Getting into an accident with a semi-truck can be terrifying and even fatal. The sheer size of these trucks makes the impact stronger and can lead to serious injuries, especially to the brain. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can range from minor concussions to severe brain bleeds that leave victims in a comatose or vegetative state. Brain injuries from a truck accident need to be taken seriously and treated as soon as possible to keep victims safe and help prevent complications.
Accidents Involving Tractor-Trailers Can Result In Severe Brain Injuries
Due to the size and weight of tractor-trailers and semi-trucks, accidents involving these vehicles can lead to serious brain injuries with long-term repercussions. The force of the impact leads to a significant brain jostle and even permanent brain damage.
Brain Injury Statistics in Los Angeles, CA
- In 2019, 27,399 people were hospitalized, 109,813 people visited the emergency department, and 4,215 deaths were recorded due to TBIs in California.
- From 2005 to 2011, there were nearly 10,000 hospitalizations per year due to concussions in Los Angeles. The #1 most common cause of concussions was falls, quickly followed by motor vehicle crashes.
How Common Are Brain Injuries In Truck Accidents?
According to a recent study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 14% of reported brain injuries in the United States each year are caused by motor vehicle accidents, including accidents involving trucks. By doing the math, this equates to around 200,000 traumatic brain injuries each year from a collision with a semi-truck or tractor-trailer.
How Truck Accidents Cause Brain Injuries
Commercial trucks and 18-wheelers are much bigger than your everyday compact car. The size, weight, speed, and impact of collisions involving large commercial vehicles—such as semis, tractor-trailers, tankers, and delivery trucks—pose serious risks to those involved. Dangerous scenarios like jackknifing, rollovers, and multi-vehicle collisions increase the likelihood of sudden impacts or ejections that cause traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
Here are some ways truck accidents lead to brain injuries:
- Cargo Hazards
- Size Disparity
- Complex Dynamics
- Distracted Driving
- Driver Fatigue
- Driving Under the
- Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
No matter how you end up in a truck accident, Compass Law Group is here to help. We will guide you through the legal process and ensure maximum compensation for your injuries.
What Types Of Brain Injuries Do Truck Accidents Cause?
When talking about traumatic brain injuries, they are typically broken down into three categories of severity: mild, moderate, and severe. While mild TBIs have great recovery rates and promising odds, moderate and severe ones can lead to permanent brain damage that will significantly impact the victim’s life going forward. A TBI by a commercial truck accident can include the following:
- Concussion: Concussions are one of the most common types of brain injuries, and they are also referred to as mild traumatic brain injuries. These injuries usually do not have any long-term side effects, and people quickly recover within a couple of weeks. The symptoms of concussion include cognitive impairment, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue.
- Brain Hematoma: Hematoma is the medical term for when blood pools in an area of the body it should not be. Therefore, a brain hematoma is when blood pools on or around the brain. This can happen from a blood clot or a ruptured blood vessel on or around the brain. It can put pressure on the brain and lead to neurological symptoms, depending on the severity of the pooling.
- Brain Hemorrhage: While a hematoma is a pooling of blood in an area, a brain hemorrhage is when the brain is actively bleeding inside the skull. A brain hemorrhage is typically caused by blunt force trauma to the head, and it can quickly become dangerous.
- Contusion: A contusion is a bruise on the brain due to a forceful impact. In a truck accident, your brain can bounce around in your skull with enough force to leave a bruise. Contusions can range in severity, and common symptoms include localized swelling and neurological problems.
- Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI): Your brain and brain stem are made up of a ton of nerve fibers that transfer information. A DAI occurs when these fibers stretch, sheared, or torn due to rapid head movements from a truck accident. This type of injury can have long-lasting neurological repercussions.
- Skull Fracture: As the name suggests, a skull fracture occurs when enough force is applied to the head to crack or break the skull. This can lead to bone fragments entering the brain or significant bleeding in the brain.
- Penetrating Head Injury: Penetrating head injuries are not as common as other brain injuries. These TBIs are the most severe and can have long-term repercussions such as paralysis and even death.
Closed-Head Injuries vs. Open-Head Injuries
As we go over all of these types of traumatic brain injuries, there is another factor to keep in mind when determining the severity of them. Each of these TBIs can also be labeled as a closed-head injury or an open-head injury, and this impacts how medical professionals will treat the injury.
For starters, closed-head injuries refer to brain injuries that do not have an open wound. The injury is contained within the skull or tissue around the head. There are no cuts, gashes, or punctures associated with the injury.
In comparison, open-head injuries are TBIs that also have an open wound. There is active external bleeding from a gash or puncture on the head. These can be trickier to treat as physicians have to account for the internal and external damage to the head and brain.
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries
Symptoms of Brain Injuries
No matter how minor a truck accident may feel, you need to get medically checked as soon as possible. Head injuries may not seem like a big deal at first, but if left untreated, they can rapidly become fatal. If you have any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
- Mild TBIs: Nausea, vomiting, headaches, trouble balancing, swelling, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, and brain fog.
- Moderate TBIs: Headaches, abnormal behavior, and loss of consciousness.
- Severe TBIs: Loss of consciousness, unresponsiveness, coma, loss of cognitive functions, and falling into a vegetative state.
- Other Symptoms: Slurred speech, dizziness, irritability, dilated pupils, lack of coordination, weakness, seizures, and difficulty forming sentences.
Injured in a Truck Accident? Get Help Now
Compass Law Group, LLP will handle your insurance claim, and ensure you get back on your feet and back on the road in no time.
- Our firm never charges any upfront fees.
- We have a proven track record of recovering maximum compensation for our clients.
- We are available 24/7 and will provide you with a free evaluation of your case at any time.
What to Do After a Truck Crash Brain Injury
If you ever find yourself in a truck crash and you believe you may have a traumatic brain injury, it’s important to remain calm. Truck accidents are terrifying experiences no one should have to go through, but keeping a level head at the moment will help you safely walk away from it. Seek medical treatment as soon as possible, especially if you hit your head. The basic steps you should follow in the event of a truck accident include the following:
- Call 911 to report the accident and have them send emergency medical services your way.
- If you can, safely take pictures of all vehicles involved in the accident.
- Exchange insurance information with all parties involved.
- Get the contact info of any eyewitnesses.
- File a claim with your insurance.
- Contact an experienced truck accident attorney.
What Legal Options Are Available To TBI Victims?
Victims of TBIs caused by a truck accident have a few legal routes they can take. Which option you choose depends on personal circumstances and what settlement option all parties are willing to negotiate.
- The first option is a one-time settlement that covers all of your expenses related to the accident. These can include medical bills from hospital stays, rehabilitation and long-term care, loss of income, and medical procedures.
- The second option is to negotiate a higher settlement amount. If you don’t like the initial settlement offer or believe you deserve more, you can negotiate with all parties involved and try to raise the amount. This can be a long and drawn-out process, so be prepared for some pushback.
- The third option is to file a legal traumatic brain injury lawsuit. If all involved parties cannot agree on a settlement on their own, the final option is to take the issue in front of a judge and file a lawsuit. This will be a financially and emotionally draining process, but it could be worth it in the end when you receive the compensation you deserve.
Brain Injury Settlements in Los Angeles, California
Navigating the legal system can feel overwhelming on top of dealing with the repercussions of a traumatic brain injury. Los Angeles commercial truck accident lawyers will fight to help you earn the compensation you deserve. They help you recover both economic and non-economic damages related to your accident, including:
- Economic Damages: Loss of income, medical bills, rehabilitation, long-term nursing care, property damage, and replacement services.
- Non-Economic Damages: Pain and suffering, physical and emotional distress, permanent disability and scarring, loss of quality of life, and psychological ailments such as PTSD.
How a Brain Injury Can Affect Your Life
A traumatic brain injury not only causes short-term side effects such as headaches and dizziness, but they can also affect your life long-term. Repeated concussions can lead to permanent damage to your brain. Moderate to severe TBIs can have permanent neurological side effects such as paralysis and loss of cognitive function. These injuries need to be taken seriously, as they are more than just a whack on the head.
Why You Need an Attorney After a Truck Collision in Los Angeles, CA
The legal system can be a tricky series of twists and turns you can quickly get lost in on your own. A personal injury lawyer such as Compass Law Group, LLP will help guide you in the right direction. They know the legal system like the back of their hands, and they will fight to help you get the maximum compensation you deserve.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer
Looking for a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles, California? Compass Law Group, LLP is here to point you in the right direction. Our team of legal experts is ready to fight by your side to get you the settlement amount you rightfully deserve. We are proud to serve our local community in the Los Angeles area, and we have the skills and expertise to win your case. Compass Law works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay us a penny unless we win your case.
Contact Compass Law, LLP today to schedule a free consultation or to speak with one of our truck accident attorneys.
