The Impacts of Trucking Accident Injuries

Jackknifed rig on its side on a highway

Considering the large size and weight of semis, it should come as no surprise that truck accidents inherently carry a higher potential for serious injuries and death than crashes involving smaller vehicles. The injuries caused by commercial trucking accidents can be life-changing or even fatal; Bell Legal Group can assist with lawsuits seeking loss recovery. Successful lawsuits demonstrate the existence, cause, and toll of trucking accident injuries, which include physical and emotional impacts, through medical evidence and expert testimony.

By enlisting the help of a truck accident lawyer in cases involving fatalities or serious injuries, claimants can build strong cases seeking to hold liable parties accountable. These cases can also help claimants recover damages, or reimbursement/retribution for the financial and emotional impacts of a crash.

Trucking Accident Injuries by the Numbers

National Safety Council data reported in 2025 show that:

  • 5,375 large trucks were involved in fatal traffic accidents in the United States 2023.
  • Large trucks represented 9% of all vehicles involved in fatality-producing accidents.
  • During the same year, 114,552 large trucks were involved in crashes that resulted in injuries.

Common Trucking Accident Injuries and Their Consequences

The types of injuries that qualify for a truck accident lawsuit tend to be serious ones that result in a need for medical treatment and lead to long-term damages. A claimant’s damages may include medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering. The following are common examples of serious trucking accident injuries:

Whiplash

Whiplash is a neck injury sustained during a crash’s impact. It is caused by an abrupt and forceful back-and-forth movement of the head and neck. The injury can harm soft tissues in the neck, including the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and spinal discs. Significant pain and physical limitations may result, sometimes requiring ongoing treatment and/or therapy.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are caused by forceful impacts to the head and can vary in severity from low-grade concussions to extensive brain damage. These injuries caused by truck accidents may lead to long-term cognitive, physical, and emotional impairments that make outsized impacts on an individual’s well-being and quality of life.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Damage to the spinal cord and/or vertebrae caused by truck accidents may lead to partial or full paralysis. These injuries may severely impact the injured person’s livelihood and ability to perform daily living activities, and require extensive and even lifelong medical treatment and caregiving.

Burns

Some trucking accidents result in the leaking of fuel or hazardous materials, subsequently causing fires and/or explosions that induce severe burns, scarring, disfigurement, or other injuries. Medical treatments required by the injured commonly include skin grafts and reconstructive surgery.

Broken Bones

The forceful impact resulting from truck crashes frequently causes broken bones throughout the body. Fractures of the arms, legs, ribs, pelvis, and skull are common. Complex fractures can lead to a need for surgical treatment, as well as rehabilitative services and prolonged medical care.

Internal Injuries

Individuals injured in trucking accidents may experience blunt force trauma that causes internal bleeding and extensive damage to vital organs. In many cases, these injuries are life-threatening and require urgent medical treatment. Resulting complications can last a lifetime.

Cuts and Contusions

The blunt force experienced during truck accidents can also cause serious bruising in injured individuals. The sharp objects and debris commonly encountered in truck crashes can lead to lacerations that produce substantial blood loss and scarring, along with the potential for infections.

Emotional and Psychological Injuries

In addition to physical injuries, those involved in trucking accidents may also deal with lasting mental repercussions. Anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia, and panic attacks are among the psychological and emotional injuries the traumatic experience may cause.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Truck Crash?

Any person or entity whose negligence leads to a claimant’s injuries may be held responsible for some or all of the damages caused by a trucking accident. Liable parties may include:

  • The commercial vehicle driver
  • The transportation company
  • Vehicle maintenance personnel
  • Vehicle and parts manufacturers

How a Commercial Truck Accident Lawsuit Can Help

Beyond the significant impacts trucking accidents can make on the physical well-being of those involved, these accidents often carry a substantial financial toll, too. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation. It is tasked with enforcing safety regulations geared toward commercial motor vehicles and carriers. According to a 2024 FMCSA report, the average cost of a commercial truck accident is:

  • $46,612 for non-injury crashes
  • $385,306 for crashes involving injuries
  • $14,535,460 for fatal crashes

A successful commercial truck accident lawsuit holds at-fault parties accountable for causing a crash. It also provides those who have experienced damages in an accident the resources they need for physical, mental, and financial recovery. A claimant’s pain and suffering may also be considered in a trucking accident lawsuit, with lawyers relying on established mathematical methods to determine the damages. These methods place a dollar amount on damages based on the severity of a claimant’s injuries, their impacts on quality of life, and the duration of the recovery period.

For fatal truck accidents, a lawyer can help survivors see the loss of their loved one(s) recognized and provide a measure of accountability for those responsible. With a deep knowledge of truck accident laws, legal processes, and evidence collection, a truck accident attorney can be invaluable in helping a claimant build and present a compelling case.

Evidence That Proves Truck Accident Injury Claims

Lawyers investigate trucking accidents by collecting crash-related evidence, determining the incident’s causes, and identifying those liable for damages. To prove trucking accident injuries, claimants and their attorneys must present a combination of strong evidence that typically includes:

  • Medical documentation such as records of emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgical procedures, treatment plans, physical therapy and other rehabilitation, and medications provided
  • Photos of the physical injuries sustained, along with impact statements and journal entries documenting the injuries’ effects on the claimant
  • Accident-related evidence such as the police report, photos and videos of the crash scene and the vehicles involved, witness statements, and dashcam footage—all of which can help demonstrate the cause of a claimant’s injuries
  • Expert testimony linking the injuries to the accident and helping substantiate the extent and impact of the injuries, as well as any need for ongoing care and treatment

Next Steps When Involved in a Trucking Accident

Taking key steps after a trucking accident can help you protect yourself and your best interests. Follow these steps to the best of your ability:

  1. Assess the situation and any need for medical attention.
  2. Report the accident to the police for documentation.
  3. Collect evidence including witness statements and photos of the accident scene.
  4. Exchange information with the truck driver. Be sure to get the truck’s license plate number and the name of the trucking company.
  5. Seek medical attention and keep records of any care received.
  6. Get legal help from an experienced truck accident attorney.

A Team of Attorneys

At Bell Legal Group, our team of trial lawyers take a science-rooted approach to investigating the causes of truck crashes and identifying all liable parties. We focus on gathering all the evidence essential to identify contributing factors and support a strong legal case. This may include photos, witness statements, logbooks, and other crash-scene evidence, as well as the medical records and caregiver testimony crucial to proving damages and their direct causes. If you’ve been injured in a trucking accident, contact us today—we want to hear your story.