When cars and tractor-trailers share the road, some accidents may be inevitable. Due to the massive size and complicated maneuverability of large trucks, accidents involving trucks often have devastating consequences. Trucking accidents can cause serious injuries, such as brain injuries, spinal injuries, broken bones, burns, or even death. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were more than 60 fatal accidents involving trucks in New Jersey in 2012.
Common Types of Truck Accident Injuries
Head Injuries
The force of impact in a trucking accident can cause a serious blow to the head. Head injuries from a trucking accident can range from relatively mild to extremely severe. Victims of a trucking accident can suffer a concussion or other head injury resulting in cognitive damage, loss of vision, or physical impairment. Traumatic brain injuries can have lifelong consequences.
Neck and Spinal Injuries
In addition to head injuries, trucking accident victims can suffer devastating injuries to the neck and back, including whiplash, muscle strain, or herniated discs. These debilitating injuries can appear after the accident and can easily become chronic, resulting in lasting pain that may require costly treatment. Damage to the spinal cord can cause temporary or permanent paralysis, which can severely affect a victim’s quality of life.
Bone Fractures
Fractures are some of the most common trucking accident injuries. A small break can be relatively straightforward to treat, but if a victim suffers complex or multiple fractures, they may require surgery and physical therapy and may never fully heal. In extreme cases, limbs may be damaged beyond the point of repair and may require amputation. In addition to physical pain and financial burden, the loss of a limb can have devastating emotional effects on a victim.
Burn Injuries
Trucking accidents can also result in vehicle fires, either by igniting vehicle fuel tanks or trailer tanks containing flammable materials. Severe burn injuries may require surgery to reconstruct the affected area. Burns often leave permanent scars or disfigurement as a painful reminder of victims’ injuries.
Internal Bleeding
One of the most frequent fatal injuries sustained in trucking accidents are internal organ injuries. The abdominal area is very vulnerable during an accident, and damage to the liver, pancreas, kidneys, spleen, or other organs can be severe. These areas are difficult to treat, and the extent of the injury may not be evident immediately after the accident.
How a Truck Accident Attorney Can Help
Victims of truck accidents and their families are often left with costly medical bills, in addition to diminished quality of life caused by injuries. Our attorneys have the knowledge and resources to help you get the compensation you are entitled to and restore your peace of mind.
