5 Common Injuries Suffered by Victims of 18-Wheeler Truck Accidents

Collisions involving large trucks are never simple; few people walk away unharmed. Given the size and weight of these vehicles, typical passenger cars don’t stand a chance in a crash with an 18-wheeler.

Victims of 18-wheeler truck accidents can suffer severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, and internal injuries. The road to recovery is long, requiring surgery, physical therapy, and lifelong medical care.

Head Injuries

Trucks that have 18 wheels are known to be very large and heavy, which makes driving them in the event of a collision very dangerous. It’s rare to find someone who walks away from a crash with a truck without any injuries. The impact can cause severe head trauma, resulting in a skull fracture, torn ligaments, or a ruptured blood vessel, all of which are common in truck accidents.

TBIs can range from mild, like a concussion, to severe, like a life-altering traumatic brain injury. These injuries can lead to behavioral changes, impaired cognition, and loss of independence. They also can cause expensive medical bills and lost wages due to time off work. They can be difficult to treat, too, and may require months or even years to heal.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The force of large trucks colliding with passenger vehicles can cause severe neck and back injuries. This is especially true for victims involved in jackknife accidents when the trailer folds into a 90-degree angle. This can cause objects and materials to rush into the vehicle’s occupants, such as shattered glass or gasoline.

These accidents also frequently cause spinal cord injuries, which can have severe and permanent consequences. These include paralysis, loss of sensation, numbness, and ongoing pain.

The sudden force of a truck crash can result in the brain moving violently inside the skull and suffering serious damage, known as traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBIs can lead to permanent disabilities, behavior changes, and paralysis. They may also require a long recovery period and significant medical costs.

Burns

Due to the massive difference in size between an 18-wheeler and a standard passenger vehicle, even a relatively minor truck accident can cause severe injuries. At Fleming Law, we work to help victims secure the financial compensation they need for their immediate and long-term medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and other losses stemming from a truck collision.

Rib and torso injuries such as broken or fractured bones are commonly reported in truck accidents. Additionally, neck and back injuries such as whiplash or herniated discs may occur.

Some victims of truck accidents sustain burn injuries from fires started by gasoline or other flammable materials or by hot parts of the vehicle’s body that skid across the pavement during the crash. Severe burns can require skin grafts, hospitalization, and lengthy treatment periods.

Internal Bleeding

An accident with a semi-truck or other large commercial truck is not the same as any other vehicle collision. Due to their massive size, these vehicles can wreak havoc on smaller passenger vehicles, potentially inflicting severe or fatal injuries.

Victims who sustain a head injury from hitting their windshield, side window, roof, steering wheel, or other objects may suffer from a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Head trauma can also cause internal bleeding from organ or blood vessel damage.

Shattered glass, sharp metal auto frames, and hard plastic interiors can cause severe lacerations and puncture wounds that require expensive medical treatment. These wounds can leave permanent scarring and disfigurement. They may also have long-term complications that negatively impact victims’ quality of life.

Permanent Disfigurement

The physical disabilities that result from these types of injuries often cause victims to endure significant reductions in their quality of life. These limitations can make working or enjoying hobbies challenging, and they may require ongoing medical care and assistance.

Truck accidents frequently lead to severe, life-altering head and spinal cord injuries. These injuries can result from hitting a windshield, side window, roof, or steering wheel during a wreck or being struck by a loose object. Symptoms of these injuries can take time to appear, such as headache, dizziness, or nausea.

It’s also not unusual for the force of a crash to impact an accident victim’s stomach and torso, resulting in damage to the bladder, lungs, kidneys, or spleen. Injuries like these may require surgery and long-term medical treatment.