Those who are injured in truck accidents may be facing a long road ahead of them, dealing with serious injuries. Our truck accident attorneys in Moncks Corner at the West Law Firm can help you pursue financial compensation when you or a loved one is injured in a truck accident.
Why Truck Accident Injuries Are More Serious
A truck’s massive size is the main reason why injuries in accidents involving these vehicles are more serious. The larger the vehicle in the crash, the more force is generated by the accident. A passenger vehicle is more likely to suffer severe damage and not be able to protect the occupants from the impact of the crash.
Simple principles of physics explain why injuries are worsened. The force released in the crash is a function of both the mass of the object involved and its speed. Trucks weigh 80,000 pounds fully loaded, so they would unleash far more energy in a crash. When a truck is traveling at a higher speed on the highway, the accident results in devastating force.
Injuries From a Truck Accident to Look Out For
Here are some common injuries that motorists may suffer in a truck accident.
Spinal cord injuries
Broken vertebrae can damage or sever the spinal cord. The trauma of the accident could directly injure the spinal cord. The brain sends messages to the rest of your body through the spinal cord. If you suffer an SCI, you may become partially or completely paralyzed. Even if the injury is incomplete, you are still looking at a lengthy and intensive rehabilitation period.
Concussions and brain injuries
A person can suffer a brain injury from either the violent motion of the truck accident or the direct impact to the head. The brain could slam into the base of your skull when their head snaps forward.
Brain tissue cannot heal, and it does not regenerate once it dies. Someone may lose some vital functions that were controlled by the part of the brain that was injured, such as speech and movement.
Broken bones
The impact of the truck accident may cause bones to break or fracture. Oftentimes, you would suffer multiple broken bones at once. You may require surgery to set and repair the broken bones. In the meantime, you may not be able to work or enjoy your life, and often there’s continuous pain.
Burns
There are numerous ways that you can become severely burned in a truck accident. Your body may come into contact with chemicals or burning substances, such as fuel. You may contact an extremely hot surface in your car.
Truck accident victims can suffer burns, ranging from first to fourth degree. Third and fourth-degree burns are extremely serious and life-threatening. A burn injury victim would need extensive treatment that may include multiple skin grafts.
Back injuries
The impact of the truck accident may cause your body to move in unnatural ways. The sudden and twisting movement could injure your back.
A herniated disc is a common injury that drivers suffer in a truck accident. Here, the gel inside your disc bulges through the exterior, placing pressure on your spine. You would feel constant and debilitating pain in your arms and legs.
Other injuries
While many truck accident injuries are immediate and catastrophic, there may be some injuries that are not immediately apparent. These “invisible” injuries may be every bit as dangerous because they are getting worse without treatment.
Hidden truck accident injuries may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Punctured or collapsed lungs
Getting Compensation for Truck Accident Injuries
If the truck driver (and the trucking company) contributed fault for the accident, you would have a legal right to full financial compensation for your injuries.
Since your injuries are more severe, and there is more insurance coverage in the form of commercial policies to pay for your injuries, your settlement check or award would likely be higher than if you were injured in a car accident.
You can be paid for both your actual financial losses and your non-economic damages. Your financial losses include your medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic damages, among other things, can include pain and suffering and emotional distress.
Your truck accident lawyer would know the value of your case given the tangible and intangible impacts of your injuries. Still, a fight has to be won against the trucking insurers to obtain that full compensation. At West Law Firm, we advocate for you to receive every dollar that you deserve in compensation.
Contact a Moncks Corner Truck Accident Attorney Today
The West Law Firm stands up for motorists and their passengers who have been severely injured in a truck accident. We know the tricks that the insurance company tries to use to cost you money, and we will counter them at every turn.
Until you hire an experienced truck accident lawyer, your legal rights are at risk. The first thing that you need to do is to message us online or call us today at 843-483-8630 to schedule a free initial consultation. You pay us nothing unless you win.