Common Truck Crash Injuries

Accidents involving large trucks often result in more serious injuries than accidents involving passenger vehicles only.  With a standard four-door passenger vehicle weighing between 2,500 and 4,000 pounds, a large truck weighing a minimum of 10,000 pounds, and an 18-wheeler weighing nearly 80,000 pounds, it is easy to see why truck accidents can cause catastrophic injuries. Common truck accident injuries include the following:

Broken Bones

Due to the sheer force of impact in a truck accident, fractured or broken bones (especially in the legs, arms, or chest) are an extremely common injury in these cases.

Spine Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can be life-altering and are often devastating to accident victims. They typically result in prolonged hospital stays, surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and severe limitations on a victim’s ability to work.  

Spine injuries can be complete, in which case the spinal cord is compressed or severed, resulting in a loss of sensation or movement below the point of the injury; or incomplete, in which case the spinal cord is partially compressed or severed, with the victim retaining some level of sensation or movement. Traffic accidents are responsible for approximately 35% of all new spinal cord injuries in the United States annually.   

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can occur when a person’s head is subjected to sudden trauma or force, such as when a truck accident victim strikes their head on the steering wheel, dashboard, or window. The resulting TBI can range in severity from mild to moderate or severe. TBI can cause short-term and long-term symptoms such as headaches, nausea or vomiting, problems with speech, memory issues, mood changes, depression, difficulty sleeping, comas, and more.

Abdominal Injuries

During a truck crash, victims can sustain two types of abdominal injuries: blunt force or penetrating. Blunt force abdominal injury results from an object impacting the abdomen, such as a seatbelt, steering wheel, or airbag. Blunt force trauma to the abdomen can damage internal organs. Penetrating abdominal injuries break the skin and can result in significant blood loss and organ damage.