What Are Common Truck Accident Injuries?

Trucking accidents are a serious issue that can result in severe injury or death. With more large truck congestion filling the roads all the time, it’s important to understand what some of the common types of injuries might be in such an accident and what the statistics tell us.

Let’s take a closer look at how trucking accidents can result in injury and what we know about the frequency of these events.

Common Types of Injuries in Trucking Accidents

There are a variety of common truck accident injuries that can result from large truck collisions. Some of the more common injuries include:

• Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when the head is suddenly and forcefully jerked forward or backward. This can damage the neck muscles, ligaments, and vertebrae, and cause life-long pain and suffering.
• Fractures are one of the most common injuries in truck accidents. They can occur when the force of the collision is too much for the bones to withstand, causing painful and traumatic breaks.
• Head injuries. Head injuries, including concussions, are also common in truck accidents. These can occur when the head hits something hard, such as the steering wheel or dashboard.
• Soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue injuries, such as bruises, cuts, and scrapes, are also common in truck accidents. These can occur when the body is thrown around during the collision.

If you have been involved in an accident with a heavy truck, it’s important you contact an experienced truck accident injury lawyer to assess your injuries and advise on a personal injury case.

Truck Accident Injury Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 4,014 people killed in large truck accidents in 2020.

Of those killed, 68 percent were occupants of other vehicles, while 16 percent were occupants of large trucks. The remaining 16 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists.

According to the National Safety Council, 4,842 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes in 2020. That is a 4% decrease over 2019 but still a 33% increase since 2011. A large truck is considered any medium or heavy truck with a gross vehicle weight greater than 10,000 pounds. This includes both commercial and non-commercial vehicles.

Although it was a 10% decrease over the previous year, there were 107,000 large trucks involved in crashes resulting in injury in 2020. The number of deaths resulting from large truck crashes has increased by 31% since 2011. The occupants of other vehicles make up 71% of those deaths, followed by 17% being the drivers of the truck and 12% pedestrians and cyclists.

Causes of Trucking Accidents

Large truck accidents are unfortunately a common occurrence on Arizona roads. Common causes of these accidents include driver fatigue, inadequate vehicle maintenance, distracted driving, speeding, and improper loading of cargo.

• Driver fatigue is especially common due to long hours of driving and the lack of mandated rest breaks.
• Poor vehicle maintenance can lead to serious mechanical problems that can cause a truck to lose control.
• Distracted driving, such as texting or talking on the phone, can cause a driver to lose focus and drift into another lane.
• Speeding is a common factor in truck accidents, as truckers often need to meet tight delivery deadlines.
• Improper loading of cargo can lead to a truck becoming off-balance and difficult to maneuver.

All of these factors can contribute to large truck accidents and can lead to serious injury or death.

Why Call Torgenson Law?

At Torgenson Law, you are more than just another insurance case, you’re a victim that deserves the best legal representation. Our experienced attorneys are expert trial lawyers who will stand up and defend your rights in court, if necessary.

Our entire staff will work diligently to uncover every single detail of your accident that we need to know to build a persuasive case, and we are dedicated to helping you recover the maximum compensation for your pain and suffering.