Large trucks or big rigs weigh more than 10,000 pounds and can be either
single-unit vehicles or combination vehicles such as tractor-trailers. On average, drivers of large trucks travel many more miles than passenger vehicle drivers and a large portion of those miles are on interstates. In 2017, large trucks accounted for 4% of registered vehicles and 9% of vehicle miles traveled.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in 2018, 4,136 people died in accidents involving large trucks. Also, 16% of these deaths were truck occupants and 67% were passenger vehicle occupants and 15% were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists. In fatal two-vehicle crashes involving a passenger vehicle and a large truck, 96% of the deaths were occupants of the passenger vehicles. Large trucks were involved in 11% of all motor vehicle crash deaths and 22% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in multi-vehicle crashes.
Five Common Injuries in Truck Accidents
Here are the five most common injuries suffered in large truck accidents:
Spinal cord injury: An injury to the spinal cord affects the neck and back. A collision with a large truck can generate a significant amount of force, which may result in spinal injury. An acute spinal cord injury is a traumatic injury that occurs when the spine is bruised, torn or even broken. This type of damage may result in conditions such as quadriplegia, which refers to loss of movement and sensation in the arms and legs; paraplegia, which is the loss of movement and sensation in the lower half of the body; and triplegia, which is the loss of movement and sensation in one arm and both legs.
Traumatic brain injuries: This is a type of injury caused by a sudden or sharp impact to the head that damages the brain. Traumatic brain injuries that result from truck accidents may be open head injuries where an object penetrates the skull and enters the brain or it may be a closed head injury, which results from a strong blow to the head. A traumatic brain injury can completely change a victim’s personality, identity and his or her ability to function independently. Traumatic brain injuries may also require long-term rehabilitation.
Fractures and lacerations: The blow or impact due to a truck accident can lead to severe injuries including broken bones. While broken bones are often not life threatening, they may significantly affect victims’ lives and their ability to perform regular activities that they used to enjoy prior to the accident. Broken bone injuries may also require surgery and lengthy rehabilitation such as physical therapy. These types of costs may add up very quickly and may not necessarily be covered by health insurance.
Whiplash: This is a common type of injury reported by truck accident victims and is especially prevalent in rear-end collisions. It is a painful condition that occurs when the head is forced forward and snaps backward or sideways. This causes tension in the muscles, discs and ligaments in the back and neck resulting in soft tissue damage. Common symptoms of whiplash after a truck accident include headaches, numbness in the arms, irritability, neck stiffness and lower back pain.
Internal Injuries: The strong impact of a truck accident may result in severe damage to the body’s internal organs including the lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, heart and stomach. The effects of these injuries may not always be immediately apparent after a truck accident. But, they can be life threatening and are often accompanied by severe pain and breathing difficulties.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Victims who have been injured in truck accidents may be able to seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families of deceased accident victims may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages such as lost future income, funeral costs, medical expenses, pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, or if you have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident caused by a negligent or careless driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 49 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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