(845) 802-0047Collisions with large commercial trucks like 18 wheelers and semi-tractor trailers are more likely to result in catastrophic personal injuries than any other type of motor vehicle accident. This is because box trucks are heavier and larger than any other type of vehicle which means they generate significant momentum. Even at low speeds, this momentum can cause significant and devastating personal injuries. But when trucking accidents occur on highways, thruways, or interstates, big rig crashes can cause horrific personal injuries or the wrongful death of an innocent person.
Due to these factors, trucking accidents in New York are more likely to cause severe and debilitating personal injuries. These personal injuries could take months or years to recover from, but they may also be permanent and disrupt a victim’s entire life. There are many different types of personal injuries which could be caused by a trucking accident in New York. Some of the most common injuries due to New York trucking accidents include the following:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
While a wrongful death is the ultimate personal injury, the worst injury that a survivor of a semi tractor-trailer crash may sustain is any type of head injury such as a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Head injuries and TBIs can result in incredibly debilitating injuries which include severe migraines, memory loss, speech impairments, cognitive defects, loss of motor function, and other damages.
There are two types of head injuries which could cause a TBI. Open head injuries are caused when the head and skull is fractured and there is direct, physical damage to the head, skull, and brain. Closed head injuries are caused when the head and skull is not fractures or otherwise pierced, but the brain has still sustained injuries due to forces imposed on the brain.
There are many different types of head injuries which could be caused by a trucking accident in New York. Traumatic brain injuries are considered to be the worst.
The most common types of TBIs include the following:
- Concussions;
- Coup contrecoup injuries;
- Diffuse axonal injuries;
- Penetrating injuries;
- Hemorrhages; and
- Other brain injuries.
Victims who have sustained a TBI are likely to have debilitating symptoms. These symptoms will likely impair the normal and customary daily activities of a person which include work, household cleaning, caring for children and dependents, recreational activities, and other daily tasks. Under New York law, victims of TBIs may be entitled to compensation for these head injuries.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries caused by New York trucking accidents are very debilitating. As you may know, your spinal cord originates at the base of your brain and extends down your backbone into your hips. This is called the central nervous system which acts as a highway and processing center. There are other nerves which extend from your spinal cord and branch out to your extremities. This is called the peripheral nervous system which primarily governs motor movement and sensation.
While the spinal cord is encased in very hard bones called vertebrae, the spinal cord is not impenetrable. Injuries to your spinal cord may result in partial or complete losses of sensation, motor movement, or a combination of both. Injuries to nerves extending from the spinal cord may also result in extreme pain. New York trucking accidents may result in spinal cord injuries causing paraplegia, quadriplegia, monoplegia, or other types of paralysis. This may require victims to use wheelchairs, walkers, or even become bedridden due to the negligence of a defendant truck driver.
Neck and Back Injuries
One of the most common types of injuries in any motor vehicle accident, especially a powerful trucking accident, are neck and back injuries. This is because, even if your spinal cord is not injured, it can still be damaged and result in debilitating injuries. Back and neck injuries usually are due to damage to the discs between your vertebrae. These discs are spongy and gel-like, but still strong and resilient. But when they are damaged, they typically do not heal themselves. They also usually impinge or irritate nerves originating out of the spinal cord and extending to the extremities. This could result in extreme and continuous pain.
This is why back surgery is common to repair damage to herniated discs, dislocated discs, annual tears, slipped discs, and other similar injuries. Typical surgeries include discectomies and nerve ablation surgeries. In very severe cases, spinal fusions may be required to repair neck and back damage that is not responding to conservative treatment or that is overwhelmingly damaged.
Amputations
Because of the sheer forces involved in an 18 wheeler crash, it is common for limbs to be crushed, disfigured, or irreparably damaged. This may result in the loss of a limb through an amputation. When this occurs, a victim will also suffer some type of permanent physical disability. This may require the use of prosthetics or mobility assistance devices. Amputations may also result in emotional injuries and mental anguish, which are common and can be equally debilitating.
Broken Bones
Box truck collisions commonly result in fractures and broken bones. While almost all broken bones require casting or bracing, severe cases of broken bones may require surgical intervention to repair the damage done to the bone or bones. Sometimes painful hardware such as rods, plates, pins, screws, and other medical devices may be required to stabilize the bone to allow it to heal. Unfortunately, sometimes a second surgery may be required to remove the hardware.
Organ Damage and Internal Injuries
The sheer force of a trucking accident cannot only break bone, but it could rupture organs. These are very serious injuries because they can cause debilitating and life-threatening conditions for an individual harmed in a big rig wreck. Common organs that are injured include the kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, and other internal organs.
Injured in a Trucking Accident? Call our New York Trucking Accident Lawyer in Kingston
New York trucking accidents can cause catastrophic personal injuries that are likely to be permanent and debilitating. With injuries like these, you need to retain a knowledgeable and experienced New York trucking accident lawyer to protect your rights to compensation. Call us to learn how we can help protect those rights and obtain the maximum compensation you may be entitled to under New York law.