How Las Vegas Truck Accidents Can Cause Organ Damage

Truck accidents arenot only frightening but many times result in severe injuries. Even if your injuries don’t seem too serious at the scene, it is extremely important that you seek medical attention following a truck accident as quickly as possible. A physician should do a full medical examination to ensure that there are no signs of internal organ damage, as it is possible for the emergency medical technicians to have missed the signs at the scene of your accident.

Claggett & Sykes is a team of professional Las Vegas truck accident attorneys who have knowledge and experience when it comes to the organ damage that individuals involved in truck accidents can experience. If you sustained any injuries in a truck accident, call us today.

Why collisions with large trucks cause catastrophic injury

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety notes, “A total of 4,014 people died in large truck crashes in 2020.  15 percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 68 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 16 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.”

Tractor trailers and 18-wheelers are large, heavy, and have a lot of force compared to other vehicles. Even when a large truck is moving at slow speeds, they exert a lot of force during a collision with a smaller vehicle. Because of the size difference, most of the force is transferred to the smaller vehicle’s driver or occupants. The human body (and the average vehicle) is incapable of handling the impact caused by these types of crashes.

If individuals survive a truck accident, the force of the truck can cause serious injuries like compound, complex fractures or crushing injuries. This could lead to internal bleeding, organ damage, or other serious health issues. In addition, if a person is ejected from their vehicle, they may also experience organ damage when their body lands on the pavement or strikes other objects.

The types of internal injuries and organ damage caused by truck accidents

There are different types of organ damage and internal injuries that can result from truck accidents. Here are the most common types seen in these accidents:

• Damage to the liver: When truck accidents occur, an individual’s liver may be torn, opened, cut, or damaged due to the impact of the crash. Most of the time, when the liver has been significantly injured, there is internal bleeding involved. This must be repaired as soon as possible, or the individual may not survive.
• Bleeding to the brain: Brain bleeding and hemorrhages are very dangerous and often occur when an individual hits their head on the pavement, part of the automobile, or any other object.
• Pneumothorax or lung damage: When an individual’s lung is injured or punctured, there is a high chance that it may collapse. If it does collapse, the individual’s chest will flood with air. To avoid fatal consequences from this dangerous condition, pneumothorax or lung damage must be treated immediately.
• Damage to the heart. Rib fractures create a real risk of heart damage, though blood clots are more common. This can trigger a heart attack, which in turn can cause permanent damage to the heart. Issues with blood flow can also trigger a stroke.
• Stomach injuries or rupture of the abdominal aorta: When an individual experiences a truck accident, stomach injuries can happen. The most common injuries involving the stomach are stomach crushes and ruptures to the abdominal aorta. Both of these are very dangerous and most likely will lead to death.

One of the most serious risks of organ damage is internal bleeding. Internal bleeding can be deadly and  doctors often have a hard time determining where exactly the blood is coming from. Emergency service workers, like ambulance drivers, may not have the tools to determine a bleed, either. If you notice soreness, bruises that are getting worse, dizziness, nausea, or pain, or feel faint, tell your doctor immediately. Failure to pinpoint and fix an internal bleed quickly can be fatal.

What to do if you have been involved in a Las Vegas truck accident

If you have been in a truck accident, our first recommendation is that you get medical treatment right away. Even if you do not think you have severe injuries, it may take some time for organ damage and injuries to begin showing symptoms. Often, these symptoms are not apparent until it is almost too late.

We also know that your medical bills and daily bills will start accumulating, and developing a strategy to pay them may seem impossible if you are out of work. Therefore, the next step would be to hire a truck accident attorney. By choosing to do this, you may not only increase your chances of a successful resolution of your case, but you will also have someone professional by your side explaining every step of the case as it proceeds.

Who is liable for a Las Vegas truck accident?

Each truck accident is unique and different. Determining who is liable can be difficult and tricky, but a truck accident attorney in Las Vegas, NV will look at the facts and collect the evidence needed to find out who is responsible. The parties who will be investigated include the truck driver, the company that employs the truck driver, the other automobile driver(s), and the vehicle or parts manufacturers.

At Claggett & Sykes Law Firm, we believe in holding the individuals who caused these accidents accountable and ensuring those injured receive the compensation they deserve.

If you have been seriously injured in a truck accident, our Las Vegas injury lawyers at Claggett & Sykes will be glad to help you. We are skilled, educated, and experienced when it comes to fighting for our clients’ rights, and we will make sure you secure the appropriate compensation to cover your injuries, medical expenses, lost income, emotional and physical pain, and more. Call our Las Vegas office or submit our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation today. We maintain an additional office in Reno for your convenience.