One-third of injury deaths in the United States are from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death from brain injury in the United States.
Traumatic brain injury is a serious risk in truck accidents.
Why Truck Accidents Often Lead to Traumatic Brain Injuries
Truck accidents often lead to TBIs for several reasons:
Weight of the truck
A semi-truck, with a cab and empty trailer, weighs 30,000 to 35,000 pounds. Add a load being transported, and it weighs even more. By comparison, a Ford Escape weighs up to 3,904 pounds. In a crash, all that weight and energy is transferred. As a result, the brain may be jolted with far more force than it can withstand.
Size of the truck
In addition to the weight of the truck, another thing that accounts for TBI truck accidents is the size of the truck. Semi-trucks in the United States average 13.5 feet tall and 8.5 feet wide. To compare, a Chevrolet Impala is 59 inches high and 73 inches wide (there are varying specifications for different models). This size discrepancy can contribute to greater overall injuries, including brain injury.
Unusual angle of impact
The relative size and shape of a truck as compared to a passenger vehicle can result in an unusual angle of impact when an accident occurs. The truck may not strike the passenger vehicle on the bumper; the motor vehicle may slide under the trailer. An unusual point of impact can result in distribution of energy that overwhelms the safety mechanisms of the passenger vehicle. The result may be that the brain absorbs this force and sustains a traumatic brain injury.
Side impact
Lateral impact can result in TBI. The brain is often less able to sustain a lateral blow than a jolt from the front or back. One NHTSA study found that 18.42% of motor vehicle brain injuries are lateral. The study found that lateral impact is more likely to produce traumatic brain injury than nonliteral impact.
Truck accidents often result in side impact or shaking of the head in a lateral matter. Side-impact truck accidents can occur at intersections when a truck jackknifes, and when a truck merges into another lane.
Stopping distance
Trucks need more distance to stop than passenger vehicles. When loaded, a semi-truck needs up to 40% more distance than a car to stop. On wet roads or roads with unusual surfaces, the distance may be even greater. This means that truck accidents often occur at relatively high speeds. The brain may absorb this speed and sustain injury.
Types of Truck Accident TBIs
There are several types of traumatic brain injury that may result from a trucking accident.
- Penetrating brain injury—Occurs when a foreign object pierces the skull and brain. Debris from an accident may penetrate tissue and cause injury.
- Concussion—Disruption of normal brain activity occurs because of a violent shaking. A concussion can be a TBI truck injury even if the head is never struck by an object.
- Hemorrhage—Intracranial hematoma is a brain bleed. Blood can put pressure on the brain, interfering with oxygen and nutrient transportation.
- Skull fracture, facial fracture—The human head has 22 bones that protect the brain. When they’re subject to blunt trauma from a truck accident, they can break.
Symptoms and Long-Term Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries
TBI trucking accident injuries produce a variety of symptoms. The trauma often causes long-term effects. A brain injury may result in cognitive difficulties with impairment in processing information. Memory may be impacted along with problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
Communication may be impaired by a truck accident brain injury. Attention and concentration may also be reduced. Brain trauma can hurt motor skills. A person may experience muscle spasms, loss of motor control, and poor balance.
The long-term effects of truck-related TBI are often emotional and behavioral. A person sustaining an injury may have difficulty regulating anger and impulsive behavior. They may have depression, emotional instability, and mood swings.
Legal Steps To Take After Suffering a Brain Injury in a Truck Accident
If you have suffered a brain injury in a truck accident, seek emergency medical care. Yes, getting medical attention after a truck accident is a legal step. You must prove your case, and get medical attention documents that you were injured. This is an important part of building evidence of the extent of the injury.
As you build your claim, you’ll gather more medical evidence of the severity of injuries and their future impact. You’ll work with medical experts who can explain your prognosis.
Follow your medical care instructions. Save records and receipts. Identify ways that you have been impacted by the traumatic brain injury. Losses may also include the ability to earn an income, communication difficulties, personal care needs, impact on social status, emotional impairment, and overall loss of lifestyle.
To receive compensation, you must file a claim. The claim identifies who is liable, the reasons they are liable to pay compensation, and the appropriate amount.
Determining Liability for Traumatic Brain Injuries
Trucking companies must take reasonable steps to prevent accidents. This includes driver safety, vehicle safety, and operations with due care. South Carolina uses a system of modified comparative fault, evaluating the actions of each party.
Seeking Compensation for Life-Altering Brain Injuries
Compensation for a life-altering brain injury should reflect the impact that the injury has on the life of the victim. When an injury, like a brain injury, suddenly changes a person’s life, compensation should reflect the severe harm.
The case must detail the physical harm that has occurred. It must then explain the personal and financial impact. Compensation should include any other injuries and losses.
Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer
At Bobby Jones Law, we help people with traumatic brain injuries in truck accidents. Work with an experienced lawyer who is ready to litigate your case. Each case is unique, and we want you to get the payment you deserve. Talk to a lawyer and get legal help today. Contact us now.
