Common Injuries Following a Myrtle Beach Truck Accident

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 87,000 people were injured in large truck crashes in 2015. In South Carolina, there were 1,246 collisions involving a truck that caused injury or death in 2017. When truck accidents occur, it’s often the driver and passengers in the other vehicles that suffer the physical, emotional, and financial consequences. 

Why Myrtle Beach Truck Accidents Pose Unique and Serious Risks

Any traffic crash can be potentially devastating, but truck accidents pose more serious risks to those who share the road. The South Carolina Department of Public Safety notes that the type of vehicle involved in a crash does affect the outcome. Commercial trucks are longer, taller, and heavier than most other vehicles. A collision between a large truck and any smaller vehicle will “transmit a substantially greater force to the smaller vehicle, and hence to its occupants or riders.” This often means those involved in a truck accident suffer more serious injuries than those involved in other types of crashes.

Common Injuries in Myrtle Beach Truck Accidents

Research has shown that the occupants of smaller vehicles are more likely to suffer injuries or death than those in a large truck. Some of the most common truck accident injuries include:

Broken Bones

While a broken bone can seem like a common injury, more severe breaks can require surgery, causes deformities, and require extensive care and rehabilitation.

Burns 

A crash with a large truck can increase the likelihood of a fire; hot, leaking fluids; and electrical problems. All of these can cause serious burns to the vehicle occupants.

Traumatic Brain Injury 

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a disruption to the normal function of the brain due to a violent jolt, bump, or blow to the head. A penetrating injury can also cause a TBI. This type of injury can result in loss of consciousness, memory loss, muscle weakness or paralysis, and a change in mental status.

Spinal Cord Injury 

A spinal cord injury can damage any portion of the spinal cord, from the neck down to the lower back. External trauma, like that sustained in a truck accident, is the leading cause of spinal cord injuries. Symptoms can include loss of sensory and motor function, paralysis, breathing problems, and bowel dysfunction.

Amputation 

The loss of a limb can be both physically and emotionally traumatic for an accident victim. After the surgery, a victim can experience pain and soreness. Additionally, there are many needed adjustments to daily life, as well as modifications to the home and vehicles.

Lacerations 

Cuts from broken glass or other debris can require stitching and wound changes. Severe lacerations may also leave scars.

An Experienced Myrtle Beach Attorney May Be Able To Help

The injuries often associated with a tractor-trailer or truck accident can be severe and long-lasting. Accident victims and their families need a significant amount of support to address their physical, emotional, and financial challenges. Our law firm has helped many Myrtle Beach truck accident victims, and we may be able to help you, too. 

Have You Been Injured In A South Carolina Area Truck Accident?

If you or a loved one was injured in a commercial truck accident in South Carolina, you should speak with a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Myrtle Beach office directly at 843.488.3165 to schedule your consultation. We are also able to meet clients at our Charleston, Conway, Florence, Murrells Inlet, Mt. Pleasant, North Myrtle Beach or North Charleston office locations.