When a truck accident occurs, the truck driver and the driver or passengers of other vehicles can sustain injuries. Due to the sheer size of the truck and the force it can exert, these injuries have the potential to be severe. Anyone involved in a truck accident that suffers injuries should consult with a Port St Lucie truck accident attorney to learn more about their rights. Injured truckers might be entitled to a personal injury claim or workers' compensation.
Common Trucker Injuries
Truckers can suffer mild to severe or even catastrophic injuries depending on the type and severity of the accident. Common trucker injuries include the following:
Internal Injuries and Bleeding
Internal bleeding and other internal injuries happen when there is blunt force that doesn't break through the skin in a truck accident. Internal injuries may not appear immediately, but they are potentially deadly. They are one reason why those involved in a motor vehicle crash should seek medical care, even if they don't feel like they are in pain or have suffered an injury.
Brain Injuries
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) can cause bleeding, bruising, or tearing inside the brain. Every TBI is potentially severe and life-threatening. A brain injury can cause long-term disabilities and changes in sensation, movement, cognitive function, and personality. It can also result in frequent headaches, ongoing seizures, depression, or other serious mental illnesses.
Back Injuries
Back pain can be extremely debilitating and painful. If they can't return to work, some people face a lifetime of disability. Common back injuries include strains, sprains, slipped/herniated discs, ruptured discs, pinched nerves, and nerve damage.
Neck Injuries
Any jarring motion to the body in a truck accident can cause injuries to the neck's tendons, cartilage, muscles, and other soft tissues.
Burns
Hot engine parts, extreme steam, or spraying liquids can cause severe burns in truck accidents. Fires can also cause life-threatening burns over significant parts of the body. Extensive burns may require skin grafting and leave long-term scarring.
Broken Bones
Fractures can cause pain and immobility. Depending on the severity and location of a broken bone, an injured trucker might require months of immobilization in a case, surgery, and physical therapy.
Types of fractures truck drivers might suffer include:
- Ribs
- Collarbone
- Pelvis
- Legs
- Arms
- Ankles
- Wrists
Facial Injuries
The eyes, nose, mouth, and ears are vulnerable, especially in a big rig accident, and can be easily damaged. Facial injuries can include bone fractures, lacerations, eye injuries, soft tissue injuries to cartilage, tendons, muscles, and ligaments, tooth loss, or dental emergencies. Sometimes cosmetic or dental surgery is required to effectively treat these injuries.
Did You Suffer Injuries in a Truck Accident? Contact Our Port St. Lucie Law Firm Today
You deserve compensation for your losses if you've been injured in a truck accident. The best way to seek that compensation is with the help of a Port St Lucie truck accident lawyer. Call Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa today at 561-478-2500 or use our convenient online contact form to schedule your complimentary truck accident case consultation.