A semi-truck or 18-wheeler accident can be caused by several different factors. Despite what caused the accident, individuals involved in a semi-truck accident typically suffer severe injuries. These injuries may be long-term or permanent and may affect your career and personal life greatly. Therefore, it is important to hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions if you wish to recover compensation for your injuries. If you or a family member was injured in a semi-truck accident in Maryland, you should consult with an experienced Baltimore semi-truck accident attorney.
At Bennett & Heyman, P.A., our lawyers have extensive experience dealing with complex accident cases involving semi-trucks and passenger vehicles. Our firm has served clients in Baltimore and across Maryland and is prepared to represent you with professionalism and care. To schedule a free consultation for your semi-truck accident case, call us 410-429-7856 or reach us online.
Semi-Truck Injury Statistics
Semi-truck accident injury statistics paint a picture of just how frequently semi-truck crashes occur. In 2016, the most recently available year for statistics for truck and bus crashes in the United States, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recorded 119,000 crashes involving a semi-truck or bus that caused an injury.
In the same year, there were approximately 4,440 semi-truck and bus crashes that resulted in fatal injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), when a passenger vehicle collides with a truck, there is a high chance that the occupant of the passenger vehicle will suffer a fatal injury.
These statistics show that semi-truck accidents are responsible for a large number of injuries and fatalities. Until a more efficient manner of shipping goods becomes common, motorists should always exercise caution when driving near a semi-truck. Semi-trucks are extremely large and difficult to handle, and there are some truck drivers on the roads that are too fatigued, too inexperienced, or even too intoxicated to operate the vehicle properly.
Common 18-Wheeler Accident Injuries
Due to the size and weight of 18-wheelers, individuals in a passenger vehicle who are struck by an 18-wheeler typically suffer serious injuries. The type of injury a person may sustain will typically depend on the severity of the crash. Additionally, a collision with a semi-truck may cause certain passenger vehicles to become completely destroyed, which will certainly impact the severity of a person’s injuries.
Semi-trailer trucks can cause severe trauma once they collide with a passenger vehicle, which is why broken bones are common in semi-truck accident claims. Other types of common injuries associated with semi-truck accidents are head injuries. A driver or passenger can suffer a brain injury if their skull makes contact with a hard surface in the vehicle, like a steering wheel or windshield. A forceful impact such as this could cause a person to suffer a concussion, or an even more dangerous type of traumatic brain injury (TBI). A victim of a traumatic brain injury may experience one or more of the following signs and symptoms:
- Issues with balance
- Problems concentrating
- Amnesia and other memory issues
- Slurred speech
- Severe headaches
- Sudden mood swings
A head injury should never be taken lightly. If left untreated, a victim of a TBI could be left with long-term or permanent damage. If you were in an accident with a semi-truck and you suffered a blow to the head, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Back and spinal cord injuries are also common injuries sustained in semi-truck accidents. Spinal cord injuries are dangerous because an injury to certain parts of the spinal cord can cause partial or full paralysis. A severe spinal cord injury (SCI) can completely change the way you live your life. You may need a wheelchair to get around and possibly need to remodel your home to accommodate your needs. You may even need extensive home-care and have to deal with the costs of high medical bills. Therefore, it is important to seek medical attention so that you understand the full extent of your injuries and to help build your injury case.
Other injuries that may be sustained from a semi-truck accident include:
- Internal injuries caused by blunt trauma
- Cuts and lacerations
- Neck injuries like whiplash
If you have suffered any of the above injuries in a Maryland semi-truck accident, or an injury that is not listed here, you should waste no time consulting with an 18-wheeler accident lawyer in Baltimore. The sooner you see an experienced attorney about your case, the easier it will be to gather evidence for your claim.
Baltimore Tractor Trailer Injury Attorneys Are Here for You
If you or a family member was the victim of a semi-truck crash, you should speak with an experienced Baltimore personal injury attorney about filing an accident claim. The injury lawyers at Bennett & Heyman, P.A. are prepared to help you fight your semi-truck accident case. To schedule a free consultation for your case, call us at 410-429-7856, or contact us online today.
