What Are Common Injuries in Commercial Truck Accident Cases?

Commercial truck accidents are one of the most severe types of accidents in terms of the injuries often inflicted on victims. It is common for truck accident survivors to suffer catastrophic and life-threatening injuries. While these injuries can vary significantly, they should all be taken seriously. If you sustain any type of injury due to a collision involving a commercial truck in Texas, consult with a truck accident attorney in Austin to discuss your legal rights. The trucking company or another party may be held responsible for making you whole again.

Common Types of Large Truck Accidents in Texas

The kinds of injuries that are involved in a big rig accident depend partly on the type of crash. How a commercial truck crashes can determine the severity of the collision and what injuries are inflicted. A cargo spill accident, for example, can run the risk of injuries specific to exposure to hazardous substances. The most common types of semi-truck accidents in Texas include:

• Jackknife accident: in this type of crash, the truck driver can lose control of the vehicle, which may strike multiple cars or roll over.

• Truck rollover: if a large truck flips or turns onto its side, it could crush smaller vehicles beneath it or cause a multi-car pileup.

• Rear-end collision: when these accidents involve commercial trucks, they can result in override or underride collisions. An override could crush the occupants of the smaller vehicle beneath the truck, while an underride accident can lead to severe head injuries or decapitations.

• T-bone or side-impact collisions: these accidents often occur at high speeds, increasing the odds of severe and fatal injuries for those in the smaller car. These accidents are most common at intersections in Texas.

Even a low-speed crash involving a commercial truck can result in life-changing injuries due to the difference in size between a big rig and a standard passenger car. The occupants of the latter tend to experience the most serious injuries, as the car absorbs most of the crash force from the larger truck.

Common Types of Truck Accident Injuries

The damage caused by a motor vehicle collision depends on the amount of force imparted into the cabs of both vehicles. Since a large truck can outweigh a passenger car by an average of 20 times, the damage sustained by the small car can be immense. Occupants of the vehicle are likely to be forever altered by a variety of catastrophic and critical injuries.

Bone and Soft-Tissue Injuries

The muscular and skeletal systems can both sustain significant harm in a commercial truck accident. The bones of the body may be unable to withstand the force of impact, leading to bone cracks or fractures. The muscles, tendons and ligaments surrounding the bones can also sustain injury, including sprains, strains and tears.

Head and Brain Injuries

If a victim’s head strikes an element inside of the vehicle in a truck accident, such as a window or the steering wheel, the victim could suffer serious head and brain injuries. This includes skull fractures, concussions, traumatic brain injuries, bleeding or swelling of the brain, penetrating brain injuries, and permanent brain damage. Facial injuries, including scarring and disfigurement, may also occur.

Neck Injuries

The neck is a vulnerable area of the body in a commercial truck accident, with many soft tissues that can suffer damage from the rapid forward and backward movement of the head. The most common is an injury known as whiplash. While most victims can recover fully from whiplash, serious cases may result in long-term or permanent symptoms.

Back and Spine Injuries

If a victim’s neck or back is affected by an 18-wheeler accident, this could result in permanent disability. Severe spinal cord injuries can alter the messaging system between the brain and the rest of the body forever. Types of paralysis like paraplegia and quadriplegia are typically irreversible. Other types of back injuries that are commonly seen in truck accidents include disk ruptures and herniation, pinched nerves and nerve damage, vertebral fractures, and muscle injuries.

Internal Injuries

Blunt force trauma or penetrating injuries to the torso or abdominal area could result in serious internal damage. Even the force of the seat belt halting the body’s forward momentum could cause internal injuries. This includes damage to organs such as the liver, kidneys, spleen, heart and lungs, as well as internal bleeding and organ failure, resulting in death.

Burn Injuries

A trucking accident can inflict burn injuries due to vehicle fires, fuel explosions or exposure to hazardous chemicals present in the truck’s cargo hold. The deployment of a vehicle’s airbag in a truck accident could also lead to burn injuries from exposure to the chemicals and hot gas present in the bag. Burns can result in permanent scarring, disfigurement and nerve damage.

Compensation Available for Truck Accident Injuries in Texas

A successful claim filed for truck accident injuries in Texas could result in compensation for a variety of your related economic and noneconomic losses. This can include your ongoing medical costs, lost wages, lost earning capacity from a disability, physical pain and emotional suffering, and losses related to the wrongful death of a loved one. Discuss the potential value of your case with an attorney for more information.

Factors Unique to Truck Accident Cases

Commercial truck accidents in Texas should not be treated the same as standard car accidents. Truck accident injury cases have many unique elements that are not present in typical passenger car accidents. This includes a trend of more severe injuries. When a truck accident case involves injuries that will most likely affect a victim for the rest of his or her life, it requires attention from an Austin personal injury lawyer. A lawyer can help the victim secure fair financial compensation for the past and future losses caused by the injury. Without a lawyer, you may be at risk of settling for less than you need from an insurance provider. Insurance companies are known for devaluing serious injury claims to save themselves money. The best way to protect yourself is by hiring an attorney to negotiate a settlement for you. A lawyer from FVF Law Firm can guide you carefully through each step of your claim with the full extent of our law firm’s resources and attention for optimal results. We have more than 100 years of combined legal experience in truck accident law. Contact us today for a no-cost consultation, which we offer at no pressure or obligation to hire us.