Houma Truck Accident Injuries

Houma truck accident injuries can be catastrophic and even fatal. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), large truck accidents resulted in 4,317 fatalities in 2016, which is a five percent increase from 2015. If you have been injured in a truck collision, contact a compassionate truck accident attorney today. A dedicated lawyer could ensure that you are able to recover from your Houma truck accident injuries.

Common Injuries Seen in Truck Collisions

The most common types of Houma truck accident injuries are:

Truck wrecks are devastating due to the forces involved. This is why broken bones are very common. Sometimes with broken bones, the individual has to be hospitalized and have to have an internal fixation for their fractures. This means that the orthopedic surgeon has to perform surgery to put the broken bones back together. Internal fixation requires hospitalization, extensive therapy, and even then, the bones may not heal to be like they were prior to the accident.

Spinal cord injuries are common in rear-end collisions. When someone suffers a spinal cord injury, they may also incur paralysis. Victims of this type of injury often undergo surgery to relieve the pinched nerve. Traumatic brain injuries can decrease a person’s cognitive abilities. This means the individual will not have the ability to function as they did before.

Death is also a common outcome in large truck collisions. When the crash is fatal, the family of the deceased may want to file a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death claim could help the family find closure. The damages will also help the family pay for expenses, especially if the deceased was the main breadwinner in the house.

Truck Size and Weight Impact on Collisions

If the collision is with a pickup truck, then the impact is not going to much different than a car accident. However, large trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and a collision with this type of vehicle is more likely to lead to catastrophic injuries or death. Wrecks with a pickup truck may lead to soft-tissue injuries and sprains, whereas an 18-wheeler collision is more likely to result in brain injuries, pinched nerves, broken bones, and death.

Collisions with 18-Wheelers can be devastating and lead to serious Houma truck accident injuries. For example, there was a case where an 18-Wheeler was hauling steel and the driver did not stop at a red light and collided with four smaller vehicles. The tractor-trailer, because of its size and weight, ran over the four vehicles front to back and caused catastrophic injuries to all those involved.

Steps to Take Following a Houma Truck Crash Involving Injuries

It is imperative that you know what steps to take after suffering Houma truck accident injuries. First, you should check to see if everyone else is alright and then seek medical treatment. It is important to call 9-1-1 right after a wreck to ask for an ambulance and law enforcement to come to the scene of the accident. You should then contact a truck accident lawyer who could help you recover from your injuries.