Common Truck Accident Injuries

A lucky victim of a truck accident will walk away with cuts and bruises. However, most collisions with these huge, heavy vehicles end in disaster. Other drivers and passengers can experience severe injuries that require months of treatment. Some are permanently disabled and must learn how to adjust to a drastically changed future. In the worst cases, victims pass away instantly or soon after.

Some of the most common injuries our truck accident lawyers see include:

Amputations

Either during the crash or from surgery later, many victims suffer the amputation of their hands, arms, legs, or feet. These appendages can be severed during the accident or may be so severely crushed or burned that surgical removal is the only way to save the patient. 

Broken Bones

Arms, legs, collarbones, and hips are frequently broken or fractured in collisions with large trucks. These breaks can cause additional injuries in the form of severed blood vessels and punctured internal organs. If broken bones do not heal properly, the victim can suffer lifelong pain or mobility issues. 

Burns From Fire or Chemicals

Although vehicles do not always burst into flames after a truck accident, the chance of it is higher if the truck ruptures any of its many chemical containers. The oil, gasoline, and other fluids contained in a truck and trailer can catch fire or injure you if it spills onto your skin.

These kinds of injuries require special care in a burn unit. Victims often need multiple surgeries for skin grafts to reduce scarring and maintain the function of the area.

Head and Brain Injuries

Because the body of a car, van, SUV, or pickup truck is so often crushed by a tractor-trailer, head and brain injuries are common among victims. They may suffer fractures, penetrating wounds, and closed head trauma to the brain. Passengers may also experience damage to the mouth or inner ear.

Symptoms of brain injury include loss of consciousness, dizziness, nausea, difficulty with speech or understanding, mood changes, seizures, numbness, and loss of bodily control.

Internal Injuries

Broken bones can puncture your lungs, heart, liver, spleen, stomach, and pancreas. If a foreign object penetrates your body, you could suffer severe blood loss, either externally or internally.  Seat belts can also cause damage and bruising to internal organs or knock the wind out of your lungs. 

However, failure to use these safety devices means you could be thrown from your vehicle and impact other vehicles, the road, or guardrails. This could lead to even more severe injuries. 

Lacerations and Cuts

While minor compared to other injuries, lacerations to the face could result in disfiguring scarring. If your hands or arms are cut, you could experience a loss of function. Broken windshields can spray glass and metal into the passenger cabin, inflicting multiple cuts and wounds on anyone inside. 

In addition to the potential for causing blindness, these cuts can become infected and cause more serious medical conditions. 

Neck, Back, and Spinal Cord Injuries

The extreme forces at work in a truck accident mean your body can be crushed, twisted, and stopped suddenly, causing catastrophic damage. You can suffer whiplash or other severe neck injuries resulting in a loss of movement and sensation. Damage to your back can also cause paralysis, loss of strength or function, or significant pain.

Spinal cord injuries can limit your movement and cause lifelong discomfort. You may need surgery to correct any of these issues. If they cannot be repaired, you might need lengthy rehabilitation or mobility devices after the accident.

Liability in North Carolina Truck Accidents

A truck accident is rarely as simple as it first appears. You may think that it is obvious that the driver committed some traffic violation and caused you to crash into them. However, our firm has learned that these cases can be very complicated. Finding out who is liable for your losses can involve multiple parties bearing different levels of blame. 

Fortunately, each truck accident attorney at the Ricci Law Firm knows how to investigate and develop evidence demonstrating the four elements of negligence:

1. The defendant owed you a duty of care.
2. They failed in that duty.
3. You suffered injury and property damage as a direct result of the failure.
4. You incurred expenses related to your damages.

We will gather evidence such as maintenance records, cell phone data, video and photos from the scene, and other documentation to show negligence and support your claim for damages. There are many individuals and companies who could be held liable, such as:

• The truck driver
• Trucking companies
• Fleet owners
• Parts manufacturers
• Maintenance crews
• Repair shops
• Inspectors 
• Cargo loaders
• Government agencies responsible for road maintenance or construction
• Drivers who left hazards on the road, such as tires, ladders, or lost cargo

Most of these defendants will have teams of lawyers and deep pockets ready to fight against any claims of wrongdoing. Even their insurance companies will fight hard against admitting any fault, so they do not have to pay your damages. Despite this, our attorneys will assess your claim and litigate aggressively to secure the financial relief you require. 

North Carolina Statute of Limitations

You must file your claim within three years of the date of the accident to meet the state’s statute of limitations. If you wait too long, you could lose your right to seek compensation. Our attorneys will ensure that your paperwork is complete, correct, and filed on time, so you do not miss your window of opportunity. 

What Your North Carolina Truck Accident Claim Could Be Worth

Truck accidents nearly always end up in catastrophic injuries and significant property damage for smaller vehicles. Your car might be destroyed, and you could end up in the hospital for a long time. If a younger person is permanently disabled and cannot care for themselves or earn a living, they deserve compensation that allows them to adjust to their altered life and live it comfortably. 

The key to understanding what your claim could be worth is consulting with a qualified truck accident lawyer. Each case is completely unique in terms of the extent of your injuries, your property losses, and how long you will need to recover. You deserve to be reimbursed for every penny of every loss, but many losses are subjective. At the Ricci Law Firm, we believe in ethically providing an honest assessment of what you can expect. We will work hard to secure the appropriate and fairly calculated settlement or jury award you need.

You can seek restitution for economic losses and non-economic losses. Anything with a fixed monetary value is considered an economic loss. Your pain and suffering, as well as the mental anguish you experience, is counted as non-economic. For example, you could request reimbursement for damages such as:

• Loss of income
• Loss of inheritance potential
• All medical bills and hospital costs
• Emergency transport costs
• Nursing care, either in-home or at a facility
• Rehabilitation and therapy
• Medications
• Prosthetics
• Mobility devices
• Repairs or replacement costs for your vehicle and other personal property
• Amputation
• Scarring or disfigurement
• Mental anguish
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Your attorneys will file claims against the appropriate insurance companies and negotiate a fair settlement. If an agreement cannot be reached, our team is ready to continue to the courtroom. We are skilled in negotiating with insurance representatives and opposing counsel. We will ensure you have the strongest case we can provide and will not back down from large trucking companies. 

Ricci Law Firm Truck Accident Attorneys Fight for You

When you are recovering from devastating injuries after a truck accident, you do not need the stress of trying to obtain compensation from the ones who hurt you. You must focus on healing and avoid additional stress. Our truck accident lawyers specialize in handling all the legal challenges so you can worry less.

Our team is very familiar with the regulations and laws in the trucking industry. We understand personal injury law and how to interpret it to your advantage. We will negotiate with insurance companies and other lawyers on your behalf. 

Our team also provides assistance when you:

• Need help gathering robust evidence
• Suffer injuries that worsened a pre-existing condition
• Do not understand how to protect your rights
• Worry about suing a large trucking company
• Do not know how to file a lawsuit or insurance claim
• Need an estimate of the compensation you could obtain

The Ricci Law Firm also helps if your family has lost a loved one in a truck accident. You can claim all the medical and property damages from the crash as well as the costs for a funeral and burial. Facing a lifetime without your family member deserves compensation, and our truck accident lawyers can help you file a wrongful death claim.

Money cannot replace a loved one, but a fair settlement from those to blame will help ease financial burdens while you deal with your grief and pain.