Getting into any kind of automobile collision is bad, but the injuries caused by truck accidents can be horrendous. Trucks tend to be larger than cars and range in size from pickups to “big rig” eighteen-wheelers. Below is a list of common damages that are sustained in trucking collisions.

Common Injuries Caused By Truck Accidents

The neck and back are comprised of bones that are fragile and small. During an automobile impact, whiplash will often occur where the neck and head will suddenly lunge forward despite your torso remaining in place. While the damage might not manifest itself immediately, you will begin to experience discomfort and pain hours after the incident.

Burns and Explosions

Because trucks tend to be bigger, the damage they cause is more severe, which means the chance of a fuel tank rupturing is much higher. This can lead to a fire that spreads rapidly and then engulfs either the truck or any vehicles that surround it. This is extremely dangerous because not only can it lead to serious burns and disfigurement, but an explosion could also occur. Trucks often haul materials that are both volatile and flammable.

Head Injury

While the skull is designed to protect the brain from damage, it may be put to the test during a motor accident, and if the collision involves a truck, it might not pass. Even if a motorist doesn’t suffer a skull fracture, the sudden forward movement of the head may rattle the brain and stem, causing long-term damage. If the collision is minor the passenger may only suffer bruising with a moderate concussion.

Internal Injuries

These are perhaps the most dangerous injuries that one can sustain in a truck accident because the damage is hidden within the body. Although airbags do a great job of protecting passengers, sometimes their impact force is so high that it might cause blunt trauma to the abdomen, as well as the kidneys, pancreas, bladder, liver, or spleen. A rib that fractures can puncture your lung, leading to further damage, so even if you have no external signs of injury after getting into a truck accident, you should still visit a doctor to test for internal damage anyway.

Lacerations, Cuts, and Bruises

While lacerations, cuts, and bruises might not seem as severe as the other injuries discussed above, they certainly can be. During a vehicular collision, sharp metal, glass, and other objects will fly all over the place. Some passengers will be hit in the face, sustaining cuts while others may be hit in the eye, which can threaten their vision. There have also been cases where cuts led to an infection that became life-threatening.

As you can see, automobile collisions involving trucks are extremely dangerous. While the typical semi-truck can weigh over 30,000 pounds, the average passenger vehicle is around 4,000 pounds, and given the fact that truck drivers tend to sit high up within their cab, no car, SUV or even van is a match for them. This is why it is important to drive safely and pay attention to what is happening around you.