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Common Types of Truck Accident Injuries

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
blue semi truck on highwayBetween 2014 and 2015, more than 7,500 people were killed in accidents involving commercial trucks, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety/Highway Loss Data Institute. In 2015, 69 percent of truck accident fatality victims were occupants of passenger vehicles. Collisions involving large commercial trucks also caused numerous additional people to suffer a wide variety of injuries. The knowledgeable Sacramento truck accident attorneys at the Arnold Law Firm help victims of truck accidents recover the compensation they deserve for medical treatments and lost wages caused by their injuries. Below, we discuss the most common injuries and symptoms that can occur during a truck accident. If you have suffered a serious injury that occurred in an accident caused by another’s negligence, contact us to schedule a free consultation.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a frequent vehicle collision injury that occurs when the neck forcefully jolts forward and then suddenly snaps backward, causing a soft tissue damage. The symptoms of a whiplash injury can range from mild to severe and may include:
  • Pain when moving your neck
  • Numbness in your arms and upper body
  • Limited ability to move the neck
  • Pain in your upper extremities

Head Injury

When a commercial truck crashes into a much smaller passenger vehicle, the occupants may be thrust forward into the windshield or dashboard in front of them, causing a head injury. A head injury from a traffic collision tends to be more severe when colliding vehicles were traveling at high speeds before crashing into each other. Loose items inside the vehicle can also strike your head and cause a serious injury.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a strong, violent blow or jolt to the head. TBI requires immediate medical treatment for optimal recovery and often results in a life-altering, permanent medical condition. Depending on the victim’s condition and the symptoms he or she displays after suffering the injury, a TBI can be diagnosed as mild, moderate or severe. A TBI victim may experience symptoms such as:
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Slurred speech
  • Loss of consciousness ranging from 30 minutes to several hours
  • Loss of memory or inability to form new ones
  • Confusion that often leads to anger or anxiety
  • Blurred vision
  • Sensitivity to light and sound
  • Persistent headaches

Concussion

A concussion is a mild form of TBI that occurs when you sustain a blunt blow to your head. This condition often leads to temporary unconsciousness, confusion, blurred vision and headaches.

Broken Bones

Bone fractures are another common injury reported by truck accident victims, and are often caused by bracing yourself against the steering wheel or dashboard during the collision or being forcefully thrown into the side of the vehicle’s interior. Fractures can prevent movement in certain locations of the body and may cause a person to be impaired for several months while he or she recovers from the injury. Truck accident victims commonly experience fractures of:
  • Arms
  • Legs
  • Hands
  • Wrists
  • Pelvis
  • Ribs
  • Facial bones

Back Injury

Back injuries are serious medical conditions that can result in long-term impairment. Common types of back injuries reported by truck accident victims include:
  • Spinal cord injury: When the spine undergoes a strong impact, it may result in a serious and debilitating spinal cord injury. Victims may lose sensation and motor function below the area of the impact or in other areas of the body, depending on the type of injury you suffered.
  • Herniated disc: The spinal column is separated by discs that are located between each vertebra. A sudden traumatic and strong impact, like a truck collision, can tear the disc and push it outward. This causes the nerves surrounding the disc to become irritated and causes the victim to suffer extreme pain.
  • Sprain: A back sprain occurs from a sudden blow that forces the muscles out of position and can make it difficult for you to sit, walk or stand until the injury has healed.

Burns

Commercial trucks have much larger fuel tanks than traditional passenger vehicles. When a traffic collision damages the fuel tank of the truck, it may cause fuel to spill onto the roadway. This creates a dangerous situation that may result in a significant fire or explosion. A truck accident victim may suffer severe burns that cause extreme pain, blisters, scarring, mutilation or death if he or she is unable to escape the vehicle or the accident scene in the event of a fire.

Contact Our Sacramento Personal Injury Attorneys

If you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury caused by a truck accident, you may be able to recover compensation medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. Our experienced personal injury lawyers have helped numerous victims of negligence and will evaluate your claim during a free, no obligation consultation. We provide our qualified legal services on a contingency basis, which means you only pay if we recover compensation for your claim.

Call (916) 777-7777 to schedule a free, no-obligation review of your case.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.