Semi-trucks can weigh up to 30 times that of passenger vehicles, making truck accidents incredibly dangerous. The heavyweight and large size of commercial trucks can cause catastrophic injuries or death to those involved in truck accidents. Smaller passenger vehicle occupants have the highest risk of suffering severe injuries resulting from a truck accident. Some of the most common injuries sustained in a truck accident victims include brain injuries, paralysis, spinal cord injuries, as well as injuries that may result in death. In some cases as well, those with catastrophic truck accident injuries may often need long-term care.
If you or your loved one have suffered an injury in a truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation through an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. Our Los Angeles truck accident lawyers have secured compensation for many drivers and passengers who’ve suffered devastating injuries. We understand how challenging it is to recover from a severe truck accident while the medical bills stack up. We can help you and your family recover the compensation you deserve as you adjust to your new normal. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.
Common Injuries in a Truck Accident
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Head trauma can have a devastating effect and cause traumatic brain injuries in truck accident victims. Those involved don’t even need to slam their head against an object to suffer a head injury. The truck accident force alone can cause the brain to slam into a person’s skull, resulting in swelling and bleeding. While airbags do help reduce the risk of severe injury and death, they can also cause head injuries. In other cases, an object such as a shard of broken glass from the windshield can penetrate a person’s head.
Even mild to moderate truck accidents can cause lasting injuries such as whiplash, which occurs when a person’s head and neck are thrown violently forward and backward. If you have been in a serious truck accident, we recommend seeking a comprehensive medical evaluation. In many cases, the symptoms of traumatic brain injuries are not totally apparent immediately after the accident and can present later. Brain injury symptoms include bleeding from the head and nose, slurred speech, headache, confusion, and vision problems.
Internal Injuries
As with head injuries, internal injuries are not always apparent. Truck accidents can cause massive internal bleeding to vital organs such as the liver, bladder, kidney, pancreas, and spleen. Internal bleeding needs to be treated incredibly fast, or the victim could bleed to death. Even when emergency personnel and surgeons can stop internal bleeding, victims often experience lifelong complications from organ damage.
Seat Belt Injuries
Seat belts are important safety devices that prevent us from flying through the windshield in a motor vehicle accident. Nonetheless, like airbags, seat belts can cause injuries to drivers and passengers. Many victims of serious truck accidents experience painful bruising along the area of the seat belt. In some cases, they experienced bruised or broken ribs, which threaten their vital organs. Additionally, when seat belts hold a person back, their neck can snap forward and cause tissue damage. Whiplash is often incredibly difficult to treat, and victims can suffer for months or even years with whiplash symptoms. Neck injuries can make it difficult to perform daily activities without significant pain.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
Spinal cord injuries are particularly dangerous and can be incredibly costly to treat. According to the Mayo Clinic, car accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in the U.S. Over 40% of new spinal cord injuries occur due to motor vehicle accidents. Spinal cord injuries most often occur in high-impact car and truck accidents. The sudden jolt to a person’s body can cause the spinal cord to become traumatized and damaged.
The damage from spinal cord injuries isn’t always immediately apparent, especially in the shock that occurs after the truck accident. Once the shock begins to wear off, you may start to feel pain or experience spinal cord injury symptoms, which is why it’s so important to undergo a complete medical evaluation. When doctors suspect that you may have injured your spinal cord in the truck accident, they will run diagnostic tests and determine the severity of your injuries.
Every spinal cord injury is unique, and some cause paralysis or partial paralysis. The severity of the paralysis depends on the location of the damage to the spinal cord. When the neck becomes damaged, victims may become completely paralyzed from the neck down. When the middle of the spine becomes paralyzed, the victim may experience paralysis from the waist down. Adjusting after a spinal cord injury can be challenging. Many people who become completely paralyzed in truck accidents need full-time care, which can be expensive. One of the best ways to ensure that you have the care you need after suffering a spinal cord injury is to obtain compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
Wrongful Death
Unfortunately, some truck accident injuries are so severe that victims die from their injuries. The large size and heavyweight of trucks make them even more likely to cause the death of those involved and truck accidents. When a truck accident causes your loved one’s death, you may be able to recover compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. As with personal injury lawsuits, you will need to prove that the at-fault driver’s negligence or recklessness caused the truck accident that resulted in your injuries.
Contact Our Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyers Today If You Hae Sustained Any of These Common Injuries
If you’ve suffered a severe injury from a truck accident in Los Angeles, you need an experienced lawyer on your side. At SoCal Injury Lawyers, we have a proven track record of advocating fiercely for clients who have been injured in truck accidents. Whether you file a claim with an insurance company or a personal injury lawsuit, we will advocate for you to obtain the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.