Serious Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents
Collisions involving tractor-trailers, delivery trucks, dump trucks, and other commercial vehicles can cause devastating injuries. Because large trucks can weigh many times more than passenger vehicles, a crash can expose occupants to enormous forces that can cause catastrophic or fatal harm. Victims may face emergency treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, lost income, and permanent changes to their ability to work and enjoy their lives.
At Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP, we represent truck accident victims in Kingston and throughout the Hudson Valley who have suffered serious injuries because of another party’s negligence. Understanding the types of injuries that can result from truck crashes and the potential legal consequences is an important part of protecting an injured person’s rights.
Why Truck Accidents Cause Severe Injuries
Commercial trucks create unique dangers because of their size, weight, height, and stopping distance. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh tens of thousands of pounds. When that vehicle collides with a passenger car, the occupants of the smaller vehicle may absorb much of the impact.
The mechanics of the crash also influence the injuries suffered. A truck that rear-ends a passenger vehicle, rolls over, jackknifes, or causes an underride collision can produce very different forces. Multiple impacts may occur during a single crash, increasing the likelihood of serious or catastrophic injuries.
Truck accidents can also involve multiple vehicles. A truck that loses control on a highway may strike several cars, while cargo falling from a truck can create a chain-reaction collision. These circumstances can make both the medical consequences and the legal investigation more complicated.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries are among the most serious injuries that can result from a truck accident. A TBI may occur when a person’s head strikes the vehicle’s interior, another object, or the roadway. The brain can also be injured by the rapid movement of the head during a collision, even when there is no direct impact.
A concussion is generally considered a mild TBI, but mild does not necessarily mean insignificant. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, confusion, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and sensitivity to light or sound. More severe brain injuries can result in prolonged unconsciousness, cognitive impairment, seizures, personality changes, and permanent disability.
Because some brain injury symptoms may develop or become more apparent after a crash, medical evaluation and follow-up care are important. A person’s medical records can also become important evidence when pursuing compensation for a truck accident injury.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
The tremendous forces involved in truck crashes can damage the spinal cord or the vertebrae protecting it. Spinal injuries can range from fractures and herniated discs to permanent spinal cord damage.
A spinal cord injury may result in partial or complete paralysis. Depending on the location and severity of the injury, victims may lose movement or sensation in their legs, arms, or other parts of their bodies. Some require wheelchairs, specialized equipment, extensive rehabilitation, or modifications to their homes.
The consequences can extend far beyond the initial hospitalization. A serious spinal cord injury may require lifelong medical treatment and assistance with everyday activities. It may also prevent a person from returning to their previous occupation, creating substantial future financial losses.
Broken Bones and Orthopedic Injuries
Fractures are common in serious truck accidents. The force of a collision can break the arms, legs, pelvis, ribs, wrists, ankles, and other bones. Some fractures are complex and require surgical repair with plates, screws, rods, or other hardware.
Orthopedic injuries can also involve torn ligaments, damaged tendons, dislocated joints, and severe soft-tissue injuries. Recovery may require surgery and months of physical therapy.
Although some orthopedic injuries eventually heal, others can result in chronic pain, reduced range of motion, arthritis, or permanent limitations. The long-term consequences should be considered when evaluating an injury claim rather than focusing only on the initial medical bills.
Internal Injuries
Truck crashes can cause significant internal trauma even when there are few visible external injuries. The force of impact can damage internal organs, blood vessels, and other structures.
Internal bleeding can be life-threatening and may require emergency surgery. Injuries to the lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, or other organs can result in prolonged hospitalization and ongoing medical complications.
Because internal injuries are not always immediately apparent, people involved in serious truck crashes should receive appropriate medical evaluation. Delayed treatment can increase the risk of complications.
Amputations and Crush Injuries
The size and weight of commercial trucks can cause crush injuries when a person’s body becomes trapped between vehicles or objects. In severe cases, the damage may require surgical amputation of a limb.
An amputation can permanently alter a person’s mobility, independence, and ability to work. Prosthetic devices may require replacement or adjustment over time, and victims may need extensive physical and occupational therapy.
The emotional consequences can also be significant. Compensation claims involving amputations should account for both the immediate effects and the long-term costs and challenges associated with the injury.
Burns and Disfigurement
Truck accidents can result in fires, explosions, or exposure to hazardous materials, particularly when commercial vehicles transport flammable or dangerous substances. Victims may suffer severe burns that require skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, and prolonged treatment.
Scarring and permanent disfigurement can affect a person’s physical appearance and emotional well-being. Serious burns can also restrict movement and cause chronic pain or sensitivity.
These injuries may require years of treatment, and their effects should be considered when determining the full extent of a victim’s damages.
Psychological and Emotional Injuries
The effects of a truck accident are not necessarily limited to physical injuries. Survivors may experience significant psychological consequences after a traumatic collision.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and fear of driving can interfere with work, relationships, and everyday activities. A person who witnessed a fatality or believed they were about to die may experience particularly severe emotional consequences.
Mental health treatment can be an important part of recovery. Psychological injuries should not be dismissed simply because they cannot be seen on an X-ray or other imaging study.
Wrongful Death Caused by Truck Accidents
Some truck accidents are fatal. When a victim dies from crash-related injuries, surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim under New York law.
Wrongful death cases can involve financial losses associated with the deceased person’s income and support, as well as certain other damages recognized by New York law. The legal claims and deadlines applicable to wrongful death differ from those governing a personal injury claim, making prompt legal evaluation important.
Establishing the Cause of a Serious Truck Accident
The severity of the injuries is only one part of a truck accident case. Establishing why the crash occurred and who is legally responsible is also essential.
Truck accidents can result from speeding, driver fatigue, distracted driving, impaired driving, inadequate training, improper loading, negligent maintenance, defective equipment, or violations of trucking safety regulations. Potentially responsible parties may include the truck driver, trucking company, vehicle owner, maintenance provider, cargo loader, or manufacturer, depending on the circumstances.
An investigation may involve reviewing driver logs, electronic data, vehicle maintenance records, inspection reports, cargo records, surveillance footage, photographs, witness statements, and other evidence.
Compensation for Serious Truck Accident Injuries in New York
New York law permits recovery of damages for personal injuries caused by negligence, subject to the requirements that apply to the particular claim. New York’s statute of limitations generally allows three years to commence an action for personal injury, although exceptions and different deadlines can apply under the circumstances.
Truck accident victims may seek compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost wages, diminished future earning capacity, and pain and suffering when the applicable legal requirements are met. Because New York’s no-fault system limits recovery for non-economic losses arising from motor vehicle accidents to cases involving a statutory “serious injury,” the nature and severity of the injuries can also have particular legal significance in truck accident cases.
For victims with catastrophic injuries, it is particularly important to consider future medical care and future economic losses rather than evaluating the claim solely on expenses incurred shortly after the accident.
The Importance of Prompt Investigation
Serious truck accident cases can involve substantial evidence that may not remain available indefinitely. Electronic vehicle data, driver records, maintenance documents, photographs, surveillance footage, and physical evidence can all be important in determining how the crash occurred.
Trucking companies and their insurers may begin investigating immediately after a collision. An injured person should therefore consider taking steps to preserve evidence and protect their legal rights as soon as possible.
Prompt investigation can also help identify every potentially responsible party and determine which insurance policies may provide coverage for the losses caused by the crash.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accident Injuries
What are the most common serious injuries caused by truck accidents?
Serious truck crashes can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, internal injuries, amputations, burns, and other catastrophic injuries. Fatal injuries are also possible.
Can a truck accident cause a traumatic brain injury without a direct blow to the head?
Yes. The sudden acceleration and deceleration associated with a collision can cause the brain to move within the skull and result in a traumatic brain injury even without a direct impact to the head.
What compensation can I receive for a serious truck accident injury?
Depending on the circumstances, an injured person may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other legally recoverable losses.
How long do I have to file a truck accident injury claim in New York?
New York generally provides three years to bring a personal injury lawsuit, but exceptions and different deadlines may apply depending on the parties involved and the nature of the claim.
What should I do after suffering a serious injury in a truck accident?
Seek medical attention, follow your healthcare providers’ recommendations, preserve available information about the crash, and consider consulting a personal injury attorney promptly. Early action can help preserve evidence and protect potential claims.
Contact Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP
A serious truck accident can affect virtually every part of a victim’s life. The physical injuries may require extensive treatment, while lost income and long-term limitations can create additional financial pressure. When another party’s negligence caused the crash, pursuing appropriate compensation can help address these consequences.
At Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP, we represent truck accident victims throughout Ulster County and beyond, working to identify the causes of crashes and the parties responsible for our clients’ injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries in a truck accident, contact Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP today to discuss your legal rights and learn how we can help you pursue compensation. Call 845-331-4100 in Kingston, 845-236-4411 in Marlboro, or 800-566-4101 toll-free throughout the Hudson Valley.
