Gainesville Truck Accident Lawyers

Truck accident injuries may be more severe than injuries involving only passenger vehicles because of big trucks’ massive size and weight. A fully loaded semi truck in Florida can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while the average car weighs around 4,000 pounds.  

With such a weight difference, cars are no match for big trucks. When a big truck collides with a car, the force can rapidly propel the car forward and potentially cause it to strike other vehicles or objects. The truck can also penetrate the vehicle, impacting those inside.  

Thus, truck accident injuries are more likely to be catastrophic. Contact our skilled Gainesville truck accident attorneys today if you or your loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury from a truck accident. 

Head Injuries 

Head injuries may include skull fractures, facial injuries, and traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injury may be the result of skull fractures, but it is possible to sustain a traumatic brain injury even without broken bones in the skull.  

Traumatic brain injury can result in severe long-term or permanent complications, including the following: 

• Cognitive difficulties affecting reasoning, learning, or decision-making 
• Memory problems 
• Vision problems, such as double vision  
• Problems with smell and taste 
• Ringing in the ears 
• Communication difficulties 
• Changes in personality, such as aggression and social difficulties 
• Mood changes, including depression, anxiety, and mood swings 

Facial injuries may include broken orbital bones, crushed nose or cheekbones, and skin injuries such as burns or lacerations that can result in long-term disfigurement, breathing problems, and vision problems. 

Neck and Back Injuries 

The spinal cord begins at the base of the brain and runs down the length of the back. It is protected by a series of small bones called vertebrae cushioned by discs. The spinal column is fragile and can be damaged or even severed, or the discs can be damaged. 

Spinal cord injuries can cause paralysis, weakness, or spasticity from the point of injury downward. These types of injuries are generally permanent. If you have quadriplegia as a result of a spinal cord injury in your neck or upper spine, you may require assistance with breathing. You will likely be confined to a wheelchair and may need assistance with daily tasks. 

The force of an accident makes it easy for the neck to become hyperextended in an accident when it moves forward and backward in response to the accident. This motion can cause whiplash, a painful condition that could require months of therapy. In a worst-case scenario, the vertebrae in the neck can also become damaged. 

Other injuries in the back that can result in severe chronic pain, disability, or a need for surgery include the following: 

• Pinched nerves 
• Herniated disks 
• Broken vertebrae 

Severe Burns 

Vehicle fires are more common in large truck accidents than accidents involving smaller vehicles. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics found that from 2003 to 2007, 15.4 percent of all vehicle fire fatalities resulted from fires large truck accidents, even though large trucks only comprised 3.7 percent of registered vehicles.  

Fires were most common in Class 8 commercial vehicles, which weigh 33,000 pounds or more. These vehicles have two to five times the rate of fatal fires than any other weight class. 

Burns are classified as first, second, or third-degree based on the depth and severity. Widespread second- or third-degree burns can cause serious long-term complications. Second-degree burns are extremely painful, while third-degree burns are full depth burns that destroy nerves. 

Widespread burn injuries can lead to dehydration because the body loses the ability to retain moisture in the skin. Skin grafting is often necessary. Burn injuries can easily become infected. The body’s responses to burn injuries can lead to muscle wasting and kidney damage. The disfigurement and scarring caused by severe burns can lead to depression.  

Loss of Limbs 

The crushing forces of a collision with a big truck can severely damage the hands, feet, arms, and legs. Limbs can be severed during an accident. Paramedics occasionally must amputate a limb to rescue an accident victim from the vehicle. In other cases, damage to the affected limbs is so severe they must be amputated. 

Complications that may lead to amputation include the following: 

• Crush injuries 
• Severe burns 
• Tissue destruction 
• Infections 
• Loss of blood flow for extended periods. 

Advances in medical technology have made it possible for some patients to lead a full and independent life following amputation with a lot of hard work and rehabilitation. 

Crushed and Broken Bones 

Broken or crushed bones occur from being squeezed between vehicles, pushed into other vehicles or objects, or ejected from the vehicle. We have observed clients with multiple broken ribs, broken pelvic bones, broken arms, broken legs, and more. 

It is not uncommon to require surgery for severe breaks, especially if you have multiple breaks in the same area or a break in a joint, such as the wrist. 

Internal Injuries 

One of the bones’ most important functions is protecting delicate and vital internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, and intestines. Abdominal injuries are particularly common in side and frontal collisions, with the kidney, liver, and spleen experiencing trauma the most often. 

Chest injuries can result in punctured lungs or damage to the heart. When internal organs are damaged, you can experience internal bleeding, which can be fatal if not detected quickly. Even if quickly addressed, you could face long-term health problems as a result of any type of organ damage. Some organ injuries are fatal.