Truck accidents can leave victims with devastating and potentially life-changing injuries. They often need extensive care, rehab, and long-term support to recover.

If you’ve been in a crash that involved a commercial truck, a Miami truck accident lawyer can help you fight for the compensation you need to move forward. The following are some of the injuries for which your attorney can help you pursue compensation.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most severe forms of trauma that can result from a truck accident. They occur when a jolt or sudden blow to the head causes damage to the brain. TBIs can range from mild concussions to lifelong physical and cognitive impairments.

The symptoms of a TBI can include:

  • Memory loss
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Changes in behavior or mood
  • Poor coordination
  • Headaches
  • Seizures
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Unequal pupil size
  • Dilated pupils
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Slurred speech
  • Weakness in limbs or face
  • Poor balance
  • Clear fluid draining from the nose or eyes

Truck accidents tend to involve high speeds and heavy impacts, which are prime conditions for TBIs. Sometimes, the signs appear immediately, but in other cases, it can take days or even weeks for them to manifest.

Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis

Truck accidents can also cause back injuries that can lead to partial or total paralysis. Damage to the spinal cord could affect your mobility, sensation, and control over your bodily functions. These kinds of injuries tend to be permanent and require dedicated medical care and extensive rehab.

A truck accident attorney can help you file a claim to cover the following:

  • Immediate treatment and surgeries
  • Ongoing care (including physical and occupational therapy)
  • Modifications for your home to improve accessibility
  • Lost wages and reduced earning capacity

Spinal cord injuries can greatly alter your quality of life, but when you have strong legal counsel on your side, you won’t be left to bear the financial burden alone.

Severe Burns or Disfigurement

Vehicle fires and exposure to dangerous materials in the aftermath of an accident can leave you with terrible burns or cause disfigurement in other ways. Burns range in severity from first-degree to third-degree, with more severe burns often requiring skin grafts, surgeries, and long-term care.

Burns can cause not only physical pain but also emotional stress and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to permanent scarring and disfigurement. Given these lasting impacts, you need a lawyer who understands the scope and seriousness of these injuries.

Amputations

Since truck accidents can be so severe, it’s unfortunately not uncommon for victims to lose arms, legs, or other appendages. Amputees must make serious adjustments to their daily lives. Prosthetics, rehabilitation, and alterations to their living space and vehicle may be necessary to ensure some level of function.

The emotional toll of an amputation can also be quite heavy. Throw in the stress of figuring out how you’re going to pay for all of your losses, and the situation can become overwhelming in a hurry. A Miami truck accident lawyer will work tirelessly to get you the financial aid you need and lighten your financial burden.

Internal Injuries or Organ Damage

The violent nature of truck accidents often opens the door to internal injuries. Victims can suffer damage to their lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, and other major organs. Such injuries might not be immediately apparent after the accident and can become life-threatening in a hurry.

Internal bleeding, ruptured organs, and collapsed lungs require emergency surgery and expensive ongoing care to treat properly. Your attorney will work with doctors and specialists to obtain the evidence needed to build a strong case for you.

Bone Injuries

Bone fractures and breaks are a common outcome of truck accidents. Shattered bones often require multiple surgeries, the installation of metal plates or rods, and extensive physical therapy in order to mend properly.

In some instances, bone-related injuries can cause permanent disability or chronic pain, which can make it difficult or impossible to return to work or enjoy daily activities.

Chronic Pain and Long-Term Disability

Even after the immediate wounds have healed, many victims are left dealing with chronic pain or long-term disabilities. Nerve damage, musculoskeletal trauma, and PTSD can all rear their ugly heads after a serious accident, potentially affecting your ability to live a normal life.

A Miami truck accident attorney will review the details of your case to account for these effects. They’ll make sure the compensation you seek covers ongoing treatments, therapy, and any adjustments you may need to make to your living space, along with intangible losses like pain and suffering.

FAQ

What Compensation Can I Expect From My Case?

Your exact compensation will depend on the details of your accident. That said, most victims stand to receive payment for hospital bills (both current and future), lost wages, rehab costs, and emotional distress. Some might see damages for home and vehicle modifications if they’ve developed long-term disabilities.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?

In Florida, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is two years from the day that the accident happened. There can be exceptions to this rule, however, so it’s important to consult a lawyer to make sure your case is filed on time.

Will My Case Go to Trial?

Most accident cases settle out of court. If your attorney can’t negotiate a fair settlement, they may recommend filing a lawsuit and taking your case to court.

Get Professional Representation for Your Truck Accident

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a truck accident in Miami, the capable team at Ratzan Weissman & Boldt is ready to stand in your corner. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation and learn more about how we can help.