Catastrophic Injuries Resulting From Truck Accidents
With 745 driver deaths in 2015, Trucks.com called truck driving “one of the deadliest occupations” in America. This accounted for more than a quarter of all work-related fatalities, surpassing all other U.S. jobs.
But those aren’t the only staggering numbers.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2015 saw 3,852 total people die in large-truck crashes. Of that total:
- 16% were truck occupants
- 69% were car/vehicle occupants
- 15% were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists
These statistics show that most deaths in large-truck crashes involve car occupants.
Catastrophic Injuries: Surviving a Truck Accident
Of those who survive large-truck crashes, many still suffer life-changing catastrophic injuries. A catastrophic injury is a very serious and often permanent injury, one that greatly impacts the life of the injured person.
Catastrophic injuries often affect the brain or spinal cord, resulting in:
- Paraplegia
- Quadriplegia
- Brain impairment
- Traumatic brain injury
Amputation, blindness, severe burns and multiple fractures are other types of catastrophic injuries. And secondary to the physical impact is the psychological impact suffered by the victim of a catastrophic injury.
Catastrophic Injury Rehabilitation
Recovering from a catastrophic injury can be difficult, time-consuming and expensive. Truck-accident survivors who suffer a catastrophic injury may need one or more rehabilitative therapies, including:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Cognitive therapy
- Speech therapy
- Behavioral management
- Neuropsychology
Annual medical payments, including rehabilitative services, can easily exceed $100,000. These expenses are made worse by the fact that many catastrophic injury victims are unable to continue working.
A truck accident can be both devastating and life-altering. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, call Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC at 412-471-4300 or email us. Our car and truck accident lawyers work on cases in Pittsburgh, Beaver, Greensburg, Uniontown, Erie, Washington, and all courts in Western Pennsylvania. We’re here to help you.