If you have got in an accident with a big rig truck, then any injuries you sustain could be much more severe simply because of the other vehicle’s sheer size. You may want to consult with a trucking accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident so that you can work together to secure the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, pain, suffering, and lost wages. There are a handful of injuries caused in truck collisions that are a bit more common than others.
Neck and Back Injuries
When you collide with a semi-truck on the road, there’s a very high risk of developing an injury to your neck or back. This could be from the impact itself with a large vehicle (the so-called whiplash, for example) or from how your vehicle was hit by the truck.
These are a few issues that you should look for regarding injuries to your neck or back:
· Shooting pain in your arms or down your spine
· Stiffness in your neck that doesn’t go away
· Bulging areas in your back
Broken Bones
Common injuries that you could sustain in an accident involving a truck are broken bones. This could be a broken arm, leg, or fractured facial bones. If your airbags deploy, then the impact could break your nose. Consult with a truck accident attorney about these injuries to determine the liability when a semi-truck accident happens (more details in the link). You will need for all the evidence of the incident to be investigated.
Sometimes, a doctor can determine the severity of the impact based on the victim`s fractured bones and the severity of the fractures.
Head Injuries
There are quite a few ways that you could injure your head in an accident with a semi-truck. You might hit your head on the dashboard or other surfaces in your vehicle. This type of head injury could lead to significant damage to your brain.
You could also develop a brain bleed or a bruise that doesn’t present itself until it’s too late, which is why you should seek medical treatment right away after an accident involving a large vehicle.
Keep in mind that you can remain conscious even if you don`t have a brain injury. Even if the brain isn’t involved, you could have cuts on your head or whiplash that may result in severe headaches for days or weeks after the accident.
You could also have a concussion. Some of the symptoms that you might want to be wary of include blurred vision, headache in the front area of your head, and nausea.
Injuries You Can’t See
You could have internal injuries that aren’t seen unless you are properly examined by a doctor. These injuries often include bleeding and damage to the spleen, kidneys, or liver. If your injuries are severe, then these organs might need to be treated or removed.
Seat Belt Injuries
When you’re in a car, you probably think that a seat belt will protect you in an accident. While this is true in most situations, there are injuries that you could sustain as a direct result of your seat belt locking in place. Whiplash is a common injury as the belt locks while you’re still moving in a forward motion. The belt could also cut your abdomen or cause unsightly bruises.
Other Common Injuries
Lacerations are quite common in almost any accident. The number of lacerations and their severity tend to depend on how much glass breaks and the direction the glass shattered during the accident. Unfortunately, death is always a possibility when hit by a semi-truck, mostly if the collision happens at high speed or if you collide with the truck head-on.