Semi truck accidents frequently result in serious injuries. According to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the vast majority of injury victims in semi truck accidents – 83 percent – are either occupants of passenger vehicles or motorcyclists, bicyclists, or pedestrians.
Regardless of the mode of transportation, victims of semi truck accidents can suffer all types of serious injuries. These injuries can lead to substantial out-of-pocket costs, loss of income, and non-financial losses.
In order to recover to the fullest extent possible, you need to work with a truck accident attorney who can pursue the full compensation you deserve. For assistance in Kingston, Newburgh, or Poughkeepsie, please call O’Connor & Partners, PLLC at (845) 303-8777 today for a free consultation.
Are You Entitled to Financial Compensation for Your Semi Truck Accident Injuries?
In New York, victims of collisions involving semi trucks may be entitled to compensation for the serious injuries they sustain in the accident. Accident victims who experience psychological effects in the aftermath of a collision can recover damages for their psychological or psychiatric care (and related economic and non-economic costs) as well.
Some examples of the most serious types of injuries for which financial compensation may be available include:
1. Bone Fractures
Broken bones are among the most common serious injuries sustained in semi truck accidents. These injuries can result from hyperextension, crushing, or direct impact, and they can range in severity from partial fractures that can heal over a period of weeks or months to exposed compound fractures that require emergency surgery.
2. Burns
Burns are also common in truck accidents, and these too can range widely in terms of their severity. First-degree burns that only damage the outer layer of the skin will usually heal with time, while second-degree and third-degree burns can require intensive medical treatment and potentially cause permanent disfigurement and chronic pain.
3. Concussions
Any time you are involved in a serious collision, it is important to monitor yourself for the symptoms of a concussion. Concussions (and other brain injuries) can potentially have long-term effects, and rest and recovery are critical to allowing your brain to heal. If you are experiencing headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or other symptoms of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) following a semi truck accident, you should see a doctor promptly.
4. Facial Injuries
Head and facial injuries frequently result from traumatic vehicle collisions, including those involving semi trucks and other large commercial vehicles. While airbags can (and often do) save lives, they can also cause a number of serious injuries, including injuries to the eyes, ears, nose, and jaw.
5. Internal Bleeding and Organ Damage
The risk of internal bleeding and organ damage is one of the most important reasons why all semi truck accident victims should see a doctor as soon as possible. If not treated promptly, these injuries can potentially become life-threatening. Emergency surgery may be necessary to repair the injury and prevent long-term complications.
6. Loss of Digits and Limbs
Losing a digit or limb in a semi truck accident can be extraordinarily traumatic. Whether you lost a digit or limb in the accident or your doctor was forced to amputate in order to prevent potentially fatal complications, this is a type of injury for which accident victims can often recover significant financial compensation.
7. Severe Lacerations and Scarring
Severe lacerations from glass, metal, and debris can lead to expensive medical bills, scarring, and long-term (or permanent) pain and physical limitations. While the costs of medical treatment can be substantial, these costs generally pale in comparison to the non-financial losses that come with adjusting to life with a disfiguring or disabling injury.
8. Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries are also common in semi truck accidents. They are often (though not always) associated with broken bones. Sprains and strains will typically heal on their own with appropriate care, while tears may require surgery and extensive rehabilitation over the course of a long-term recovery.
9. Spinal Cord Injuries
Semi truck accidents can cause spinal cord injuries such as herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, and partial or full paralysis. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury in a semi truck accident in Kingston, Newburgh, or Poughkeepsie, it will be important for you to work with an experienced attorney to maximize your financial recovery.
10. Psychological Trauma
Regardless of the nature and extent of your physical injuries, being involved in a semi truck accident can also cause you to suffer from psychological trauma. Anxiety and post-traumatic stress are both common, and it is not unusual for accident victims to experience symptoms of depression and other conditions as they struggle to cope with the effects of their injuries.
Contact Our Semi Truck Accident Injury Lawyers Today
Given the seriousness of the injuries most victims face after a semi truck accident, it is important to contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible after the crash. You may be entitled to significant financial compensation, but you will need the assistance of an attorney with experience handling these claims.
The attorneys at O’Connor & Partners, PLLC have more than 150 years of combined experience handling truck accidents and other vehicle injury claims. Please call (845) 303-8777 today for a free consultation. Our semi truck accident lawyers serve clients in Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, and throughout the Hudson Valley.