What injuries often result from a truck crash?
A recent semi-truck accident in New Mexico has resulted in one death and critical injuries to another. The accident occurred in Bernalillo County when two semi-trucks traveling in opposite directions collided head on. A passenger in one of the trucks was killed instantly, while the driver suffered serious injuries. The driver and passenger in the other truck, which has been determined to have caused the accident, sustained non-life threatening injuries. This horrendous big rig crash demonstrates the potential for severe injuries posed by any truck accident.
Types of Truck Accident Injuries
Semi-trucks are massive vehicles that often weigh in at up to 80,000 pounds. When a big rig collides with a much smaller passenger motor vehicle, the results can be catastrophic. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 5,000 fatal truck accidents occur each year and over 80,000 truck crashes result in injuries. Victims that survive truck crashes are often left with severe injuries that may lead to a decreased quality of life and ongoing medical expenses.
Some of the most common truck accident injuries include:
- Back and neck injuries: The back and neck are extremely vulnerable to injury in the event of a truck accident. Back and neck injuries could include dislocated discs within the spine and muscular trauma. A serious back or neck injury may leave the accident victim in considerable pain and potentially even paralyzed.
- Broken bones: The force of a truck accident could potentially break any bone within the body. Bones particularly susceptible to breaking in a truck crash include the bones within the arms and legs, as well as facial bones.
- Internal injuries: Some of the most dangerous injuries you could sustain in a truck accident include internal injuries. The tremendous trauma of a truck crash can leave accident victims with internal bleeding and damage to major organs like the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. Internal injuries must be treated rapidly to prevent death or life longdamage.
- Head injuries: Injuries to the head can potentially be life-altering. Brain injuries may occur due to whiplash associated with the crash or direct trauma to the head. At times, it will not be apparent that a brain injury has occurred. Truck accident victims should seek medical attention right away if they experience nausea, vomiting, confusion, vision problems and the like.
Anyone who has been injured in a truck accident in New Mexico should consult with a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Truck accidents often result in serious injuries that could cost you greatly in the long run, so seek legal help in recovering for your losses today.
Posted in: Truck Accidents