Truck Accident Injuries and Their Long-Term Effects
At 1Georgia Personal Injury Lawyers, we are committed to protecting the rights of those injured in truck accidents across Georgia. Our firm combines legal knowledge with dedicated client service to help victims recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and the lasting impact of serious injuries. We understand the challenges that follow a truck wreck, and we work tirelessly to hold the trucking company and insurance company accountable.
Truck accident injuries are often life-changing, leaving victims with severe physical harm, overwhelming medical bills, and lasting emotional trauma. When a large truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the forces involved cause accident injuries far more serious than those seen in standard car crashes. Survivors face traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and internal injuries that may require extensive medical care for years. Understanding the risks, the common injuries, and the legal protections in Georgia is essential for anyone injured in a truck wreck.
In this blog, you will learn about the serious and long-term effects of truck accident injuries, the most common types of accident injuries, and how working with an experienced Alpharetta truck accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation and protect your future.
Why Truck Accident Injuries Are Different
Truck accident injuries are often more severe than those seen in passenger car crashes because of the size, speed, and forces involved when large trucks collide with smaller vehicles.
Size and Weight of Large Trucks
A fully loaded commercial truck or tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. A passenger vehicle rarely exceeds 4,000 pounds. When a large truck collides with a smaller car, the imbalance of weight causes devastating injuries. Survivors often face broken bones, spinal injuries, or traumatic brain injuries that require extensive medical care.
Highway Speeds and Forces Involved
Many truck crashes happen on Georgia highways where speeds are high. The force from a rear-end collision or side impact with a tractor-trailer is far greater than a typical car wreck. These forces often lead to multiple fractures, internal bleeding, and life-threatening complications that may not be immediately apparent.
Driver Error and Accident Causes
Truck drivers work long hours and often face pressure from a trucking company to meet delivery deadlines. Driver error caused by fatigue, distracted driving, or speeding is a common factor in large truck accidents. When a truck accident is caused by driver error, injured victims can pursue compensation through a truck accident injury case.
Impact on Passenger Vehicles
Passenger vehicles are not designed to withstand the impact of a commercial truck. Even when safety features are working, the sheer size of a large truck leaves passenger car occupants exposed to horrific injuries. Property damage, severe burns, spinal cord injuries, and emotional trauma are common results when a truck collides with a smaller vehicle.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Truck accident injuries vary in severity, but many cause long-term damage that requires extensive medical care and ongoing treatment.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
When a large truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the force often causes head injuries. Traumatic brain injuries can lead to memory loss, impaired judgment, and chronic headaches. In many cases, these injuries require rehabilitation and lifelong medical treatment.
Spinal Cord and Back Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are among the most devastating injuries caused by truck crashes. Victims may face partial or complete paralysis. Back and neck injuries, such as herniated discs or whiplash, are also common and often result in chronic pain and the need for physical therapy.
Broken Bones and Multiple Fractures
The impact of large truck accidents often leaves victims with broken bones. Multiple fractures can occur in arms, legs, ribs, and hips. These injuries usually require surgery, long recovery periods, and may reduce mobility permanently.
Internal Injuries and Internal Bleeding
Internal injuries are especially dangerous because they are not always immediately apparent. Damage to organs such as the liver, spleen, or lungs can cause internal bleeding. Without quick medical attention, these injuries can lead to life-threatening complications.
Severe Burns and Disfigurement
Fuel fires or chemical spills from commercial trucks often cause severe burns. These burns require extensive medical care, skin grafts, and can leave lasting scars or disfigurement. Emotional trauma is common in victims who survive with visible injuries.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries, including sprains, strains, and torn ligaments, may sound minor but can cause chronic pain. These accident injuries often interfere with work and daily activities, forcing victims to seek ongoing medical treatment.
Long-Term Effects of Serious Injuries
Truck accident injuries often cause lasting harm that impacts every part of a victim’s life, from health to finances and emotional well-being.
Ongoing Medical Care
Severe injuries such as spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, or multiple fractures require extensive medical care. Many victims undergo repeated surgeries, physical therapy, and long hospital stays. Medical bills continue to rise as treatment extends for years or even a lifetime.
Lost Wages and Reduced Earning Capacity
Injured victims often cannot return to work for months. Some never regain the ability to perform their previous job duties. Lost wages and reduced earning capacity create financial pressure that adds to the suffering caused by accident injuries.
Emotional Trauma and Mental Health Impact
Truck crashes can leave victims with emotional scars as real as physical wounds. Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression are common after horrific injuries. Counseling and therapy are often needed to address emotional trauma.
Chronic Pain and Complications
Chronic pain is a frequent outcome of back and neck injuries, spinal cord damage, or soft tissue injuries. Life threatening complications such as infections or internal organ failure may also develop over time. Many survivors live with conditions that require ongoing medical treatment.
Impact on Families
The burden of caring for an injured family member is heavy. Loved ones often provide daily assistance, face financial strain, and adjust their lives to support recovery. Families suffer as they manage both property damage and the long-term effects of devastating injuries.
Legal Framework in Georgia for Truck Accident Injuries
Georgia law sets clear rules for how victims of truck accident injuries can pursue compensation and hold the company responsible for damages.
Comparative Negligence in Georgia
Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If an injured person is less than 50 percent at fault for a truck accident, they can still recover compensation. However, the amount is reduced by their percentage of fault. For example, if a victim is 20 percent at fault, any award is reduced by that percentage.
Statute of Limitations for Filing a Claim
O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 sets a two-year time limit to file a personal injury claim after a truck accident. This applies to cases involving spinal injuries, broken bones, or other serious injuries caused by a large truck crash. Failing to file within this period prevents victims from seeking compensation in court.
Trucking Company Liability
A trucking company can be held responsible for injuries caused by its drivers or unsafe practices. This includes cases where driver error, poor vehicle maintenance, or overloaded trailers cause a truck wreck. Holding a commercial truck operator or company accountable often requires detailed evidence such as driver logs, inspection reports, and maintenance records.
Insurance Company Challenges
Insurance companies involved in truck accident cases often try to reduce payouts. They may question medical records, delay payments for medical expenses, or deny responsibility for property damage. Victims need strong documentation of medical bills, lost wages, and accident causes to secure maximum compensation.
Speak With an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer Today!
If you or a loved one has suffered truck accident injuries, do not wait to get the help you need. Our team at 1Georgia Personal Injury Lawyers is ready to stand up to the trucking company and the insurance company to fight for maximum compensation.
Contact us at (800) 800-8000 for a free case consultation today!
