According to the National Security Council, approximately 5,005 large trucks were involved in fatal accidents in 2019. Both commercial and non-commercial trucks were counted in this number. Around 118,000 large truck accidents caused injury to at least one person.
Truck Driver Rights has been protecting truck drivers across America for years, providing legal services to help them secure compensation for accidents on the road.
The Contributing Factors
Different risks increase the likelihood of a large truck driver becoming involved in an accident.
Vehicle issues
Trucks that are not regularly serviced have a higher risk of mechanical failures.
Something as simple as replacing the brake pads before they completely wear out goes a long way toward preventing an accident. Timely tire replacement is also often overlooked. However, if tires have been used for longer than their manufacturer-suggested lifespan, they lose traction, or nuts and bolts become strained. The risk of a blowout on the road then increases, possibly leading to accidents.
Driver-related risks
This involves your physical health and capabilities as a driver. Exhaustion and stress set in after driving for excessively long hours, even among the most seasoned truckers. Distracted or careless driving leads to more accidents.
Emotional health is also a factor—exhaustion and stress can lead to shorter tempers or anxiety. In turn, these can cause speeding, failure to yield, and other poor choices while on the road.
Environmental conditions
Truckers are a crucial part of the economy and are considered essential personnel. For instance, during the height of the pandemic, truckers around the country continued to deliver goods and services even at significant risk to their health.
Because their services are indispensable, they are expected to work despite inclement weather, such as during heavy rains or snowfalls. The dangers on the road caused by harsh weather conditions, such as slippery roads and poor visibility, greatly increase the risk of accidents.
Truck drivers are not the only people at risk on the road if an accident occurs. The size of the truck, its speed, and its tonnage make them extremely dangerous for passenger-type vehicles around them. This means that truckers must be very careful and vigilant about preventing accidents, as these may harm not just themselves but also others.
Common Injuries Resulting From Truck Accidents
Neck and spinal cord injuries
In a road accident between a truck and a passenger vehicle, the resulting impact can result in serious harm or even death to the occupants of either vehicle. Survivors of a truck accident may be left with injuries to the back, neck, and spinal cord.
In such cases, the injury can be so severe that the victims will be in extreme pain and require extensive surgery. Additionally, spinal cord injuries (SCIs) can cause partial or total paralysis—conditions that require lifelong care, limit independence, and result in substantial medical bills.
Even if victims are not harmed to this extent, they may still require physical therapy and other forms of treatment for conditions such as whiplash and muscle strains.
Head and brain injuries
The impact caused by a truck accident can cause head and brain trauma. While the most common head injuries in truck accidents are concussions, more severe and lasting damage to the brain is also a possibility.
Damage to the brain can be a permanent, life-changing disability that often results in impaired cognitive function, personality changes, and decreased quality of life. Other possible effects are blindness, deafness, and disfigurement.
Serious disability will profoundly affect a person’s health and life moving forward. It may prevent truck drivers from continuing with their occupation entirely, resulting in loss of income.
Shattered bones
During a truck accident, the force of impact can be strong enough to break the bones of vehicle occupants. Apart from being extremely painful, fractures may require surgery, a cast, or a brace. Even with treatment, fractures can take months of rest, limited movement, and physical therapy to heal. However, in some cases, fractures never heal properly.
Burns and lacerations
Lacerations may occur when a truck accident causes the driver or the passengers to come into contact with debris such as shattered glass, metal, and the jagged edges of broken plastic interiors. Deep cuts may take a long time to heal and are at risk for infection. Additionally, lacerations can cause permanent disfigurement, adversely affecting the victim’s self-esteem.
Should a truck’s fuel tank rupture during an accident, there’s a high risk of fire or explosion, leading to burns. Depending on how quickly the victim is removed from the accident, the burns may range in severity from first- to third-degree burns, the latter leading to loss of skin and sensation.
Internal trauma
Internal injuries are also not uncommon during truck accidents. Broken bones can damage or impale internal organs such as the lungs. Tendons and ligaments tear, creating severe pain and impairing motor function or even the ability to bend joints.
Even if the truck or the other vehicle deploys airbags, the bags themselves can lead to abdominal trauma from the impact. Though lifesaving and preventing someone from getting ejected from a vehicle, seatbelts can also cause chest trauma and injury to the liver, bladder, and kidneys.
Consult an Experienced Attorney about Your Legal Options
Large truck accidents can adversely and permanently impact your health and quality of life. If you have been injured in a truck accident, it’s best to reach out to a knowledgeable attorney with experience in truck accident cases. They’ll work hard to ensure you get appropriately compensated for the losses and damages you suffered.
Since its founding, Truck Driver Rights has continuously protected the rights of truckers whose health and safety have been endangered by their occupation.
If you or someone you know is a victim of a road accident involving a large truck, reach out to us. We will perform a thorough investigation and documentation of the accident and subsequent damages. Our goal is to help you get the financial compensation you rightfully deserve.
Get in touch with us today for a free consultation.