As you can see, truck accidents are a serious problem in the state and an issue that has not been resolved.
While practicing defensive driving can help you avoid being a victim, accidents still happen.
Here, you can learn more about the most common injuries in truck accidents and how to protect your rights if you find yourself in this situation.
Injuries Seen in Texas Truck Accidents
The most common injuries seen in Texas truck accidents include the following:
Head and Brain Injuries
Head and brain injuries are extremely common in Texas truck accidents. TBIs (traumatic brain injuries) include blunt head trauma, lacerations to the scalp or face, and concussions. While true, a TBI is any physical injury to the brain.
Unfortunately, tiny lesions on the brain are often undetectable by CT scans and X-rays. Specialty brain imaging tests must be used to see changes like this in a person’s brain. Because of this and the fact that TBIs often have delayed symptoms, these injuries are not seen for days or weeks after an accident.
Some symptoms to watch for that indicate a potential TBI after a truck accident include mood issues, memory problems, issues concentrating, sleep disruptions, and headaches. Even though these injuries cannot be seen, head trauma is serious and life-changing.
Amputation Injuries
Amputation injuries are common in Texas truck accidents. Sometimes, they occur because of the accident, and in other cases are caused by the injuries sustained. Amputations can be caused instantly when a truck collision occurs.
While this is the case, in most situations, limbs are damaged so severely in accidents that they must be surgically removed. Regardless of how it happens, amputation is a life-changing injury.
Some situations that may require a victim’s limb to be amputated surgically include the following:
- The limb became infected, and the infection is worsening or cannot be eliminated.
- The extremity is suffering from poor blood flow.
- The limb sustained serious trauma in the accident.
Recovery after an amputation injury is difficult and drawn out. Most people require extensive rehabilitation after this type of injury.
Internal Injuries
The force of a truck accident can cause internal bleeding and other damage to a victim’s internal organs. The most vulnerable part of the body is the abdomen.
Some of the organs that frequently experience damage in a truck accident include the following:
- Lungs
- Liver
- Kidneys
- Bladder
- Pancreas
- Spleen
Internal injuries (like head injuries) may not be noticed for hours, days, or weeks after an accident. This is why seeking medical care immediately after an accident is so important. Diagnostic tests can find these injuries and ensure they are treated before they become more serious or life-threatening.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
A truck accident can cause spinal cord damage due to the significant force that occurs. If the injury is severe enough, it can cause paralysis.
The damage to the spinal cord may not be immediately noticeable. However, without treatment, the injury can become debilitating.
If you seek medical treatment immediately after a truck accident, doctors can conduct an MRI to find any damage to the spinal cord.
Broken Bones
Compared to other injuries here, broken bones may not seem as serious. However, not all fractures will heal properly, and some cases of broken bones require extensive surgeries to heal fully.
Some broken bones require the placement of screws, pins, and rods to hold them together. Sometimes, broken bones are non-displaced, which means the bone cracks but is not separate pieces. In other cases, the bone is displaced, which means it fractures completely.
A compound fracture may occur in a truck accident. This is seen when the bone punctures the skin and is exposed.
All bone fractures can cause internal bleeding, permanent deformity, nerve damage, and infections if not treated properly. Even when proper care and treatment are provided, some broken bones will still be weak and have other issues in the future.
Burn Injuries
Many commercial trucks are used for carrying dangerous chemicals and fuel. If they are involved in an accident, the results may be devastating.
Gasoline and chemical leaks from a truck that tips over or crashes are usually extremely flammable and could be explosive. This makes it likely that accident victims will experience serious and permanent burn injuries and disfigurement.
Some burn injuries are life-threatening and can cause fluid loss and infections. Severe cases require limb amputation or blood transfusions.
Burn injuries have four classifications, which include the following:
- First-degree burns. A first-degree burn occurs when just the outer layer of skin is damaged, and there is no permanent scarring.
- Second-degree burns. A second-degree burn reaches the skin’s superficial layer and may cause blisters or an infection.
- Third-degree burns. Third-degree burns extend through the dermis lawyer and cause permanent scars (some cases require amputation of the affected limb or limbs).
- Fourth-degree burns. This burn can reach the muscle and bone, leading to functional impairment or amputation.
How to Protect Your Rights After Being Injured in a Texas Truck Accident
As mentioned above, Texas truck accidents are extremely common. If you are involved in an accident with a large truck, it is up to you to take steps to protect your rights.
One of the most important things you can do is to seek immediate medical treatment. There are a few reasons for this. First, seeking a medical evaluation after your accident ensures that hidden or delayed injuries are found and treated. This is crucial to protect your health and well-being.
Also, when you go to the emergency room or your doctor, you receive documentation that explains your injuries and a treatment plan. The documentation will link your injuries to the accident, which can be used as evidence if you file a personal injury claim.
If you wait to seek medical treatment, the insurance company for the at-fault party may claim you were not seriously injured, that your injuries were not caused by the accident, or that you are lying about everything. Even if this is not true, the insurance company will try to reduce or deny your claim, making it difficult to recover the compensation you are entitled to.
If you want to protect your rights, be sure to be evaluated by a doctor or medical professional immediately after a Texas truck accident.
We Can Help You File a Texas Truck Accident Claim
If you have been injured in a Texas truck accident, contact our legal team at The Burkett Law Firm. We can evaluate the facts of your case and help you recover the compensation you are entitled to. The first step is to schedule a free consultation. We will aggressively fight for your right to full compensation for your injuries and losses.
Read More