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The Top 9 Most Common Injuries in Truck Accidents
No one ever laughs at a truck accident. Due to their massive size and weight, trucks are capable of causing significant damage; regrettably, the victims of such accidents are often the drivers or other cars on the road. The emotional and physical toll of a truck collision may be devastating, regardless of whether you’re in a sports car or a motorbike. The 11 most prevalent injuries that truck drivers face are examined in detail in this blog post. The data, statistics, and potential health consequences of these injuries will be presented to you. Hold on tight, for what follows is about to become enlightening!
Brain Injuries Caused by Trauma
First, we’ll talk about traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which are among the worst kinds of injuries. These happen when the brain takes a hard hit, which is typical in incidents with a lot of impact, such as truck crashes. Actually, anything from a mild concussion to a more serious instance like diffuse axonal damage, traumatic brain injuries affect about 15-20% of those who survive vehicle accidents. What are the repercussions? Possible long-term effects include diminished cognitive function, amnesia, irritability, and depression.
Coffey McPharlin, a prestigious Florida truck accident attorney, suggests, “Always seek medical attention following a truck collision, but particularly if you or a loved one are experiencing lightheadedness, disorientation, or nausea as a result of the incident.”
Spinal Injuries
Following this, we have spinal cord injuries, which may manifest in a variety of ways, from mild to severe paralysis. People in smaller cars are more likely to have spinal cord injuries in truck accidents, which account for around 8-10% of all incidents involving trucks. Loss of movement, persistent discomfort, or even paraplegia or quadriplegia may be the outcome of these injuries. As a result of the tremendous power of the impact, many people get serious injuries to their backs and necks after being in a truck accident.
Spinal cord injuries have a lengthy and arduous rehabilitation process. Victims often have to undergo physical treatment for months or even years, and others may never be able to walk again.
Damage to the Soft Tissues
Truck accidents often result in soft tissue injuries, which include injury to tendons, ligaments, and muscles. Soft tissue injuries are often so subtle that they go unnoticed until the pain begins to manifest itself, which might be days after the trauma. Strains, contusions, and sprains affect about 25-30% of those who survive truck accidents.
The difficulty in diagnosing soft tissue injuries using imaging techniques like X-rays or scans is a major contributor to the undertreatment of these injuries. However, these injuries may cause persistent pain and limited movement if not treated. Restoring normal mobility and strength often requires physical therapy, and even a little soft tissue injury might take months to completely heal.
Bone Fractures
Broken bones are a typical consequence of truck accidents due to their tremendous impact. Studies have shown that a significant number of truck accident victims have fractures, with the most common areas of vulnerability being the arms, legs, ribs, and collarbones. There are a lot of problems that may arise from fractured bones, even if they don’t seem as dangerous as traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries. Surgery and long recuperation times are common outcomes of compound fractures, in which bone penetrates the skin.
People whose occupations involve physical labor may be out of commission for weeks or months after breaking a bone, which can exacerbate financial hardships.
Injuries to the Neck and Whiplash
Whiplash is something that most people have heard about if they have ever been in a car accident. It ranks high among the most frequent neck injuries sustained in car accidents, especially those involving trucks. The tremendous power involved in a truck collision may cause a person’s neck to jerk back and forth in an uncomfortable way. When the ligaments and muscles of the neck are overworked, it may lead to whiplash, which manifests as a stiff neck, soreness, and even headaches. Wrist pain is reported by around 20% of those injured in truck accidents.
Whiplash, if left untreated, may cause nerve damage and severe neck discomfort. The greatest approach to avoid problems in the long run is to start physical therapy or chiropractic treatment as soon as possible.
Injuries to the skin
Severe burns are a common consequence of truck accidents caused by gasoline leaks or explosions. Around 5% of truck accidents result in burn casualties, especially when dangerous substances are present. The most serious kind of burn, known as a third-degree burn, often necessitates the use of skin grafts or reconstructive surgery.
It may be a lengthy and difficult path to recovery from burn injuries. In addition to physical treatment to help victims recover movement in burned regions, they may need to endure several operations. Additionally, a person’s mental health and sense of self-worth might take a hit if they suffer deformity as a result of burn scars.
Injury to Internal Organs
Not only may truck accidents lead to internal bleeding, but they can also directly harm vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, or lungs. The sheer power of the hit or becoming trapped between items in a collision are common causes of this kind of damage. According to the data, a significant number of victims of truck accidents sustain organ damage, necessitating urgent surgical procedures.
Worryingly, organ damage may quickly become a life-threatening health crisis. It is vital to seek medical assessment quickly after an injury, regardless of how you feel, since internal bleeding, burst organs, or collapsed lungs may happen without apparent indicators. Any delay might be disastrous when dealing with organ damage. Thus, time is important.
Limb loss
Victims of serious vehicle accidents may have injuries so severe that amputation of a limb becomes necessary. This can be because of catastrophic crush injuries or the fact that the limb is irreparably damaged. Amputations are a very rare complication of truck accidents, occurring in about 1-2% of cases. Amputation changes a person’s life in many ways; for example, they may need to adapt to prostheses, spend a lot of time recovering, and accept their new restrictions.
The emotional toll is enormous, on top of the physical agony. A person’s capacity to work, maintain relationships, and participate in everyday activities is affected when they lose a limb. Regaining one’s independence after an amputation may be a difficult and lengthy process for many.
Compromise on Mental Health
Psychological trauma is last on the list. The psychological wounds inflicted by a truck collision, in contrast to the more transient physical ones, can never fully heal. Among those who have survived a truck accident, a high percentage will suffer from PTSD, anxiety, despair, and phobias. Research shows that around 30% of people who are victims of accidents suffer from psychological stress.
A truck collision may have devastating impacts on a person’s mental health in addition to their physical health. It might be challenging for survivors to regain control of their life and drive again after experiencing nightmares, flashbacks, and crippling terror. For victims to heal and go on with their lives, therapy and counseling are often essential.
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