Despite having more advanced and faster transport technologies and solutions, trucking remains an integral part of the transportation industry. Unfortunately, these large vehicles can cause catastrophic injuries and even fatalities when they collide with passenger vehicles.
If you’ve been injured in a truck crash, you should seek medical attention, then contact a truck accident lawyer in Bellaire to discuss seeking compensation for your damages.
Trucking Accident Statistics
No matter how you look at it, semi-trucks play a major role in our economy. The seamless movement of goods from one region to another has been a perfect recipe for multi-sectoral development in real estate, road networks, labor, manufacturing, and more.
Unfortunately, the trucking industry has its fair share of shortcomings. Because they are among the largest vehicles on Texas roads, it’s no surprise that they are often involved in traffic accidents.
In their Traffic Safety Facts data from 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that there were 5,472 people killed in traffic crashes involving large trucks that year, an 8% decrease from the previous year.
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Common Truck Accident Injuries in Bellaire
Here are some of the most common injuries in Bellaire truck accidents.
Head & Brain Injuries
One of the most common categories of injuries that our truck accident attorneys handle very often is head and brain trauma. These injuries occur frequently and can be catastrophic depending on their severity.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are often referred to as silent killers because they don’t always come with immediate symptoms. Some of the signs are imperceptible, making it difficult to establish unless a medical evaluation is done.
Brain injuries may be penetrative or non-penetrative and can wreak havoc on the victim’s life.
Burns
Many semi-trucks on Texas roads carry flammable liquids, thereby increasing the risk of fire or explosions in case of a crash. Even for non-tanker trucks, their fuel storage usually stores hundreds of gallons of gasoline due to the long distances they travel. So in case of an accident, the tanks may leak, causing massive fires.
People may also suffer severe burns due to chemical spillage or friction burns when they get ejected from the vehicle and get scraped against the road surface. Severe burn injuries may be irreversible, causing untold pain and suffering for the victim. Fatalities may also be reported.
Spinal Injuries
A spinal injury is among the most catastrophic injuries anyone can suffer in a Bellaire truck accident. They may result in permanent or temporary paralysis depending on the severity and area affected.
Essentially, any form of disruption in the processing of information from the nerves in the spine to the brain can be devastating. The spinal cord is not just a set of bones like any other. Even the slightest trauma may change a person’s life forever.
Broken Bones
Broken bones can be as serious as traumatic brain injuries or spine trauma. Of course, this depends on the area affected. Most broken bone injuries following a Bellaire truck accident involve the hands, legs, wrists, and ribs.
Damaged ribs may result in further complications as they tear through internal organs or cause internal bleeding. Depending on their severity, some of these injuries are treated by inserting rods, screws, and pins to rejoin them.
Neck Injuries
With many people surviving semi-truck collisions, it’s worth noting that many of them escape with serious neck injuries, which are often downplayed as minor. The forces of impact during a crash may tear and injure the muscles and nerves in the neck area, in what is commonly referred to as whiplash.
Neck injuries following a Bellaire truck accident can be agonizing. Seeking immediate medical care is essential for early treatment and documentation.
Internal Organ Injuries
Internal injuries are common in collisions involving 18-wheelers and smaller passenger vehicles. Unlike most of the discussed injuries, they are not easily identifiable immediately after a crash.
A proper medical evaluation and diagnosis are required to discover broken ribs or punctured lungs, kidneys, and other body organs. The abnormal swelling or pain you experience after an accident may be a serious underlying condition that requires immediate treatment.
For this reason, you ought to see a doctor immediately.
Wrongful Death
Injuries following a Bellaire truck accident may have an unprecedented outcome. Fatalities are not uncommon in commercial vehicles. While many of them are reported instantly at the scene, a whole lot also succumb to injuries during and after treatment.
In both scenarios, the surviving estate may be eligible for compensation after a skilled attorney reviews the circumstances in which the wrongful death occurred.
Let Our Attorneys Help You
If you suffered these or any other injuries following a Bellaire truck accident, our compassionate attorneys may help. Do not incur medical expenses and other related damages when we can hold the party responsible financially accountable for your losses.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation as soon as possible at a place of your convenience.
Call or text (832) 449-8230 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form