Large trucks are an integral part of the supply chain in the United States, getting the things people need from one area to another. However, when a passenger car is involved in an accident with a semi-truck in Ohio, the aftermath can be devastating.
Common causes of truck accidents
There are any number of reasons why a car and truck would end up in an accident, but a few are very common. These include:
- Distracted driving
- Driver fatigue
- Driving under the influence
- Improper loading of cargo
- Lack of maintenance
- Lack of training
- Speeding
Any of these issues could lead to an accident that may result in severe personal injury and even death. It’s important for both passenger car drivers and truck operators to be cautious.
Injuries common in truck accidents
Truck accidents lead to several common injuries such as back and neck damage, especially whiplash. This is caused by your head snapping back and forth violently, damaging muscles and ligaments in your neck. It is not unusual for back and neck injuries not to appear for several days, weeks or even months after an accident.
Spinal cord injuries could result in paralysis, and this type of injury is usually permanent. Traumatic brain injuries are also common after a truck accident, and it is not unusual for someone to suffer burns in a crash with a large truck. Other injuries include amputations, severe scarring, internal injuries, broken bones, bruises and lacerations.
Regulations to make trucking safer
Truck drivers are required to follow strict regulations in order to keep highways safe from truck accidents. Drivers are limited in the number of hours they can be on the road before they must take a required break. They also have limits on how many hours or days in a row they may drive before taking a break.
Drivers are subjected to annual physicals because many medical conditions could eliminate their ability to drive in order to avoid personal injury to others. These include some heart conditions and seizures, even if those conditions are controlled by medication.
Getting help in the aftermath of an accident
If you have been injured in an accident involving a large truck, or a loved one has died of injuries they sustained in such an accident, you need to speak to an attorney. A legal professional may explain what rights you have under the law to seek compensation.