Between the Ohio Turnpike, Route 80, and other highways across the state, large commercial trucks travel these roads daily as they deliver a range of goods and cargo to customers across the country. While commercial trucks play a vital role in the economy and provide jobs, truck accidents are an unfortunate reality that can cause massive property damage and catastrophic injuries and fatalities.
Due to the size of the average commercial truck compared to passenger vehicles, the occupants often suffer the most devastating injuries. In extreme cases, a truck accident can cause tragic fatalities. The following are examples of some of the most common types of truck accident injuries:
- Head injuries: A truck accident’s sudden and extreme impact can cause a severe head injury. Common head injuries include:
- Concussions: This occurs when the accident’s impact causes a sudden blow to the head. Sometimes, an individual who suffers a concussion may become temporarily unconscious.
- Traumatic brain injuries: This type of injury occurs when there is a violent blow to the head, which can result in serious health problems, including physical, mental, and emotional impairments. Sometimes, it results in lifelong health complications that require long-term care.
- Organ damage: The extreme impact of a truck accident can cause severe damage to the internal organs, including the liver, kidneys, bladder, spleen, pancreas, and lungs. In some cases, the symptoms of these injuries may not appear immediately, so it is essential to seek immediate medical attention from a qualified healthcare professional.
- Burns: Commercial trucks have larger fuel tanks than passenger vehicles, meaning there is a greater chance of an explosion during an accident. If this happens, the occupants in the passenger vehicle can suffer burn injuries.
- Crush injuries: These injuries occur when a body part is caught between the passenger vehicle and the truck with great force. Crush injuries may include fractures, compressed nerves, damage to internal organs, acute compartment syndrome, and rhabdomyolysis.
- Neck injuries: When the extreme force of impact causes the head and neck to snap forwards and backward, it can cause a range of neck injuries, including whiplash, dizziness, loss of range of motion in the neck, numbness or tingling in the arms, headaches, and fatigue.
- Back injuries: Serious truck injuries can also cause serious back injuries, including herniated discs and spinal cord injuries that include permanent paralysis, compression fractures, and strains and sprains.
- Amputation and disfigurement: This can occur from the force of impact or if a severe burn or another injury is so serious that it warrants an amputation.
Unfortunately, truck accidents can also cause devastating fatalities. Truck accidents are 10 times more likely to result in a fatality than an accident with another passenger vehicle. If the truck driver, the truck company, or another responsible party was negligent in some way, the surviving family members may recover financial damages by pursuing a wrongful death claim.
What Steps Should I Take After a Truck Accident?
There are essential steps you should take immediately following a truck accident to ensure that police and emergency medical providers arrive at the scene as soon as possible, including:
- Call 911 right away. If you are physically able to do so, call 911 as soon as possible and report the accident. Let dispatch know that you suffered a serious injury so they can send an ambulance to the scene. The responding police officer will also fill out a police report, which you should obtain a copy of when possible.
- Get immediate medical attention. Even if you are not experiencing any pain or other symptoms following the accident, it is extremely important that you are examined by a healthcare provider as soon as possible. This will ensure that any underlying injuries are diagnosed and treated. In addition, if you do not get medical treatment, it could hurt your claim since the insurance company will argue that your injuries must not be severe if you do not find it necessary to get treatment.
- Collect evidence at the scene if possible. Make sure you take pictures of the damage to your vehicle, your injuries, the position of the truck, skid marks or debris on the road, and the current weather conditions. Exchange information with the truck driver, including driver’s license number, insurance information, and carrier contact information.
- Contact an experienced truck accident lawyer. A truck accident can be much more complicated than a regular car accident since multiple parties may be liable, including the truck driver, the truck company, the maintenance company, and the loading company. Discussing your case with a truck accident lawyer who will protect your legal rights is highly recommended.
Compensation for a Truck Accident Injury
The costs associated with a truck accident injury can accumulate quickly, mainly if your injury is severe and you require surgery, extended hospitalization, or long-term care. You may be entitled to the following:
- All past and future medical expenses associated with your injury.
- Lost wages if you cannot return to work for an extended period.
- Loss of future earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering.
- Property damage.
- Wrongful death benefits if the truck accident resulted in a fatality.
Cincinnati Truck Accident Lawyers at Wolterman Law Office Represent Survivors of Truck Accidents
If you were seriously injured in a truck accident, contacting our Cincinnati truck accident lawyers at Wolterman Law Office as soon as possible is highly recommended. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 513-488-1135 or contact us online. Located in Loveland, Ohio, we serve clients in Hamilton County, Fairfield, Norwood, and Forest Park.