Semi-trucks traveling on Georgia highways can cause devastating injuries when they are involved in accidents. Many factors affect the severity of injuries suffered, including the size of the vehicles involved, the force of the impact and more. The following categories of injuries are common in truck accidents.
Neck and brain injuries
Many truck accidents result in injuries affecting the brain, neck and back. Whiplash, affecting the neck, is one of the most common. It occurs when the head moves suddenly with force in one direction and then back again due to the accident impact. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have a range of severity, correlating with the accident’s severity. TBIs can be mild and include minor concussions that clear within several days to severe brain injuries that cause debilitating brain damage, leaving victims partially or fully incapacitated. Neck and back pain can develop after truck accidents, with the exact cause often tricky to diagnose. In such cases, doctors may need to run multiple imaging tests to discover the precise cause of the pain.
Causes of semi-truck accidents
Various factors cause truck accidents, including the driver’s lack of sleep, high speeds, weather conditions and errors in judgment. In addition, these vehicles weigh much more than cars and SUVs, so the occupants have less protection and are more apt to suffer extensive injuries.
Recovering after your truck accident
Some victims take months or years to recover from personal injuries caused by truck accidents. Even seemingly minor issues may require prolonged courses of physical and occupational therapy so that an individual can resume normal functioning. Other victims may experience temporary or permanent disabilities if a catastrophic incident occurs and multiple body parts sustain injuries.
In the case of catastrophic accidents, insurance settlements often are not enough to cover medical bills. Victims may also be unable to work for long periods, compounding the problem. If you or a loved one have suffered catastrophic injuries in a truck accident, you may qualify to file an injury lawsuit. Victims can use successful claims to pay for medical treatments, living expenses and pain and suffering.