It is the stuff of nightmares, but for too many people, a truck accident is a reality and not a bad dream. Texas leads the nation in the number of truck accident fatalities, a statistic that brings no pride to the Lone Star State. The state with the next highest number of commercial truck accident fatalities is California, with only half as many.
The Latest Statistics
In 2016, seven people were killed in accidents involving commercial trucks in Bell County, while another 13 individuals suffered incapacitating injuries. There was a total of 42 non-incapacitating crashes involving commercial trucks and another vehicle, resulting in 62 non-incapacitating injuries. Don’t be fooled by the term “non-incapacitating” – some of these injuries are quite serious, even though the victim can still perform most of the activities they did prior to the crash.
Truck Accident Injuries
It’s no surprise that more people are killed or severely injured after a collision with an 80,000-pound rig than with a smaller vehicle. It’s more surprising that some people survive these horrific crashes, even though they have a long road back to recovery. Many victims never fully recover from such accidents, requiring lifetime care and special accommodations. Truck accident victims often suffer from one or more of the following catastrophic injuries:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Paraplegia
- Quadriplegia
- Multiple broken bones
- Severe burns
- Amputated limbs
- Internal injuries
- Loss of eyesight or hearing
The lives of these truck accident victims and their families are forever changed. Some succumb to their injuries, which may pave the path for a wrongful death claim by immediate family members. Others require months or years of rehabilitation, or may never live independently again. The victim may never work again, or cannot work in the field in which they were employed prior to the accident.
After a truck accident, it is likely you will hear from the trucking company’s insurance company. Don’t agree to any settlement before contacting a Texas truck accident lawyer. Insurance companies want to settle for as little as possible. While such settlements may appear generous at first, they are often not sufficient to care for the long-term needs of a truck accident victim and his or her family.