When a fully loaded semi-truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the results are often catastrophic. Occupants of smaller vehicles frequently suffer life-altering injuries that require extensive medical treatment, long-term rehabilitation, and ongoing care. If you or a loved one has been seriously hurt in a crash with a commercial truck, a St. Louis truck accident lawyer can help you pursue the full and fair compensation you need to rebuild your life.
At Finney Injury Law, we've seen firsthand how devastating truck accident injuries can be for victims and their families. Our experienced attorneys are committed to holding negligent truck drivers and trucking companies accountable when their actions cause harm. We'll thoroughly investigate your case, gather evidence, and fight for the maximum recovery you deserve.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Traumatic brain injuries are among the most common and devastating consequences of serious truck accidents. The extreme force of the collision can cause the brain to slam against the inside of the skull, resulting in bruising, bleeding, or tearing of delicate brain tissue. Victims may experience physical, mental, and emotional disabilities that affect every aspect of their lives, including:
- Persistent headaches that make it hard to concentrate
- Cognitive impairments and memory loss that affect your work performance
- Mood swings and personality changes that strain relationships
- Dizziness and balance issues that limit mobility
- Other physical disabilities that affect motor control or mobility
Severe TBIs can leave victims in a coma, cause permanent cognitive impairments, or result in lifelong physical disabilities. Victims may require round-the-clock care and be unable to live independently or return to work. The lifetime costs of treating a severe TBI can easily reach millions of dollars.
Treatment for severe brain injuries may involve emergency surgery, lengthy hospitalization, and extensive rehabilitation. Victims may require ongoing care from neurologists, neuropsychologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. The lifetime costs of treating a severe TBI can easily reach millions of dollars.
Concussions
Even a "mild" TBI, like a concussion, can cause lingering symptoms that disrupt your daily life. While some concussion symptoms resolve within a few weeks, others can persist for months or even years, affecting your ability to work and enjoy life.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The extreme forces in a truck accident can cause the spinal cord to become bruised, partially torn, or completely severed. Depending on the location and severity of the spinal damage, victims may experience:
- Chronic pain that limits the ability to perform daily tasks
- Partial or complete paralysis of the legs (paraplegia)
- Paralysis affecting all four limbs (quadriplegia)
- Loss of bladder and bowel control
- Respiratory problems that require a ventilator
Spinal cord injury victims often require emergency surgery, lengthy hospitalization, and months of intensive rehabilitation. They may need extensive home and vehicle modifications to accommodate their disabilities. Many cannot return to their previous jobs and require vocational rehabilitation to find new employment. The emotional impact of such a profound life change can be just as significant as the physical challenges.
Other Catastrophic Injuries
Truck accidents can cause a wide range of catastrophic injuries that have a profound and lasting impact on every aspect of a victim's life. These may include:
- Traumatic amputations that require prosthetic limbs and extensive rehabilitation
- Crush injuries that cause permanent nerve damage or organ failure
- Severe burns that lead to disfigurement, chronic pain, and ongoing medical needs
- Complex fractures that require multiple surgeries and lengthy recovery periods
- Victims of catastrophic injuries often face a lifetime of physical, emotional, and financial challenges. They may be unable to work, require ongoing medical care, and need assistance with daily tasks. The costs of treating and living with a catastrophic injury can be overwhelming.
Whiplash
While whiplash is often dismissed as a "minor" injury, it can cause chronic pain and disability that lasts for months or even years. Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when the force of a collision causes the head and neck to snap forward and backward rapidly, straining or tearing the soft tissues.
Symptoms of whiplash may include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and numbness or tingling in the arms. Some victims also experience cognitive symptoms like memory problems and difficulty concentrating. Treatment may involve pain medication, physical therapy, and chiropractic care.
How a St. Louis Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
When you work with an experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyer, they will thoroughly investigate your case to gather evidence of the truck driver or trucking company's negligence. This may include obtaining the truck's black box data, driver logs, maintenance records, and other documentation.
Your attorney will also work closely with your doctors and other medical experts to fully understand the extent of your injuries and the care you will need now and in the future. They will use this information to build a strong case for maximum compensation, including damages for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury in a Missouri truck accident, you need a skilled attorney to fight for the compensation you deserve. The St. Louis truck accident lawyers at Finney Injury Law have the knowledge, resources, and determination to take on trucking companies and their insurers.