Dealing with Catastrophic Injuries after a Truck Accident

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Dealing with Catastrophic Injuries after a Truck Accident

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

About 475,000 commercial trucks are involved in crashes each year, and about 104,000 of those accidents result in injuries to one or more people. Semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles are significantly larger than passenger cars, and a collision with a massive truck can often result in catastrophic injuries. These are injuries that affect your brain or spinal cord, or that permanently impair normal abilities. Some catastrophic injuries from truck accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord injury (SCI) and paralysis
• Amputations
• Crush injuries
• Burns

Life after a Catastrophic Injury

A catastrophic injury can completely change your life. These injuries have severe and lasting effects that can affect both your professional and personal prospects for the future. The following are only some ways that dealing with this type of devastating injury can be challenging.

Medical treatment – From the moment of your injury, medical treatment will be a major part of your life. Catastrophic injuries require emergency trauma care, and patients may need hospitalization, intensive care, surgeries, time in a rehabilitation center, home health assistance, medical equipment, accommodations, and much more. Treatment and the use of assistive devices may be ongoing for the rest of your life. 

Lost earnings – After a catastrophic injury, you will certainly have to miss work for a period of time while you are in the hospital or recovering at home. This lost income can cause serious financial problems for your household. Some catastrophic injuries result in permanent disabilities and impairments that might prevent you from returning to your job. You might have to find a lower-paying job or may need to rely on disability benefits if you cannot work at all. These injuries can often cost you significant future earnings. 

Pain and suffering – Severe injuries often come with severe pain. Pain management can be difficult, especially with the opioid crisis and hesitation by medical professionals to prescribe certain painkillers. Sometimes, the pain you experience will persist (or come and go) for years. It can be a good idea to keep detailed notes in a pain journal so you can better demonstrate the pain levels you are experiencing on a day-to-day basis.

Mental trauma – A truck accident can be traumatic in itself, and many motor vehicle accident victims suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that requires psychological or psychiatric treatment. In addition, experiencing constant pain and/or adjusting to life with a disability can be difficult, and can result in depression, anxiety, and other mental and emotional issues. 

Needless to say, dealing with a catastrophic injury from a truck crash is a challenge – one that might persist for the rest of your life. It is important to identify which parties can be held liable for your devastating injuries and losses.

Contact a Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer You Can Trust

Malman Law handles claims stemming from severe injuries. Our Chicago personal injury attorneys work closely with injured clients to protect their rights. If you suffered injuries in an accident, call (312) 629-0099 or contact us online for a free consultation today.