What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
A truck accident can cause severe damage to vehicles and devastating injuries to motorists. Truck accident statistics demonstrate the relationship between trucking accidents and catastrophic injuries. As per the data published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 4,842 trucks were involved in fatal large truck crashes in 2020. Additionally, 107,000 heavy trucks were involved in injury collisions in the same year.
An injury from a truck accident can be severe. However, sometimes it can even cause very serious injuries that are considered catastrophic. These injuries are:
- Life-altering
- Permanent
- Affect a victim’s ability to perform day-to-day activities, work, and enjoyment of life
- Require extensive medical treatment, long-term care, and rehabilitation
At Hurt Trucker Attorneys, we understand the far-reaching consequences of truck accidents and fatal crashes on truck drivers and their loved ones. We, therefore, work hard to ensure they have higher chances of getting maximum compensation for injuries sustained by them.
Common Injuries in Truck Accidents
If you are involved in a truck accident, you may experience several injuries to different parts of your body. One of the most common ones is having broken bones. Other common injuries resulting from trucking accidents include:
Chest and Abdominal Injuries
They include:
- Broken ribs
- Lung contusions
- Diaphragm ruptures
- Sternum fractures
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
Individuals with these injuries experience difficulty in breathing, infection, and shock.
Head and Brain Injuries
Head and brain injuries include:
- Concussions
- Skull fractures
- Contusions
- Hemorrhages
Neck and Back Injuries
These injuries include:
- Sprains
- Strains
- Herniated discs
Bone and Joint Injuries
They include the following:
- Fractures
- Dislocations
- Crash injuries
Bone and joint injuries affect an individual’s mobility, strength, and stability.
Soft Tissue Injuries
These injuries include:
- Abrasions
- Bruises
- Cuts
They often cause pain, swelling, scarring, and infection.
Catastrophic Injuries in Truck Accidents
Commercial trucking highway accidents can cause the following catastrophic injuries:
Amputations
Amputations involve the loss of a part or whole limb because of trauma or surgical removal. They affect a victim’s appearance, balance, and coordination. One can experience phantom pain and may also require prosthetics.
Burn Injuries
Heat, hazardous materials, radiation, or electricity can damage the skin and underlying tissues. These conditions affect the injured person’s healing and cosmetic appearance. They can even cause contractures and scarring.
Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Severe traumatic brain injuries affect a victim’s awareness, personality, emotions, communication, and memory. They can cause:
- Brain death
- Locked-in syndrome
- Vegetative state
- Persistent vegetative state
- Minimally conscious state
Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury can cause partial or complete paralysis. It can cause quadriplegia, a paralysis of the four limbs and the trunk. They can also cause paraplegia, where the lower limbs and sometimes even the abdominal area become paralyzed. These conditions affect a victim’s pain sensation, temperature regulation, and sexual function. They also affect the individual’s breathing, bladder, and bowel movements.
The Multifaceted Impact of Catastrophic Injuries
The Physical Impact of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries often result in severe and permanent disabilities, including paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, and amputations. The physical recovery process is typically long and arduous, involving multiple surgeries, extensive rehabilitation, and, in many cases, lifelong care. The financial implications are substantial, with the average cost of care for a spinal cord injury exceeding $1 million in the first year alone. Lifetime costs can range from $2.5 million to over $5 million, depending on the severity of the injury.
The Emotional Toll on Victims and Families
The emotional consequences of catastrophic injuries are profound. Victims often experience depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), severely impacting their mental health and overall quality of life. The emotional strain extends to family members, who must navigate the stress and uncertainty surrounding their loved one’s condition. Relationships can become strained under the weight of these challenges, making access to psychological support and counseling critical for both victims and their families.
The Financial Burden of Catastrophic Injuries
Financially, catastrophic injuries can be devastating. Beyond immediate medical expenses, ongoing costs for home modifications, assistive devices, and continued care can be overwhelming. Additionally, the loss of income due to an inability to work can lead to severe financial hardship, including potential bankruptcy. The National Safety Council estimates that the average economic cost of a severe injury is approximately $1,219,000, covering lost wages, medical expenses, and other indirect costs.
Catastrophic injuries necessitate a robust legal strategy to ensure victims receive adequate compensation for their extensive losses. Without proper legal representation, securing the financial resources necessary for recovery and future needs becomes an uphill battle.
What Should I Do if I Am Involved in a Trucking Accident?
Truck drivers involved in truck crashes should protect their health and legal rights. So here’s what to do if you are involved in a truck accident:
Call 911: Report the accident and ask for medical help if you, the other drivers, or anyone else are injured.
Move to safety: If possible, move to a safe location. Don’t move anyone if they have a severe injury—unless they are not safe in the current surroundings.
Exchange information: Exchange vital information with the other vehicles’ drivers. This includes the following:
- Names
- Contact information
- Driver’s license numbers
- Insurance information
- License plate numbers
Get witness information: Record the witnesses’ names, contact details, and statements.
Take photos and videos: Record the accident scene. Take photos of the vehicles involved and road conditions. Also include traffic signs and signals, debris, skid marks, and injuries.
Seek immediate medical attention: Rush to a nearby hospital, even when there’s no pain. Let them check you for internal injuries. Remember to keep your medical records and bills.
Reach out to an experienced truck driver attorney: A truck accident attorney helps you to:
- Investigate the cause of the accident
- Identify the responsible parties
- Negotiate with the insurance company
- Get the compensation you deserve for the damages incurred
These measures work for drivers of all kinds of commercial trucks, including semi-trucks and tractor-trailers.
How Long Does a Trucking Accident Lawsuit Take?
The length of trucking accident lawsuits depends on several factors. These include:
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Case complexity
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Number of parties involved
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Extent of damage
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Availability of evidence
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Cooperation of the insurance companies
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Court schedule
Considering these factors, you can expect a lawsuit to take anywhere between a few months to even several years.
Determining Compensation for Catastrophic Injuries
How much you receive as compensation for catastrophic injuries depends on the following:
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Nature and severity of the injuries
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Effect of the injuries on your life
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Negligence of the party at fault
You are eligible for economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
These are damages that you can quantify and document. They include:
Medical expenses: These include past and future medical costs. It also covers the cost of assistive devices and home modifications.
Lost income: It covers the loss of future salary, wages, and benefits. It also covers your earning capacity.
Property damage: It covers vehicle repair and replacement costs.
Non-Economic Damages
They are damages you cannot easily measure or verify. They include:
Pain and suffering: It includes physical pain, mental anguish, and emotional distress. It also includes loss of enjoyment of life.
Loss of consortium: It includes the loss of companionship or intimacy with your partner.
Contact Hurt Trucker Attorneys Today!
You may have many questions, such as “How do trucking injuries occur?” when dealing with trucking accidents. In addition to this, dealing with other complications, such as battling with insurance companies to get fair compensation, can be challenging.
At Hurt Trucker Attorneys, our attorneys for injured truckers can help drivers involved in accidents get fair compensation. For over 40 years, we have assisted injured truckers with personal injury and workers’ compensation cases.
We provide all injured truck drivers with a free consultation to review their legal options because we believe wounded truckers should be respected and supported. We offer free resources for trucker injuries and welcome inquiries from any truckers who have been hurt. Contact us and book your free consultation today!
