Injuries from truck accidents are more severe than car accidents because semi trucks are bigger and heavier than anything else on the road. When these large commercial trucks collide with something, they do serious damage to whatever and whoever they strike.
The added fact that trucks are higher off the roadway makes it even more dangerous for the occupants of smaller, passenger vehicles who could get sucked underneath the truck. There is also an added risk that an 18-wheeler will be transporting hazardous or flammable materials which could pose an additional threat to victims.
As a result, big rig collisions are more likely to cause severe personal injuries. If the semi-truck crash does not wrongfully kill the victim, it often leaves a victim with catastrophic injuries that are likely to be debilitating, permanent, and life-threatening. These injuries could take years to recover from, and many victims will never fully recover from their injuries sustained in a tractor-trailer crash.
Some common injuries caused by large commercial truck accidents include the following:
Head Injuries
Besides wrongful death, head injuries are usually the most severe type of injury from trucking crashes. There are two types of head injuries. Open head injuries are where the skull was fractured and there is physical damage to the head, skull, and brain. Closed head injuries are where the skull was not fractured, but the brain has sustained an injury.
While both are very dangerous, closed head injuries can become catastrophic very quickly because there is no where for accumulated blood or swelling to go. This creates significant pressure on the brain which can destroy parts of it. Common closed head injuries include a concussion from a whiplash injury due to a dramatic deceleration caused by a box truck crash.
When the brain has sustained widespread or significant damage it is classified as a traumatic brain injury, or TBI. These types of injuries are usually permanent and may cause cognitive functioning problems, debilitating headaches, and motor issues such as balance, coordination, and even movement. Victims of traumatic brain injuries may no longer be able to hold a job or carry out normal and customary daily activities. In some instances, traumatic brain injury victims may require around the clock assistance and require assisted living or nursing care.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord originates at the base of the brain and travels down your back into your pelvis. The spinal cord is encased in very hard bones called vertebrae. Nerves emanate from the spinal cord through small holes in each individual vertebra and extend to your arms, legs, hands, and feet. These serve to provide sensation to a person and to assist with motor movement.
When a victim of a truck wreck sustained injuries to his or her spinal cord, there may be a partial or complete loss of sensation or ability to move parts of the body. Severe spinal cord injuries can result in paralysis including paraplegia and quadriplegia. Victims may become wheelchair bound or even bedridden due to an 18 wheeler collision.
Back and Neck Injuries
Victims in trucking accidents commonly suffer from severe back and neck injuries. This is caused by the violent back-and-forth whipping action of a victim as it is hit by a commercial truck. This causes the back and vertebra to shift and slide. Sometimes the discs, or gel-like material cushioning the vertebrae on top of each other, can be damages or pushed out of alignment. This can impinge on nerves and the spinal cord.
Therefore, common injuries to the neck and back include dislocated discs, herniated discs, and nerve damage. Since most tractor trailer collisions are so devastating, victims usually require neck or back surgery to attempt to prevent or lessen the excruciating pain. One common surgery is a fusion, where several vertebra are wielded together to prevent further damage or irritated to the spinal cord and its nerves.
These injuries to the neck and back are debilitating and life-changing, leaving some victims unable to pick up their children or grandchild ever again.
Broken Bones
Since trucking crashes are so powerful, it is very common for bones to be fractured and broken. Many times the broken bones are so damaged that open surgery is required to repair the damage. Sometimes painful hardware, such as pins, plates, screws, and rods, is required to stabilize the bone so it can heal.
Internal Injuries to Organs
Enough though our internal organs are protected under our rib cage and layers of muscle, the shocking impact from the force of a truck crash can easily smash ribs and lacerate organs. Common injuries to the lungs, kidneys, liver, and heart can cause horrific pain and permanent disability.
Wrongful Death
The ultimate personal injury in any trucking crash is wrongful death. Even low speed truck collisions can result in the loss of life. While your loved one can never be replaced, a family can receive compensation through a fatal accident claim in Albuquerque to become financially stable to move forward and heal.
Injuries From Truck Accidents Require an Experienced Albuquerque Truck Accident Lawyer
As a result of the severity of these injuries, victims of truck accidents in New Mexico need to retain a trucking accident lawyer who has the experience and knowledge necessary to prove liability and establish the injuries. These injuries are much more severe and complicated than those typically found in a car accident.
Here at Caruso Law Offices, our experienced truck accident lawyers in Albuquerque have the knowledge and compassion necessary to represent families of the most injured victims in their time of need.
Our law firm allows you to focus on your recovery and while we will focus on protecting your rights to compensation for your extreme pain and suffering, increasing medical bills, and significant lost wages. Call us today to speak with one of our lawyers for free by dialing (505) 883-5000.