When you drive next to a semi-truck, tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler, or other commercial truck, you can easily understand its immense size and power.

While the average passenger car weighs a few thousand pounds, a fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When a vehicle of that size collides with a much smaller passenger vehicle, the driver and passengers in the car are likely to experience severe and devastating injuries that may result in long-term, life-changing injuries that require expensive, on-going medical treatment.

If you or someone you love was injured in a truck accident, Robenalt Law can help. For more than 30 years, our lawyers have represented people who were injured and the families of people who were killed in Ohio trucking accidents. We can analyze your situation, identify who was responsible for causing the crash, and fight for the compensation you and your family deserve. To put our experience to work for you, contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.

What Are Common Truck Accident Injuries?

Like any vehicle accident, truck accidents can cause broken bones and injuries to the head, neck, and back. However, because the forces in a trucking accident are so much greater than those involved in a car crash, truck accident injuries are often much more severe. Here are some of the most common injuries people suffer in a trucking accident.

Brain and Head Injuries

Violent motion of the head during a truck accident can damage the brain and result in traumatic brain injuries, also known as TBI. There are varying degrees of TBI, but in the most severe cases, a person could experience long-term complications and permanent brain damage that could impair a person’s cognitive function for the rest of their lives. TBI can also cause on-going problems like headaches, insomnia, confusion, and slurred speech.

Facial Injuries

Someone involved in a trucking accident may experience cuts, burns, and blunt force trauma to the face that causes severe injuries and will require expensive reconstructive surgery.

Neck and Back Injuries

Neck and back injuries are common in any vehicle accident. But someone in a trucking accident, where the forces are much more significant, may experience debilitating pain and limited range of motion and may even become bedridden. These injuries can be painful and difficult to treat and manage and can have a long-term effect on your quality of life.

Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis

The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves encased in the spinal column. Injuries to the neck or back can damage these nerves and result in severe pain, inhibited movement or, in the most severe cases, paralysis. Depending on the severity of the injuries to your neck, back, and spinal cord, you may require modifications to your home to assist with movement or improve your independence.

Broken Bones

Broken bones are common in a trucking accident. A broken bone can vary in severity from a simple break that can be treated with a cast to more complex compression or compound fractures that may require pins and screws to hold the bone in place.

Burn Injuries

Truck accidents involving trapped occupants and fuel or chemical leaks can result in fires that cause significant burn injuries. Burn injuries are excruciatingly painful and can cause permanent disfigurement.

Damage to Internal Organs

Damage to internal organs can be difficult to observe and treat, meaning these injuries may be ignored. But internal organ damage can lead to internal bleeding that, if left untreated, can cause permanent organ damage or even death. These injuries often require immediate medical intervention and surgery.

Why Are Truck Accident Injuries So Severe?

In addition to their size, additional factors make trucking accidents cause severe and devastating injuries.

Weight and Momentum

The average semi-truck weighs 35,000 pounds when empty. When fully loaded, a semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. A fully loaded semi-truck traveling at 55 to 65 mph generates a tremendous force that can cause massive damage and catastrophic, life-changing injuries.

Height Considerations

Trucks are taller than other vehicles, making them harder to see out of and more prone to tipping.

Poor Visibility

Because of their height and large size, truck drivers have reduced visibility around their vehicles. These blind spots make hazards more difficult to see, which can lead to accidents that cause catastrophic injuries.

Injured in a Trucking Accident? Robenalt Law Will Fight for You.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a trucking accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Compensation for injuries suffered in a trucking accident varies based on the severity of your injuries and the circumstances of the accident. The truck accident injury lawyers at Robenalt Law are committed to helping you obtain the compensation you deserve. Call us at (216) 223-7535 or reach out to us online to schedule a free and confidential appointment to discuss your situation.