Sharing the road with commercial trucks is a part of daily life in Nashville, especially with the city’s constant growth and booming infrastructure. While most truck drivers follow the rules and do their jobs carefully, accidents can and do happen, often with devastating results. Because of the size and weight of trucks, the injuries sustained in these collisions tend to be far more severe than those in regular car crashes.
At Ponce Law, we know how life-changing a truck accident can be. Whether you were rear-ended by an 18-wheeler on I-40 or sideswiped on a local street, we are here to help. Our truck accident attorneys have decades of experience helping injured people get the support they need to move forward. Here is what you should know about the most common truck accident injuries in Nashville and what your next steps should be if you were hurt in a crash.
A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Compare that to the average passenger car, which weighs about 3,000 to 4,000 pounds. That kind of force makes even low-speed collisions dangerous, and high-speed crashes are often catastrophic.
When a truck hits a smaller vehicle, the damage is rarely minor. In many cases, the people in the car suffer long-term or permanent injuries that require ongoing medical care and time away from work. Understanding the types of injuries that commonly happen in these Nashville truck accidents can help you make sense of your recovery process and legal options.
Head trauma is one of the most serious and lasting consequences of a truck crash. Even with a seatbelt, the force of impact can cause your head to strike a window, steering wheel, or dashboard. Traumatic brain injuries range from concussions to severe brain damage, and symptoms may not appear right away. Long-term effects can include memory loss, difficulty speaking, and changes in behavior.
Spinal cord damage can lead to back pain or even partial or total paralysis. These injuries often result from the violent motion of a crash or crushed metal pinning a person in place. Victims may face a lifetime of mobility challenges, require assistive devices, and need specialized care.
Truck accidents frequently lead to broken arms, legs, ribs, and hips. These fractures can be complicated and may require surgery, physical therapy, and long recovery times. Some breaks may heal improperly, leading to chronic pain or limited function.
The blunt force of a truck collision can cause internal bleeding or damage to organs such as the lungs, liver, spleen, or kidneys. These injuries are not always visible right away, but they are life-threatening if not treated quickly.
Whiplash and herniated discs are standard in any vehicle collision, but they tend to be more severe in truck crashes. Even injuries that seem minor at first can worsen over time and lead to long-term pain and reduced mobility.
Truck crashes often cause broken glass, metal, and spilled fuel. Victims may suffer deep cuts, severe bruising, or burns from fires or explosions. These injuries can lead to permanent scarring and may require multiple surgeries to repair.
Of course, the trauma of a truck accident is not just physical. Many people develop post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, or sleep problems after a serious crash. Emotional injuries are just as real as physical ones and deserve attention and care. A Nashville semi-truck accident lawyer can help you include these damages in your claim so you get proper compensation for your injuries.
If you suffered injuries in a truck crash, you deserve answers, support, and justice. The attorneys at Ponce Law are a part of your community. We have served our neighbors across Middle Tennessee for decades and were honored with the Torch Award for ethics from the Better Business Bureau and repeatedly voted Nashville’s Best Law Firm by the Tennessean’s Best of Music City Awards.
You can count on us to treat you with care, explain your options clearly, and go after the full compensation you deserve. Call now to learn more about common truck accident injuries in Nashville and how we can help with your case.
