The Prevalence of Brain Injuries due to Truck Accidents
It’s no secret that the end results of a truck accident tend be very catastrophic. The sheer size of an eighteen-wheeler is bound to cause major damage in the event of an accident. When it comes to injuries, we have seen them range from broken bones to lacerations to concussions and more. However, one of the worst injuries that a person can sustain in a truck accident is a brain injury. In this article, we will take a closer look at the long-term effects of this type of traumatic injury. We will also emphasize the importance of hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer to help your family come away with the proper compensation that will support the ongoing financial burdens that are often in play after this type of accident.
An increase of trucks on Oregon roads
Let’s start off by talking about the landscape of the trucking industry as it pertains to Oregon. According to a report by KATU2, 2018 was a big year for the trucking industry. Jana Jarvis, CEO of the Oregon Trucking Associations, said, “2018 was a record year for the trucking industry. There’s probably more volume and trucking than we have seen in recorded history.” Unfortunately, that means there has been an increase in the number of crashes. For this reason, it is imperative to be aware of these large trucks on the road. Be sure to give them plenty of space. Remember this: if you can’t see a truck driver’s mirrors, they can’t see you.
The many different types of traumatic brain injuries
Every brain injury is unique in its own way. The brain is the most complex organ in the body. Therefore, damage to the brain can cause many different problems. The extent of the injury depends on the placement of the injury, the amount of blunt force that was applied and many other variables.
Let’s talk about some of the most common brain injuries. Closed head injuries occur when the brain is impacted on the inside of the skull (this is most common in car and truck accidents). Penetrating injuries happen when an object enters into the skull. Anoxic injuries occur when there is a lack of oxygen to the brain. And finally, toxic injuries occur when a toxic chemical is exposed to the brain.
Proving the extent of the brain injury is key to proper compensation
In order to receive the proper compensation for a brain injury, the extent of the injury needs to be proven. For this reason, you need a personal injury lawyer who knows how to properly prove the extent of the injury. A medical professional will be brought in to validate the details of the brain injury. Most notably, the medical professional will analyze what the future will look like in terms of treatment, therapy and other aspects related to the injury. This is presented in a life care plan (more on that in a second.)
In order to calculate a fair and accurate compensation figure, several components will be considered by this medical professional. This includes all of the associated medical bills from the injury, other indirect costs (such as loss of productivity, the inability to work, etc.) and the anticipated future expenses that we mentioned earlier, which are related to ongoing treatment.
Long-term issues associated with brain injuries
As we mentioned already, brain injuries are amongst the most serious types of injuries that a person can sustain. We also mentioned that ongoing treatment is almost always the case when a traumatic brain injury takes place. For this reason, a life care plan usually comes into play. This document will display all of the anticipated medical needs and costs for the future. The life care plan will detail the exact costs of these anticipated needs to help figure into the compensation.
The importance of utilizing a personal injury attorney
Truck accident cases are much different than your average car accident case. This is because most of these large trucking companies have some of the best lawyers to represent them. On top of that, they have very aggressive trucking insurance companies that will do whatever it takes to avoid paying out a settlement. It takes an experienced lawyer to handle these companies in a way that will keep this entire legal process fair from beginning to end.
If you or anyone you know suffered a traumatic brain injury in a truck accident here in the state of Oregon, contact us today at Dwyer Williams Cherkoss Accident Injury Attorneys for a free case evaluation. You can also reach us directly at: 1-800-285-8678. Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys will work hard to get the compensation that you deserve!