiplash, but they serve a bigger purpose. They are in place to protect you from ejecting from your vehicle in the event of an accident.
Injuries to the spinal cord can lead to paralysis. Similar to head trauma, the damage isn’t always initially apparent with spinal cord injuries. Anyone who suffers spinal cord injuries in a truck accident should get medical attention as soon as possible. Get an MRI to detect injuries that an X-ray can miss.
Finally, with wrongful death, tractor-trailers are ten times more likely to kill you than if you are in a car accident. It is an alarming but sobering fact. If a truck accident kills a loved one, only the cream of the crop truck accident attorneys can hold the company responsible with a wrongful death claim. A truck accident attorney can never replace the loved one you lose; however, they can pursue the compensation you deserve for you and your family to move forward.
Types of Expenses You Can Seek Compensation for After a Trucking Accident
You or any loved ones who sustain injuries in a truck accident have the right to compensation for several losses and expenses.
This compensation can include:
- Any past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Failure of the ability to generate future income
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Numerous costs that standard insurance policies don’t cover
The amount of compensation you receive depends on your specific circumstances with the truck accident. More specifically, the seriousness of truck accident injuries can significantly influence the damages. The truck accident attorney’s skill in litigating and presenting the case in court is central to obtaining damages, so make sure you work with the right law firm.
Truck Accident Statistics
On average, truck accidents are more likely to result in death or injury than an accident between two cars. Truck accidents pose far more dangers to occupants of the car rather than the truck. According to the National Institute of Traffic and Highway Safety, approximately 71 percent of all truck accident injuries and deaths occur to people riding in the other vehicles, not the trucks.
The most notorious factor that contributes to truck accidents is speed. Truck drivers are the other common factor as they make up roughly 55 percent of all truck accidents. Should this happen to you or a loved one, it is more reason for you to seek compensation for the truck driver’s negligence and any harm it causes.
Over two years, truck accident fatalities have been on the rise. Between two recent years, the difference in numbers is apparent. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of registered trucks in the first year was 13.2 million.
The next year, the number remained very close, sitting at 13.1 million. Then we compare the number of truck fatalities. The numbers are 3,709 and 3,825, respectively. Lastly, NHTSA documents that truck accidents accounted for 84,800 and 90,600 injuries, respectively.
More nationwide truck accident statistics are available through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Below, you will find sobering truck accident statistics from across the country:
- In a recent year, 5,005 people died due to a significant truck accident. The number mirrors that of the previous year with 5,006 deaths.
- Truck accidents injured roughly 159,000 people in the same year.
- The percentage of occupants killed in truck accidents is around 71 percent.
- Nearly 57 percent of truck accident fatalities occur on rural roads.
- Seventy-seven percent of fatalities happen on weekdays.
- Alcohol-impaired drivers accounted for two percent of truck accidents back in one recent year.
Truck accident fatalities and injuries remain a significant concern for everyone on the roads. The matter is especially true during commuting hours during the workweek.
What if I Hesitate to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit?
It isn’t out of the ordinary for victims to feel apprehensive about truck accident lawsuits. You should nonetheless contact a truck accident attorney for a free consultation. You should listen to their opinions and ask any questions. There is no obligation to work with the lawyer you consult. The final decision is ultimately up to you.
Remember that a truck accident attorney wants to explain how they can further assist you during this challenging time. No one deserves to be stuck paying outrageous medical bills and any other expenses that pertain to a negligent truck company or driver. It all boils down to justice and fairness, and a truck accident attorney wants to help you with both.
Do I Have to Go to Court for My Truck Accident Claim?
Unfortunately, attorneys do not have the capabilities to predict how every case will proceed. That said, truck accident attorneys can tell you how they have secured settlement agreements from many past experiences before there is a need to go to trial. In general, truck accident claims tend to settle out of court, but you want a law firm that is not hesitant to represent you in court when necessary to fully protect your rights.
What Happens if Someone Dies in a Truck Accident?
Should a loved one die in a truck accident, you can pursue a wrongful death case with the help of a truck accident attorney. The goal of truck accident attorneys is to seek justice for the family. There are compensation opportunities available if the family qualifies to handle funeral expenses, loss of income, and loss of companionship. Truck accident attorneys commit to fighting and securing justice on behalf of those who pay the ultimate price through no fault of their own.
I Am Not Sure Whether or Not I Have a Case. What Can I Do?
That is okay. Give your local law firm a call or contact them through their website. You can talk to an attorney about your situation. Truck accident attorneys provide honest feedback and assessment regarding all your questions. Truck accident attorneys build their careers on these cases. Allow them to use our knowledge and experience to help you and your family. You must prove both injury and fault. You increase your odds of success when you hire an attorney to fight on your behalf.
Who is Responsible for a Trucking Accident: The Truck Driver or the Trucking Company?
A truck driver is responsible only if they violate safety regulations that result in the accident. For a trucking company to take the responsibility, there must be dangerous cargo, defective machinery or equipment present, a driver that logs more hours than they can, or other truck safety violations.
Is the Manufacturing Company Responsible if a Truck’s Brakes Fail?
Yes. Manufacturers are accountable for the production of their vehicles. If any part of the truck is defective and contributes to the accident, the companies should be liable.
Truck manufacturing companies can also be responsible if other parts fail, leading to an accident, including:
- Tires fly off the truck
- The doors swing open during travel
- The engine fails
- The transmission fails
- The truck accelerates or decelerates without action from the driver
When to Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney?
Regardless of how a truck accident hurts you and your family, having a professional on your side is how you want to proceed. Consulting with truck accident attorneys can be highly beneficial because their reputation in truck litigation speaks for itself.
If you sustain injuries from a truck accident, you are not alone. There is plenty of support that you can turn to for guidance. There is no need to fret for victims who have doubts about whether or not they can afford a truck accident attorney. Many law firms operate on a contingency fee basis. The fee comes in the form of a percentage of the settlement or verdict. You only pay the law firm if and when your case wins.
If you are still wondering why you will hire a truck accident attorney, the fact that they will not settle for the last best offer should be a good enough reason. The best attorneys never settle for anything less than fair and full compensation. They have the resources to take on the biggest insurance companies and adjusters out there and win.
There is plenty of hope still out there if you are in a truck accident. You can come out on top with compensation that alleviates all medical expenses. If the result is a fatality, payment may be available for further arrangements. We encourage all victims to seek help from an attorney right away. Delaying only hurts you more in the long run.
Truck accidents are regularly serious. Even if you think you are fine, that may not be the case. Your adrenaline is pumping, which may prevent you from feeling any pain. The adrenaline acts as a mask, so you may believe you have no injuries. Once it wears off, though, you can potentially be in a whirlwind of pain. Never assume you are fine, even if you feel okay.
See a doctor for confirmation and then speak with a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.