You were driving on the highway when you passed by a toppled semi-truck on the side of the road, all of its contents splayed out. Following the truck were several crashed cars and police and emergency vehicles. This accident may have just happened and if you were any earlier on the road, you could have been injured as well – someone you know may not be so lucky.
Trucking accidents happen all the time but rarely do any reports talk about just how severe these accidents can be. If you know someone who was in an accident with a semitruck, they may be facing serious and even fatal injuries. Here’s what you should know:
How common are semitruck crashes?
In a 2019 study, there was a reported number of 37.9 million registered trucks with just over 20% of the trucks used for commercial purposes. Of the 20% of commercial trucks, nearly 175.3 billion miles were driven. The risk factor of a truck causing an accident increases as the number of trucks on the road rises and the number of miles driven.
From this 2019 study, trucking accidents caused injuries to around 130,000 individuals and fatal injuries to nearly 4,000 people. Nearly 25% of all fatal accidents from semitrucks occur on highways. Because of the dangers trucks pose, this line of work is considered one of the most dangerous lines of work in the United States.
How dangerous are big rig collisions?
Trucks deliver extremely heavy and often hazardous goods. Because of this, the injuries from one accident to the next may vary.
A truck that is only delivering large shipments may pack a punch to other vehicles in an accident. While, a truck delivering flammable, toxic or explosive goods can impact immediate victims and anyone around the accident. Injuries from a big rig may include:
- Severe burns
- Concussion and whiplash
- Head and spine injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
Even if someone was only hit by a semitruck in a minor way, they shouldn’t dismiss their injuries. Bruises and stiffness may be early signs of severe medical problems.
If you know someone who was injured in a trucking accident, then you may need to reach out for legal help who can provide more options.
