Truck Accident Injuries You May Suffer After a Crash In Akron
Crashes involving large trucks can be devastating. Due to the significant size disparity between a tractor-trailer and a passenger car, the possibility of catastrophic damage and grievous bodily harm is immense. Dealing with consequences such as medical bills and missed time at work can feel overwhelming, but the most significant challenge is often dealing with the severity of the injury itself. Depending on the nature of the accident, many different types of injury can occur, each with unique treatment plans, recovery times, and potential complications.
If you have suffered injuries in a truck accident due to another party’s negligence, remember you have the right to file a compensation claim for all resulting losses. Our experienced Akron truck accident lawyers at Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law, know how to deal with claims relating to all types of truck accident injuries. Our team will fight for the financial award you deserve so you can optimize your chances of recovery. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.
Here are some of the most common truck accident injuries we have encountered working with our clients.
Back and Neck Injuries
Back and neck injuries are prevalent in truck accidents due to the sheer force of impact. Trucks often strike the rear or side of a passenger vehicle, which can cause violent whiplash motions that strain the vertebrae and supporting muscles of the neck and back. Injuries can range from minor muscle strains to herniated discs, pinched nerves, and even paralysis if the spinal cord suffers damage. Treatment may include pain medication, steroids, physical therapy, surgery, and assistive devices. Full recovery can take several months or longer.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is especially vulnerable in high-impact truck collisions. Damage to this delicate bundle of nerves can cause partial or total paralysis below the point of injury. For example, a spinal cord injury in the middle back may lead to the loss of use of the legs and torso (paraplegia). An injury in the neck could cause paralysis in all four limbs (quadriplegia or tetraplegia). These spinal cord injuries have no cure, and treatment focuses on preventing further damage and maximizing remaining function. Lifelong assistive devices and home healthcare may be necessary.
Head and Brain Injuries
The brain is the control center for the entire body. As such, a traumatic brain injury can lead to widespread loss of function. Concussions, contusions, bleeds, and swelling can occur when the head hits interior vehicle surfaces or shatters glass during a collision. Damage may lead to physical, cognitive, and psychological disabilities. Some potential effects include:
- Memory problems
- Difficulty concentrating
- Seizures
- Vision changes
- Speech impairments
Mild cases may resolve over time, while severe injuries can require months or years of intensive rehabilitation.
Burns
Truck crashes may involve explosions or fires due to fuel ignition or combustion of other hazardous cargo materials. Passengers can suffer severe third-degree burns to their skin and airways if they are unable to escape their vehicle quickly. Burn severity dictates treatment, ranging from pain medication to the grafting of healthy skin over damaged tissue. Disfiguring scarring is common. Burn patients also face a heightened risk of infections and other complications during the prolonged healing process.
Amputations and Disfigurement
The crushing forces of a truck accident can mangle extremities caught between vehicles or other objects. Degloving injuries strip away soft tissue, exposing underlying muscle and bone. These catastrophic injuries often require surgical amputation to avoid life-threatening infection or toxicity. Losing an arm, leg, hand, foot, or finger dramatically impairs physical capability and body image. Prosthetics and mobility aids can restore some function, but the psychological impact is more complicated to manage.
Internal Injuries
While surface wounds get more immediate attention, internal damage can be just as debilitating. Organs like the liver, kidneys, spleen, and intestines can burst, bleed, or suffer lacerations. Diagnostic imaging, laparoscopic surgery, blood transfusions, and other critical care help stabilize the patient so healing can begin. However, these hidden injuries often require lengthy hospitalizations and are prone to complications.
Cuts and Bruises
Lacerations from broken glass and other debris are common in a truck crash, as are contusions and abrasions from impact against vehicle surfaces. Most cuts, gashes, scrapes, and bruises heal without significant intervention beyond cleaning, bandaging, and pain relief. However, improper wound care can lead to infection or scarring. Seeking prompt medical attention reduces long-term effects.
Broken Bones
Jolts and crashes from a truck collision can result in fractured bones. Complex fractures involving the bones that comprise joints or complete breaks of major bones like the femur require surgical stabilization with plates, screws, or external frames. Fractures could mean limited mobility during healing, and any medical hardware left in place may cause residual pain. Proper immobilization and physical therapy are crucial to regaining strength and range of motion.
Wrongful Death
The severity of some truck accident injuries makes them impossible to survive. Losing a loved one in a truck accident is one of the most devastating events a person can experience. If your loved one’s death was the result of another party’s negligence, our team can file a wrongful death claim on your behalf. While we understand that no legal action can bring your family member back, we also believe that you should not have to shoulder the financial burden of their unexpected death.
A wrongful death claim can recover money for funeral and burial expenses, medical expenses at the end of your loved one’s life, and lost income for dependents. Furthermore, you may also receive compensation for the pain and suffering the loss has caused you.
Contact Our Akron Truck Accident Lawyers
The consequences of a truck accident are often far-reaching and severe. In the wake of an injury from a truck accident, our experienced Akron truck accident attorneys can help you get your life back on track. A truck accident lawsuit can compensate for your physical losses, medical costs, and emotional hardships.
The Akron personal injury lawyer at Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law, can investigate the accident, identify all liable parties, and negotiate aggressively for the compensation you deserve. If necessary, we will fight for your rights in court. We are always available, so contact us now for a free consultation to learn more about your legal options.
