The Most Common Truck Accident Injuries

Trucks are, on average, about 20-30 times heavier than the typical automobile. This means even a light impact could produce significant personal injuries. Below you’ll find some of the more common truck accident injuries that could be serious enough to require immediate medical assistance – and maybe even ongoing care.

Spine Injuries

Not surprisingly, spine injuries often occur with truck accidents. Spine-related injuries can affect spinal discs and joints (facet joints), supporting muscles and other soft tissues, or the spinal cord itself. Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) can result in partial or complete paralysis. These injuries also typically require long-term rehabilitation and care.

Some spine-related injuries, such as whiplash – which affects the cervical spine (neck) – can produce delayed symptoms. This is usually because pain and other symptoms tend to become more evidence once inflammation develops within the affected area.

Head and Brain Injuries

Even with an airbag, the impact from a truck collision can trust your head forward or jostle you enough to push your head against parts of your vehicle. The result could be severe head injuries or a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Head injuries can range from mild concussions to serious brain damage that affects your ability to function.

Rib Injuries

The ribcage is fairly durable, but it’s also susceptible to injuries that might be sustained in a truck accident. If this is the case, you may experience pain while breathing, talking, or laughing or during times of physical exertion and heavy breathing. Broken ribs can also contribute to a punctured lung and other severe damage within the chest and mid-body area.

Internal Trauma

Seat belts are designed to provide protection during an impact. However, they could also contribute to severe internal trauma, especially if your vehicle is struck by a large truck. Internal injuries that may involve damage to the liver, kidneys, spleen, or bladder can produce little or no symptoms at first.

For this reason, you should never refuse medical attention at the scene of an accident. It’s always best to err on the side of caution. This is true with all of the injuries discussed here.

If you suffered any of these truck-related injuries, the first thing to do is seek appropriate medical care. It’s equally important to contact a personal injury attorney to explore your legal options. A lawyer knows how to go about collecting evidence and taking care of other important tasks as you focus on healing and recovering.

Reference
https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/large-trucks