Most victims of truck accidents experience mild to severe injuries that turn their lives around. These truck accident injuries may have serious health risks and take a long time to heal. This article will discuss the most common truck accident injuries you may experience and the steps to take when involved in a truck crash. It is good to be careful, even if the information may seem like it could be more valuable in the future, to avoid problems.
Table of Contents
How Many Truck Accidents Occur In The United States?
Trucking is one of the most vital arms of an economy. With trucking services, industries such as construction, food and retail, equipment and fuel, and oil and gas continue to progress and drive economic growth. About 15,000,000 commercial and private trucks were registered in 2020 in California alone.
Furthermore, a significant number of accidents are related to trucking operations within the country. In 2020, there were an alarming number of truck accidents accounted for:
- 4,842 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash
- 107,000 large trucks were involved in crashes resulting in injuries
Most Common Injuries From Truck Accidents
In most truck crashes, victims experience several physical injuries that may take some time to heal and recover. This is why it is essential to know the most common injuries from truck accidents and determine the possible courses of action to take when experiencing these physical damages.
Back and Neck Injuries
Your spinal cord is the long, cylindrical structure that extends and connects your brain to the lower back. This is one of the most critical parts of the body because it sends information and signals your reflexes.
When you encounter a large truck collision, you will likely injure your back, neck, and, in the worst case, your spinal cord. This might be a critical health risk and may take some time to recover.
Head and Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions and blunt head trauma, are among the most common truck accident injuries you can get from a severe crash. In some cases, you may have internal head injuries that are not visible to the naked eye and need a proper examination to be able to identify them.
Consult a health professional immediately if you feel the following brain injury symptoms after the accident:
- Headaches
- Memory loss
- Mood problems
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
Lacerations
Damaged truck parts, such as auto frames, dash panels, shattered glass, and plastic interiors, can cause lacerations and puncture wounds. In most truck crashes, victims who suffer from lacerations tend to survive the accident but are left with permanent cuts within their bodies.
Broken bones
Truck crashes may cause broken bones. Although mild broken bone cases can heal naturally, some may experience crucial fractures and require surgeries and therapy.
Wrongful death
With a critical large truck collision, the most unfortunate result is wrongful death. Anyone who experiences a wrongful death may feel devastated, angry, frustrated, and confused. In times like this, a truck accident injury lawyer will help you sort your case out and receive compensation for the wrongful death.
Common Causes of Truck Crash
There are several reasons why truck accidents happen almost every day. Here are the common causes of truck accidents in the United States:
- Driver’s Behavior: Most truck accident cases occur due to the driver’s behavior, such as driving while intoxicated or under the influence, overspeeding, or lacking truck driver training.
- Vehicle Characteristics: Usually, an assigned mechanic checks the truck’s overall condition to ensure safe operations. However, if the mechanic fails to inspect the truck’s condition, this may result in vehicle malfunctions that cause truck accidents. Likewise, there are cases where the mechanic intentionally overloads the freight capacity, resulting in a truck crash.
- Roadway Features: Sometimes, fatal vehicle crashes are a result of poor roadway features. It is estimated that roadway features contribute to about one-third of deadly crashes in the United States.
Due to these factors, truck drivers experience accidents that may harm and injure other drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians.
What To Do When Involved In a Truck Accident
Experiencing a truck crash may be frustrating for anyone. Whether you are a truck driver, the driver of another vehicle hit by a truck, or a pedestrian, you may feel confused about what to do when you find yourself in an accident. This is why we want to help you determine how to respond when involved in a truck crash.
What to Do in a Truck Crash When You Are the Truck Driver
- Check if you have truck accident injuries.
- If you can, you must examine the scene and determine if there are other victims of the truck crash.
- Respond and call 911 immediately.
- If you have minor injuries and can move freely, document all possible pieces of evidence at the scene.
- Report the incident to the police.
- Determine the coverage of your insurance.
- Examine who is at fault for the crash.
What to Do in a Truck Crash When You Are a Victim
- Examine your body and check for truck accident injuries.
- Call 911 immediately.
- If you can, review the scene and document possible evidence, such as the testimony of witnesses and the truck driver’s personal information.
- File an initial accident report.
- Contact a truck accident injury lawyer to help you with your case.
Filing a Truck Accident Claim for Compensation
If you sustain injuries and significant damages in a truck accident caused by another driver, you may have grounds to seek compensation. Many individuals injured in truck collisions opt to enlist the assistance of lawyers to navigate the legal process, mitigate potential complexities, and secure rightful compensation effectively.
Generally, you must satisfy the following conditions to have the right to compensation for a truck collision:
- The truck crash results from another driver’s negligence.
- The accident caused damage and injuries.
- You have sufficient evidence to support your case.
Remember, even if you didn’t cause the crash, there are legal complexities that may hinder you from receiving fair compensation, such as lack of evidence and failure to meet legal deadlines. This is why it is best to hire a lawyer who knows the specifics of a truck accident claim and protects your rights by negotiating a just settlement.
Why Get a Lawyer for Truck Accidents?
One accident can instantly change your life. We understand how frustrating and confusing it is to be involved in a truck accident. Collisions that involve trucks are also considered a serious issue because they may cause severe health damage and even wrongful death.
In truck accidents, you may experience several challenges that will make the case difficult to prove, such as:
- There are multiple parties involved in the collision.
- You have difficulties determining who is at fault.
- You have limited evidence to prove your case.
For instance, you were rear-ended by a truck in Burbank that was following too closely to you. As the investigation continued, it was discovered that another truck hit the vehicle that rear-ended you, causing a multi-vehicle collision. In this case, the best personal injury attorney in Burbank will know how to handle these issues and file two truck accident claims simultaneously to maximize your payout.
As truck accident injury lawyers who are experts in handling truck crash accidents, we make sure that we deliver the highest quality of service in resolving your case. We ensure you get the utmost value for your claim and recover any damages.