Accidents involving trucks unfortunately cause a wide range of injuries. The sheer size of large trucks and the speed they are capable of maintaining means that when they collide with a smaller motor vehicle, the occupants of the smaller vehicle often suffer catastrophic injuries, and at times, even death . When this happens, it is best to consult with a Texas truck accident injury lawyer at the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm. You can contact us at 1-800-738-WE-WIN (93946).

Back & Neck Injuries

People often suffer injuries to their backs and necks when they are involved in an accident with a truck. The neck has a lot of soft tissue, which is easily strained or torn during a high-impact collision. Spinal fractures and dislocations can also occur. The intense pressure of the crash can cause the bones in the back and neck to shatter or break. Dislocations occur when the muscles around the vertebrae are damaged, and the vertebrae move out of place. Along with being painful, dislocations can cause damage to surrounding nerves.

Amputations & Disfigurement

Serious crashes can cause lifelong scars that cause a person to be disfigured. They can also cause a person’s limb to be crushed to the point where it has to be amputated. If the collision is bad enough, it is possible that the limb will be partially or completely severed when the accident occurs.

Having a limb amputated often means continued medical treatment and the need for devices such as prosthetics and a wheelchair.

Burn Injuries

Burn injuries don’t often come to mind when considering the wounds that a crash with a truck can bring. Large trucks are often used to transport all kinds of cargo, including gasoline and other flammable liquids. When one of these vehicles collides with another vehicle, there is a high likelihood of fire. Also, even if a truck is not transporting flammable cargo, it is possible that a fuel tank in one of the vehicles will rupture, causing a fire.

Burns are extremely painful and can lead to infection and disfigurement. They may also require skin grafting.

Spinal Cord Injuries & Paralysis

Spinal cord injuries can be devastating and cause temporary or permanent paralysis of the torso, arms, and legs. This happens when the nerves that are part of the spine are severed or badly damaged. Where on the spine the injury occurs determines what parts of the body will be affected.

Paralysis can lead to a lifetime of health complications and the need for therapies and adaptive devices. The care involved for a person suffering from paralysis can easily reach into the millions.

Whiplash

The force of a collision with a large truck can cause a person’s head to fling back and forth. This type of forceful motion can lead to a sprain of the neck. Symptoms include pain, headaches, tingling, numbness, dizziness, and other neurological issues. Whiplash may not be immediately apparent after an accident, which is one of the reasons why a person in an accident with a truck should have a complete exam as soon as possible after the wreck occurs. The exam should include specialized imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for the signs and damage that is caused by whiplash.

Head & Brain Injuries

Head and brain injuries can be very mild, or they can be extremely devastating, or they may fall somewhere in-between. Mild injuries may heal on their own, and some brain injuries, such as a concussion, may be unpredictable in the damage that it causes.

Traumatic brain injuries(TBIs) may occur as a result of a penetrating injury (think of something that penetrates through the skull directly into the brain) or a closed injury (think of the head being hit with a large heavy object). TBIs can permanently alter the way a person’s brain operates, and can lead to a need for life-long care. A person suffering from a TBI received in an accident with a truck should speak with a Texas truck accident injury lawyer at the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm to find out what damages they may be entitled to.

Internal Injuries

Internal injuries are injuries that occur to the organs including the bladder, liver, pancreas, and kidneys. Internal injuries in an accident with a truck can be caused by blunt trauma to the torso which breaks a rib, and the rib then penetrates the organ. It can also be caused by the force of the airbag when it opens upon impact. No matter how it happens, internal injuries should be treated as soon as possible, as they can cause internal bleeding.

Broken Bones & Cuts

Broken bones and cuts do not generally cause the same amount of damage as some of the other types of injuries on this list. Even so, they can be painful and require extensive treatment. Badly broken bones may require the use of rods, screws, and pins to hold bones together. Broken bones and cuts can also cause disfigurement and infections. Also, when broken bones heal, they are often not the same as they were before the accident, and the person with the broken bones has lasting pain and impairments.

Wrongful Death

Wrecks involving large trucks too often result in death for the driver and passengers of the smaller vehicle. When a person dies in one of these accidents, the families are left to pick up the pieces and carry on without the person they love. Often, the family of the deceased are entitled to compensation from the accident. There are different types of damages they may be able to recover under a claim for wrongful death, and the best way to find out what exactly is recoverable is to speak with a Texas truck accident injury lawyer at the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm.

Speak With A Premier Texas Truck Accident Injury Lawyer At The Merritt & Merritt Law Firm

Suffering an injury in an accident involving a truck can cause a lifetime of pain and therapies. When this happens to you, it’s important to know that you don’t have to fight for the damages you are owed on your own. At the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, you can receive knowledgeable counsel from a Texas truck accident injury lawyer. We may be reached by calling 1-800-738-WE-WIN (93946) or via our contact page.