Internal Injuries in Truck Accidents

Internal injuries in truck accidents are some of the most devastating to their victims. Not only are they difficult to diagnose right away, but they are also the leading cause of fatalities in truck collisions. Injuries affecting a victim’s abdomen tend to be the most dangerous. Treatment for internal injuries such as bleeding or organ damage also often requires complicated surgeries and other procedures. All these factors mean that victims often face high medical bills and other expenses. Because many, if not most, truck accidents are due to another person’s negligence, victims may be able to pursue a personal injury claim to receive compensation for their losses. If you’ve been injured as a result of a crash involving a truck, our Miami truck accident attorneys can help you explore your legal options. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, every client receives one-on-one, top-quality legal representation at all stages of their claim. We are dedicated to making sure those responsible for your harm give you the financial support you need and are entitled to. Our firm assists clients all across South Florida, including the cities of Miami, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. If you, or a loved one, suffered an internal injury in a truck accident, please contact our office today to learn more about how we can help.

Many internal injuries do not show symptoms immediately after a truck crash. Some of these symptoms also may not present as what a victim might imagine. For instance, confusion, fatigue, thirst, and trouble breathing may all indicate internal bleeding. Because of this potential lack of traditional pain as a symptom, it is as always extremely important to seek immediate medical attention following a truck accident, even if you do not have symptoms right away.

Some of the most common internal injuries that a victim of a truck collision might suffer include:

• Broken or fractured ribs
• Internal bleeding
• Brain bleeds
• Abdominal aorta aneurysm
• Punctured or collapsed lung
• Other injuries to organs, such as splenetic rupture, as well as liver or kidney damage

Many of these injuries can lead to death if undiagnosed or treated improperly. Abdominal aorta aneurysms, which occur when a victim’s stomach is crushed causing the artery to rupture, are almost always fatal. Internal injuries that arise out of a truck accident require long-term medical treatment as well as rehabilitation, costs of which can exceed insurance benefits. It is important to make sure you know your legal options so you can hold the appropriate parties liable.

Truck accidents can be due to one or more party’s negligent actions. Sometimes truck drivers get behind the wheel while intoxicated or overly fatigued. Other times, routine truck maintenance is neglected, or a driver is not adequately trained, creating dangerous conditions for others on the road. To hold a driver, or trucking company, liable for negligence in a personal injury or wrongful death suit, it must be shown that the defendant breached an owed duty of reasonable care to a plaintiff. For example, truck drivers owe all other drivers the duty to act as a reasonable and prudent person would given the circumstances. When he or she drives under the influence or without taking government-mandated rest breaks, that would be seen as an unreasonable breach. A plaintiff must also show that the breach was the cause of their internal injury, and that they suffered damages.

A trucking company that employs a truck driver can also be held vicariously liable for that driver’s negligence. For vicarious liability to be present, the negligent act must be done in the course and scope of employment. This means, the driver has to be working at behest of the employer when the accident occurs, such as speeding to make a delivery on time. Once the liable parties are established, a plaintiff can receive damages for any medical bills, past and future, as well as loss of wages or diminished earning capacity.

Internal injuries in truck accidents are not only difficult to diagnose and treat, but can often lead to additional complication, or even death. These injuries have a physical, emotional, and financial impact on a victim’s life. The parties responsible for causing such harm should bear the monetary burden. Attorney Robert Dixon helps truck accident victims and families pursue the proper legal actions so that they can focus on their recovery. If you have questions about your legal rights and options, or have lost loved ones, please call (877) 499-4878 or contact the Law Offices of Robert Dixon online and schedule a free, no obligation consultation to speak with a lawyer today.