Truck accidents can cause serious injuries that often require extensive medical care, expensive bills, missed time at work and an inability to enjoy the things you once did.

Because of this, it may be possible to file a personal injury lawsuit for the injuries and damages you have experienced as a result of a collision. Our experienced Silver Spring truck accident attorneys can review the details of your accident and injuries and help you determine if you are entitled to compensation that can help cover some of the costs associated with your injuries.

Some of the most common injuries from truck accidents we have seen include:

Whiplash

Whiplash is a common injury from a variety of auto accidents, including truck accidents.

This type of soft tissue injury occurs when the head is moved in a whip-like motion. Often during an accident, especially a rear-end collision, the head may be accelerated in one direction and then whipped into another direction before coming to a complete stop very quickly. This motion can strain the muscles and tendons in the neck, causing a painful injury.

Although not externally visible, whiplash injuries can be painful and may take time to heal. Some common symptoms of whiplash include:

  • Pain and stiffness in the neck
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Pain in the arms, shoulders or back
  • Difficulty concentrating

Herniated Disc

The spine is made of 33 individual bones, or vertebrae, stacked on top of each other. The spinal column provides the main support for the body, allowing it to stand up straight, bend and move.

Between each vertebra is a spinal disc that acts like a cushion or pad, absorbing shock from the bones of the spine and preventing them from grinding against one another.

If the hard outer layer of the disc tears and the gel-like center leaks through, it is considered a herniated disc. This can cause compression of the nerves or spinal cord and can be very painful.

While some people may experience no symptoms from a herniated disc, those that are caused by truck accidents often cause pain, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg.

Spinal Cord Injury

The bones and discs that make up the spine serve as an important protection for the spinal cord, which transmits messages between the brain and other parts of the body.

Any damage to the spinal cord can have severe consequences, such as permanent loss of sensation, strength or function below the site of the injury.

Spinal cord injuries are classified based on level of completeness and include:

  • Complete spinal cord injuries: complete loss of all feeling and ability to control movement below the location of the injury on the spinal cord
  • Incomplete spinal cord injuries: loss of some sensory function and ability to move below the location of the injury

Both types depend on the severity of the injury, which can be caused by a traumatic blow to the spine or a complete severing of the spinal cord.

Because these types of injuries can severely impact an individual’s functional abilities, treatment and care for a spinal cord injury can be expensive.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

A TBI is a disruption in the normal functions of the brain that is caused by sudden trauma to the brain, such as a jolt, blow, bump or penetration of the head.

There are a variety of different types of TBIs that can range from mild to severe. The symptoms can include:

  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Sleep disruption
  • Sensitivity to noise and light
  • Memory problems
  • Nausea
  • Changes in mood
  • Difficulty balancing

More severe TBIs can be life-changing and lead to coma or a vegetative state for the victim.

Concussion

A concussion is a common type of brain injury that occurs when the brain is jolted or moved rapidly within the skull, which can damage the brain cells.

This type of injury may cause the individual to lose consciousness for a period of time.

Although these types of head injuries are not typically life-threatening, they can have serious consequences.

Internal Bleeding

The impact from a truck accident can lead to serious internal injuries, including bleeding, which occurs when blood vessels and internal organs are damaged.

This can include blunt trauma, which occurs when the body collides with something else, or penetrating trauma, which occurs when something penetrates the body, tearing blood vessels.

The most serious sources of internal bleeding caused by trauma include:

  • Head
  • Lungs
  • Heart
  • Liver
  • Spleen

Fractures and Broken Bones

Fractures and broken bones are common injuries in truck accidents as they can happen to any bone in the body.

Both terms involve a breaking of the bone that makes it so that it is no longer intact. Some of the most common broken bones include those in the:

  • Arms, hands and wrists
  • Legs
  • Ribs
  • Pelvis
  • Face and skull

Crush Injury

A crush injury occurs when a body part is squeezed between two heavy objects, which can often occur in a truck accident.

The damage from crush injuries can be serious as it can lead to:

  • Internal bleeding
  • Bruising
  • Fractures and broken bones
  • Nerve damage

Injured in a Truck Accident? Contact Goldberg Finnegan

If you have suffered any of these injuries, or others not listed here, it is likely that you have expensive medical bills and other injury costs that you have to pay. Filing a personal injury lawsuit can help you obtain compensation for these costs.

However, to have a successful claim, you will need an experienced personal injury attorney in Silver Spring to handle your case. The attorneys at Goldberg Finnegan have decades of experience handling a variety of injury cases and can help you determine if you have a case.

Contact us today for a free consultation with our team. We do not charge any fees unless we recover compensation for you.