Severe truck accident injuries that cause fatality include brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and more. Unfortunately, these accidents are often devastating for the victim and remaining family members. If an impaired truck driver, a negligent trucking company, or some other party caused an accident that robbed you of your loved one, you might be able to pursue compensation through a truck accident lawsuit.
Please get in touch with a Penn Kestner & McEwen attorney as soon as possible. We’ll thoroughly investigate the accident and determine who was to blame. Once we identify the liable parties, we’ll work to help you obtain every penny you deserve.
Contact us online or call (800) 732-3070 for a free consultation.
Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be fatal if the injury causes severe damage to the brain and results in a loss of brain function. Death from a TBI can occur if the brain is deprived of oxygen, bleeding, or significant swelling or pressure on the brain. In these cases, the brain may not be able to sustain life, and the individual may die due to the TBI. Of the truck accident injuries that cause fatality, traumatic brain injuries are often the most expensive.
Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury can lead to death if the injury causes severe damage to the spinal cord and results in a loss of function. A severed spinal cord, bleeding in the spinal cord, or significant swelling or pressure on the spinal cord can all be fatal. In these cases, the spinal cord may not be able to transmit signals between the brain and the rest of the body, which can result in the loss of vital functions such as breathing and heart rate.
If the injury is high enough on the spinal cord, it can also cause paralysis of the diaphragm muscle, which makes breathing impossible without a ventilator. In this situation, the injury can be fatal if the person can’t breathe and doesn’t receive immediate medical help.
Crushing Injuries
Crushing injuries are one of the more common truck accident injuries that cause fatality. Crush injuries can be fatal if they cause severe damage to the body’s organs and tissues. This type of injury occurs when a person’s body becomes caught between two heavy objects or when a heavy object falls on top of them. The pressure from the objects can cause damage to the bones, muscles, blood vessels, and internal organs.
For example, it can be deadly if the crush injury causes significant damage to the heart, lungs, or other vital organs. For example, if the injury crushes the chest and causes damage to the lungs or heart, it can lead to difficulty breathing or cardiac arrest. If the injury crushes the abdominal organs, it can cause internal bleeding and damage to the liver, kidneys, and other organs, which can also be fatal.
Crush injuries can also cause damage to the blood vessels and nerves, leading to blood loss, shock, and lack of oxygen to the organs, leading to death. In these cases, prompt medical attention is essential to prevent death.
Internal Injuries
Some examples of potentially fatal internal injuries include the following:
- Trauma to the brain or spinal cord – As mentioned earlier, any severe injury to these vital areas can result in loss of brain function and can lead to death.
- Internal bleeding – If an injury causes bleeding inside the body, it can be challenging to detect and lead to blood loss, shock, and death if not treated promptly.
- Organ damage – Injuries that cause damage to the heart, lungs, liver, or other vital organs can be fatal. For example, if the injury causes a punctured lung, it can lead to difficulty breathing and death.
- Blood clot – A blood clot that forms inside a blood vessel can block blood flow to an organ and cause it to fail, leading to death.
- Infection – If an internal injury becomes infected, it can lead to sepsis, a severe and potentially fatal complication.
Multiple Injuries
If a person suffers multiple injuries in a car accident, such as a traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury, and internal bleeding, the combination of these injuries can lead to a much higher risk of death than if only one had occurred.
Multiple injuries can also lead to complications such as shock, which occurs when the body’s blood pressure drops to a dangerously low level due to blood loss or fluid loss. This can lead to a lack of oxygen reaching the vital organs, which can cause organ failure and death.
Who Can File a Lawsuit if a Loved One Passes Away After a Severe Truck Accident Injury?
If a loved one passes away due to severe injuries sustained in a truck accident, their immediate family members, such as a spouse, children, or parents, may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. The “priority list,” so to speak, of family members who can seek compensation, varies among states. A Penn Kestner & McEwen truck accident attorney can provide information specific to your state.
What Types of Damages Can You Recover on Their Behalf?
The purpose of a wrongful death lawsuit is to seek compensation for the losses incurred as a result of the death, such as medical expenses, funeral expenses, and loss of income and support.
Family members taking this type of legal action can also seek compensation for the non-economic damages, such as loss of companionship, emotional distress, and pain and suffering the deceased may have experienced before passing away.
But you’ll need the help of an experienced attorney to have the best chance of obtaining that compensation. One big reason is that the attorney needs to investigate the accident to get the evidence to prove the deceased wasn’t at fault. You’ll also need a lawyer to prove all the damages resulting from the wreck.
Contact Penn, Kestner & McEwen to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation
The attorneys with Penn Kestner & McEwen have a deal of experience in these kinds of cases and a long track record of delivering positive results on behalf of our clients. We’re ready to do the same for you.
If you would like to schedule a free evaluation of your case, please use our online contact form or give us a call at (800) 732-3070.