Common Truck Accident Injuries

Washington’s strategic location between the U.S. and Canada, as well as its access to major ports, makes it a thriving hub for the truck industry. Although trucking is a critical link in the country’s supply chain, it means the state’s highways and communities are congested with large commercial trucks that tower over smaller vehicles on the road, leaving motorists vulnerable to severe or catastrophic injuries in an accident.

In high-traffic areas like Renton, where collisions involving commercial trucks are all too common, having an experienced Renton truck accident lawyer on your side can be essential after a serious crash. These legal professionals understand the complexities of trucking regulations and can help injured victims pursue the compensation they deserve.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), about 70% of truck accident injuries happen to those in other vehicles, not to the truck driver.

What Types of Injuries Happen In Truck Accidents?

A fully loaded commercial truck can legally weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. In an accident with an average-sized, 4,000-pound family vehicle, motorists in smaller vehicles often suffer grave injuries such as the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries, ranging from mild concussions to severe impairment from diffuse axonal injury and skull fractures
• Fractures of the limbs, hips, pelvis, ribs, clavicle, and spinal vertebrae
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Soft-tissue injuries (sprains, strains, and torn ligaments) to knees, wrists, shoulders, and ankles
• Internal organ injuries
• Spinal cord damage
• Facial and dental injuries
• Burns
• Traumatic amputations
• Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions

In the worst cases, truck accidents cause one or more fatalities to motorists in smaller vehicles.

What Types of Truck Accidents Cause Severe Injuries?

Because of the heavy weight and large size difference of commercial trucks, they can cause the total collapse of smaller vehicles, resulting in blunt-force trauma to vehicle occupants as well as the crash force of the collision itself. The most common types of truck accidents that result in serious to catastrophic injuries to others include the following:

• T-bone accidents
• Rear-end collisions
• Head-on collisions
• Tire blowout accidents
• Sideswipes
• Rollover accidents
• Cargo spill accidents
• Jackknife accidents (when a truck and trailer come out of alignment and crash in the shape of a partly open jackknife, often blocking multiple lanes)
• Truck underride accidents (when a car collides with a truck and wedges under the trailer)
• Truck override accidents (when a truck collides with a smaller vehicle and rides up and over it, crushing the vehicle below)
• Multi-car pileups

Sometimes, truck accidents with chemical or fuel spills can impact entire communities and cause non-traffic-related injuries to others in the area.

Understanding Damages In Truck Accident Injury Cases

Even those fortunate enough to survive a truck accident with relatively minor, fully recoverable injuries can experience temporary financial hardship from the medical costs and lost work days. Sadly, many truck accident victims experience catastrophic injuries with life-altering effects, such as disability or impairment. Common damages resulting from truck accident injury cases include past and future medical expenses, lost earnings, lowered future earning ability, and compensation for pain and suffering. In catastrophic injury cases, truck accident injury victims may recover additional compensation for injuries like loss of limb, the loss of one of the senses, disfigurement, scarring, or diminished quality of life.

A close family member of a truck accident victim with fatal injuries can recover wrongful death benefits.

How Can a Truck Accident Attorney Help Me?

Proving liability is a complex process after a truck accident because there are multiple potentially liable parties, including the driver, the trucking company, or a truck maintenance company. Often, liable parties point the finger at others, and insurance companies dispute, delay, or deny claims.

Contact us at Caffee Accident & Injury Attorneys to speak to an experienced truck accident attorney who can take prompt action to defend your rights and advise you of your legal options for financial recovery.