When a truck crashes, it is often a calamitous event. Loaded-down trucks are weighty, and the damage their large cabs and cargo trailers can do to smaller vehicles can be devastating. Injuries after a truck crash occurs frequently and can be more severe than those in a car crash. This blog will cover common injuries and conditions that can occur after a truck accident.
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES
During sudden stops, such as a crash, the brain comes into contact with the walls of the skull. This can cause a traumatic brain injury. These can profoundly affect a person’s health, from severe migraines to serious brain injuries to death. Due to traumatic brain injuries, symptoms can often be delayed. If you suspect you have suffered a traumatic brain injury, seek medical help immediately, as there can be lasting and permanent damage if untreated.
SPINAL CORD INJURIES
Spinal cord injuries are some of the most severe injuries that can occur during a car accident. In the same way that serious crashes can cause brain injuries, the forces and movement of a car after being struck by a truck can cause severe injuries to the human spine. As the central pillar of the human nervous system, any damage to the spinal cord can be profoundly harmful. Damage to the spine can cause symptoms ranging from numbness, tingling, and a lack of sensation in the extremities to loss of movement and even paralysis.
BROKEN BONES
While human bones are generally resilient, under enough stress, they will fracture. There are many numerous types of bone breaks, including non-displaced fractures (where the bone is broken but is not out of alignment), displaced fractures (breaks where there is a gap between bone fragments at the fracture site ), and open compound fractures (where the bone has been exposed through a wound ). Whether it involves a mild fracture or severe break, medical attention will be necessary to immobilize the injured area. In more complex, severe breaks, surgery may be necessary, often involving fixation, or the use of hardware to maintain bone alignment.
LACERATIONS, ABRASIONS, AND PUNCTURES
Vehicle accidents are violent, with glass shattering, metal bending, and plastic cracking. With so much debris going around at high speeds, lacerations, abrasions, and punctures can be the most common injuries. Lacerations are cuts that have jagged edges and can be caused by debris such as glass or metal cutting the occupants of a car during a collision. Abrasions, commonly known as ‘road rash,’ may occur if a person is scraped against something rough during the accident, such as the road or an airbag. Punctures are injuries where a foreign object penetrates an occupant’s body, such as glass shards or broken pieces of a vehicle. While many lacerations, abrasions, and punctures are not always critical wounds, these injuries can cause blood loss, internal damage, and scarring.
INTERNAL INJURIES
In the same way that the brain and spine can be injured, internal organs placed under sudden and immense trauma can also suffer from injury. The injury to organs can go initially undetected due to their non-visible nature, particularly due to accident victims being in a state of shock after the accident. Internal injuries can range from bruising to collapsed lungs and ruptured organs. It is vital to be examined after a serious vehicle accident if you are experiencing any symptoms such as pain, tenderness, swelling, or fatigue; internal injuries that are not addressed promptly can be serious and sometimes life-threatening.
CONTACT OUR WALNUT CREEK PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a truck accident, the experienced personal injury attorneys at Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook can help. Contact us today at for a free consultation where you can learn more about your options and can discuss what steps, if any, will be made moving forward.