Large truck accidents resulted in the deaths of 4,951 people in 2018. Additionally, large truck injury accidents were responsible for over 151,000 injuries. The shocking statistics is that 82 percent of the deaths in truck crashes were non-truck occupants. Non-truck occupants sustained seventy-four percent (74%) of the injuries.
We share the roads with commercial trucks every day in Tulsa. These large vehicles are an effective means of transportation, but they can be dangerous for everyone sharing the road. Truck injury accidents often result in deaths and catastrophic injuries.
Three Truck Injury Accident FAQs
If a large truck caused your traffic accident, there are three essential things to know about truck injury accidents.
1. Large truck accidents are more dangerous for the people in the other vehicles
As stated above, over three-fourths of the victims of large truck accidents are people who are in passenger vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. A commercial truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds when carrying a load.
A passenger vehicle is no match for an 18-wheeler. When a large truck hits a car, the impact can crush the car. In some cases, passenger vehicles hit by large trucks are unrecognizable.
Catastrophic injuries are common in truck injury accidents. Common injuries include:
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Paralysis and spinal cord injuries
- Severe burns, scarring, and disfigurement
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Injuries to internal organs
- Skull fractures
- Multiple fractures and broken bones
- Internal bleeding
Many people involved in truck injury accidents sustain permanent impairments and disabilities that change their lives forever.
2. Insurance companies aggressively fight claims for truck injury accidents
The awards in large truck accidents can total millions of dollars. Compensating victims for a lifetime of lost wages, medical bills, personal care costs, and permanent disabilities can cost millions of dollars. For that reason, the trucking company and insurance provider are very motivated to discover any evidence that could prove they are not liable for damages.
The insurance company may have a team of investigators at the truck accident scene within hours of the crash. Most accident victims do not have access to the resources to conduct a comprehensive accident investigation.
Therefore, it is generally best to contact an experienced Tulsa truck accident lawyer. Our legal team has the skills, experience, and resources necessary to investigate truck injury accidents to gather evidence proving how the truck crash occurred.
3. Numerous experts may be involved in the accident case
Commercial trucks are complex vehicles. Experts are often hired to examine the truck and data collected from the trucks’ black box and systems to identify factors that contributed to the cause of the accident. By identifying the factors that led to the accident, experts can help identify who is responsible for damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
Medical experts may also be involved in the case. They document the extent of injuries and damages sustained by the accident victims, which helps estimate the value of future damages.
Contact Our Tulsa Truck Injury Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Schedule your free consultation with a truck accident injury lawyer in Tulsa by calling The Law Office of Michael R. Green, PLLC, at (866) 944-4733.