Top Three Catastrophic Injuries Caused by Semi-Truck Wrecks

Observing a commercial semi-truck in traffic is enough to intimidate many people. Their size makes them capable of causing massive damage to smaller passenger vehicles, and they are quite loud as they rumble along. People tend to give them as much space as possible to avoid a crash.

When such collisions occur, it is often the occupants of the smaller vehicles that end up hurt as a result. According to a federal analysis of commercial truck crash statistics, semi-truck collisions with four-wheeled vehicles often result in significant consequences for the people in the smaller vehicle, while the commercial driver has a relatively low risk of injury and death. These are, very unfortunately, some of the most common catastrophic injuries caused as a result of semi-truck collisions.

Amputations

The massive size difference between commercial and passenger vehicles often causes crushing or tearing damage to the smaller vehicle, which can lead to severe physical injuries to someone’s extremities. Especially in scenarios where someone may have had an arm out of the window at the time of the crash, a traumatic amputation is possible. Surgical amputations may also be necessary if the trauma to the injured body part is too extreme to treat at a hospital.

Spinal cord injuries

The momentum of a big truck can cause major traumatic injuries during a crash, including broken bones. Sometimes, an individual’s spine will end up hurt, which can affect their motor function and physical sensation. Both incomplete and complete spinal cord injuries tend to result in lifelong medical expenses and lasting physical limitations.

Traumatic brain injuries

When a semi-truck strikes a smaller vehicle, the smaller vehicle might spin or flip over. Those violent motions can be enough to cause a traumatic brain injury. If someone gets their head on the vehicle during the crash or suffers penetrating injuries caused by flying shrapnel, the brain injury that results could have major medical expenses attached and could also impact someone’s future earning potential.

Such extreme injuries typically exceed the insurance coverage carried on a smaller vehicle, but commercial trucks typically have much larger policies. Carefully negotiating an insurance settlement is usually very important for those with catastrophic injuries or those who have lost a loved one following a semi-truck collision.