A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh 80,000 pounds—much heavier than the average passenger car. When these massive vehicles collide with smaller cars, the results are often catastrophic.
From traumatic brain injuries to severe burns, truck accident victims face a wide range of serious medical conditions that can impact every aspect of their lives.
In these situations, working with an experienced Milwaukee truck accident lawyer can make a significant difference.
Head and Brain Injuries
In a truck accident, your head can strike the steering wheel, dashboard, or window with tremendous force, or the sudden acceleration and deceleration can cause your brain to slam against your skull.
This trauma can result in concussions, brain bleeding, or severe traumatic brain injury. Head and brain injuries can affect your memory, concentration, ability to process information, and many other critical processes.
Broken Bones
A truck accident can generate a crushing force that breaks multiple bones throughout the body. You might suffer fractured ribs, arms, legs, or pelvis. Some breaks are so severe that they require surgery and metal plates or rods to heal properly.
Internal Organ Damage
The impact from a truck collision can seriously damage your internal organs without any external signs of injury. Your liver, spleen, kidneys, or lungs can be torn or bruised by the sudden force.
Internal bleeding is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment, but you may not experience any symptoms at first. This is why you should always go to the emergency room after a car accident, even if you do not feel hurt.
Spinal Cord Injuries
In a truck accident, your spine can be crushed, twisted, or severed due to the impact. This damage can lead to loss of sensation, muscle weakness, and problems with coordination and balance. Depending on the location and severity of the injury, spinal cord damage can cause partial or complete paralysis.
Psychological Injuries
Surviving a traumatic truck accident can leave lasting mental scars. Many victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder, experiencing flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety when driving or being near large trucks. Depression and anxiety are also common.
These psychological injuries can prevent you from returning to work, maintaining relationships, and enjoying activities you once loved, sometimes requiring years of therapy and medication.
Burn Injuries and Scarring
Truck accidents can cause fires when fuel ignites or expose you to hazardous chemicals carried in the trailer. Burns can cover large portions of your body, destroying skin, muscle, and even bone in severe cases.
Victims often face permanent disfigurement, limited mobility due to scar tissue, and years of painful reconstructive surgeries, skin grafts, and rehabilitation therapy.
Soft Tissue Damage
During the accident, your head and neck may whip back and forth due to the sudden deceleration and impact, or your body may be thrown against the seatbelt or interior of the vehicle. These sudden, unnatural motions can damage the muscles, tendons, and ligaments throughout your body.
One of the most common soft tissue injuries is whiplash, which affects the neck and can cause persistent pain, stiffness, headaches, and limited range of motion.
Get Help with Your Wisconsin Truck Accident Case
A truck accident can shatter bones, spines, and futures. The physical pain may be overwhelming, but financial devastation can follow close behind through medical bills, lost wages, and more.
If you were injured in a Wisconsin truck accident, Cannon & Dunphy S.C. can help you recover the compensation you deserve for your serious injuries. Contact us at (262) 668-8884 for the aggressive representation you deserve during this challenging time.