Truck accidents are among the most severe and devastating types of vehicular incidents on the road. Why do these collisions often result in such serious injuries?
The catastrophic impact of truck accident injuries
A variety of serious incidents occur frequently in accidents involving large commercial vehicles. These serious injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): When a truck hits a smaller vehicle, the people inside might hit their heads on hard surfaces or be shaken violently. This can cause TBIs, ranging from mild concussions to severe brain damage, which can affect thinking, physical abilities and emotions.
- Spinal cord injuries: The force from a truck crash can break spinal bones or squash the spinal cord, causing partial or complete paralysis. These injuries can be very serious, sometimes leading to lifelong medical care.
- Amputations: In extreme cases, a truck accident can cause limbs to become crushed or severed. Injured people may require surgical amputation, profoundly affecting the victim’s quality of life and ability to perform everyday tasks.
- Severe burns: If a crash causes a fire or explosion, people can get serious burns needing a lot of medical care, like surgeries and skin grafts. Burns can also leave significant scarring.
- Internal injuries: The impact from a truck crash can cause internal bleeding and harm to organs. These injuries need quick medical help to avoid serious problems or death.
These catastrophic injuries can lead to long-term disability, significant financial hardship and even death.
Why are these life-changing or life-threatening injuries so common in truck accidents?
The high number of severe injuries in truck crashes comes from several factors related to large commercial vehicles. Trucks, especially when fully loaded, can weigh up to 80,000 pounds or more, much more than a typical car’s weight of about 3,000 pounds. In a collision, the sheer mass of a truck means that smaller vehicles withstand most of the impact, leading to more severe injuries.
Due to their heavy weight, trucks also take longer to stop compared to smaller vehicles. A loaded semi-truck takes 196 feet to come to a complete stop, while a car takes only around 133 feet. If a truck driver fails to judge stopping distances accurately, it can lead to unavoidable high-impact collisions.
The height of vehicles also means that smaller vehicles can become wedged beneath the truck or its trailer. These underride crashes are more likely to lead to serious or deadly injuries.
For those affected by truck accidents, it is crucial to seek immediate medical care and legal assistance to cope with the aftermath effectively. Acting quickly can help them preserve their access to compensation as they recover from the catastrophic injuries they suffered.