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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – In the United States, there are upwards of 3,000 fatal accidents involving large trucks each year. It is an unfortunate but true statistic. And that number does not even consider the people who are injured in these accidents.
Even though fewer of us might be driving these days, as a result of the pandemic, there are still plenty of tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles on the road. The risk of being involved in a crash with one of these vehicles is high. Let us take a look at some of the most common injuries sustained in large truck accidents.
Back and Neck Injuries
Given the importance to the spinal column, injuries affecting the neck and back can be particularly debilitating. They can cause serious conditions such as paralysis, mobility problems or chronic, even lifelong pain.
Some of the injuries involving the neck and back include dislocated discs, whiplash, nerve damage and damage to the muscles surrounding the spine.
Many people think that back or neck pain manifests immediately, but there are cases in which it takes a while for injuries to be diagnosed. This is especially true of nerve damage.
“Because of the possible latency period, it’s important for victims of all vehicular accidents to seek medical attention immediately,” advises New Jersey truck accident lawyer Todd J. Leonard. “For those involved in a truck crash, it’s absolutely essential.”
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are another common result of heavy truck wrecks. Consider the fact that trucks often weigh up to 30 times as much as passenger cars. Now imagine the force of an impact from such a heavy vehicle upon your brain, which continues to move inside the skull even if your car comes to a stop. When this happens, the brain tissue is bruised and damaged. So are the blood vessels and nerves traveling to and from our gray matter.
Concussions, loss of consciousness, cognitive and motor impairment, memory loss, coma, and even death are all potential results of a TBI.
Internal Injuries
Truck accident victims can have no serious external or visible injuries. They might not have any broken bones or lacerations, but they may have internal bleeding. It is difficult to detect the source of the bleeding or the internal injuries, let alone treat them. Internal organs that can be seriously affected by a truck accident include the stomach, bladder, liver, pancreas, spleen and kidneys.
Broken Bones
The bones of the human body are no match for a truck that weighs 50,000 lbs. or more. Broken bones are therefore one of the injuries that accident victims frequently sustain. The more bones are fractured, the longer it will take that individual to heal.
Lacerations
Automobiles are outfitted with safety glass, but nevertheless, there are plenty of car parts that can shatter or go flying, only to slice, stab, cut and otherwise damage passengers. These injuries can be incredibly painful and require many stitches and/or reconstructive surgery. In some cases, truck accident victims have even been decapitated, or internally decapitated, by sharp, sheared-off pieces of metal or from being involved in an underride crash.
Wrongful Death
Of course, wrongful death is not a type of accident per se. It can be the result of any of the above injuries, or a combination thereof. Simply being trapped or crushed by the weight of any vehicle involved in an accident, whether the semi-truck itself or the passenger vehicle, is often more than sufficient cause for fatality.
A lot can and does go wrong when a truck driver is pushing to get cargo delivered on time, because they have ingested illegal drugs or alcohol while on the road, or simply due to not paying adequate attention. If a loved one has died thanks to a truck driver’s carelessness, consider seeking legal recourse.
If you or someone you love has been recently injured or died in a truck accident, contact one of the dedicated New Jersey truck accident attorneys the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm to discuss your options. Attorney Todd Leonard has devoted his legal career to helping accident victims recover the compensation they need and deserve from the parties responsible for their injuries. To learn more about how we can help you pursue a claim for compensation, call today at (973) 920-7900 to request a free and confidential consultation.