Truck collisions are often severe because of the extreme size and weight of tractor-trailers, even if they are not transporting cargo at the time of the crash. As a result of these collisions, victims often suffer significant injuries, though some injuries may not be immediately obvious. If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, even if you think you may be okay, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
You should also contact an Arkansas truck accident attorney to help you pursue compensation for your losses. Otherwise, you will be at a disadvantage when dealing with the responsible parties, who will invariably attempt to downplay your injuries. They have lawyers that understand trucking laws. You should too.
Common Tractor-Trailer Crash Wounds
Any part of the body could get damaged in a collision involving a semi-truck, but some types of injuries are commonplace:
- Broken bones often result from vehicle crush. For example, arms or legs can get broken from the force of the impact and passenger compartment intrusion. The ribs, collarbone, or pelvis may fracture due to the seat belt. Also, the facial bones, skull, neck, or back could get fractured, particularly if a person is thrown from the vehicle.
- If injuries to the neck or back are significant enough, spinal cord damage can result from jagged, fractured vertebrae that slice through the nerves passing through and around the spinal column.
- A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can occur if a truck collision causes a concussion or skull fracture. Note that these types of injuries are sometimes difficult to identify immediately following the collision, which is why you should seek medical attention following a wreck with a big truck.
- When a truck accident involves a fire or explosion, people in or outside the vehicles can suffer from burn injuries. Sadly, when fires and explosions occur, victims are often killed, leading to a wrongful death claim.
- Even in relatively minor truck accidents, damaged metal or hard plastic objects could cause lacerations.
These are just a few examples, and remember, not all injuries are readily apparent following a big truck accident. It is therefore always a good idea to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Money Damages for Truck Collision Injuries
If you get hurt in a truck accident, after establishing that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you can pursue compensation from the negligent party that caused the crash. Sometimes, there may be more than one person at fault. In that situation, you can seek money damages from more than one party, each of whom may have separate insurance policies.
The amount of compensation you receive will depend on the unique facts of your case and may include the following:
- Medical expenses. The bills for the ambulance, emergency room, hospital, doctors, surgery, diagnostic procedures, physical therapy, prescription drugs, and other necessary medical items or services are usually recoverable.
- Lost wages. If you are unable to work because of your injuries, you can recover your wage loss. Also, you might be able to recover for your loss of earning capacity if your injuries leave you unable to make as much money as you did before the crash.
- Pain and suffering, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. Pain and suffering includes the physical discomfort, inconvenience, and emotional distress of getting hurt. Disfigurement would include scars or loss of a limb. Loss of enjoyment of life occurs when a victim can no longer engage in activities he or she enjoyed before getting injured.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, or if you lost a loved one due to a big truck accident, you’ll want to talk to an Arkansas personal injury attorney that can help get the compensation you and your family deserve. Get in touch with us today for help with your case.
