Due to their substantial weight and size, accidents involving large commercial trucks can result in injuries that are often more severe than those in other types of collisions. Some symptoms appear right away, while others may develop slowly over weeks or even months, making it hard to know the full extent of your injuries right away.
If you were hurt in a truck accident in Alberta, it’s important to carefully monitor your health and seek medical attention for your injuries—even if they appear to be minor at first. Prioritizing your health can help you get the care you need while protecting your legal right to compensation. Your medical records can be used as evidence to show the extent of your injuries and how your life and future may be affected.
Litco Law is here to answer your questions and help you understand your options. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Get answers to the following topics and questions:
- Most Common Types of Truck Accident Injuries
- Signs You May Need Medical Attention Right Away After a Truck Accident
- Long-Term Impacts of Truck Accident Injuries
- How a Litco Law Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help After a Truck Accident in Alberta
- Why Albertans Choose Litco Law for Truck Accident Claims
- Our Legal Team Can Help You Today
- Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accident Injuries
Most Common Types of Truck Accident Injuries
People involved in a truck accident can sustain a range of injuries that completely change their lives. Our team has seen the devastation that can follow these types of collisions and are available to help those affected by a truck accident by seeking compensation for their medical bills, suffering, and other losses.
Semi-trucks can jackknife from unbalanced cargo, sway in poor weather conditions, or cause accidents resulting from driver error. When this happens, traffic collisions can lead to these types of Alberta truck accident injuries:
Whiplash and Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries, which are damage to the muscles, ligaments, or tendons, are often caused by a sudden trauma. For example, whiplash can happen when there is a forceful back-and-forth motion of the neck. It is one of the most common truck accident injuries.
Although some people may think they feel fine after an accident, whiplash symptoms are often delayed. It’s important to have a medical evaluation to assess and document your injury and its severity.
You may have heard there’s a “cap” or limit to how much compensation you can recover for soft tissue injuries like whiplash. If you think that Alberta’s claims cap might apply to your injury, you can still consult a legal professional who will help you understand how the cap may affect your claim.
Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries
Motor vehicle collisions, including truck accidents, often cause traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which can cause significant difficulties in a person’s life. These injuries to the brain often result from a sudden jolt or blow to the head, affecting how the brain works. Someone who suffers a TBI may experience changes in their ability to focus and function—sometimes in the long term.
While TBIs can range from minor to severe, mild and moderate concussions account for 80% to 95% of TBIs in Canada. According to canada.ca, common warning signs of concussions include:
- Headache or painful pressure
- Dizziness and balance issues
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty concentrating
- Slurred speech
If you were hurt in a truck collision, seek medical assistance right away. A medical professional will know how to monitor for concussion symptoms and provide the care you need. Without proper treatment, a concussion can have lingering symptoms that could affect daily life.
Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
Back and spinal cord injuries are often some of the most serious semi-truck accident injuries because they cause significant pain and can affect a person’s mobility and functionality. Examples include herniated disks, pinched nerves, spinal cord compression, and vertebral fractures.
Depending on the severity of the injury to the spinal cord, a person may experience nerve damage, weakness, loss of motor and bodily functions, and partial or full paralysis.
Broken Bones and Fractures
A sudden impact from a large truck can lead to bone fractures, especially broken ribs, wrists, arms, collarbone, and facial bones. More serious accidents may also result in a broken leg or pelvis from the seatbelt or dashboard.
Some broken bones take longer to heal than others and require substantial rehabilitation. If you decide to take legal action, your lawyer will consider these long-term effects and include them in your claim.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries involve damage to organs, blood vessels, and tissue. Because internal bleeding and other internal injuries are not visible from the outside or symptoms may not be immediately obvious, you might not notice them right away.
It’s important to get assessed by a doctor even if your injuries don’t seem too bad. Catching internal injuries early can help you avoid more serious consequences that require extensive treatment and give you clarity about what your body needs to heal.
Psychological Trauma
A truck accident can cause emotional and psychological trauma, such as anxiety, panic attacks, fear of driving or getting in a vehicle, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that requires treatment.
It’s important to note that mental health struggles after an accident are quite common. About one in six people who were in a traffic accident develop mental health symptoms. Many find support helpful in the days and weeks that follow.
An experienced injury lawyer will look at all the ways you’ve been affected by the truck accident, including emotional and mental distress, and include these losses in your claim for compensation.
Signs You May Need Medical Attention Right Away After a Truck Accident
After a truck accident, it can be hard to know which symptoms require urgent medical attention. If you’re unsure if you need to see a doctor, it may be a good idea to err on the side of caution and seek immediate care, especially if you notice any of the following red flags:
- Confusion or dizziness
- Blurred vision or sensitivity to light and sound
- Chest pressure or difficulty breathing
- Numbness or tingling in the limbs
- Deep bruising or swelling
- Open wounds that are bleeding
- Severe or worsening pain
Seeking care not only protects your health—it also creates a clear record of what you’re experiencing, which can be helpful later on if you decide to pursue a claim.
Long-Term Impacts of Truck Accident Injuries
Serious injuries can have lasting consequences, affecting your ability to work, spend time with loved ones, or do the activities you used to enjoy before the accident. Some people experience chronic pain, mobility challenges, or cognitive changes that require ongoing care.
Documenting these effects and how they impact your daily life can change the amount of compensation you’re entitled to. You may need support for long-term treatments, missed work, or how the injury affected your relationships. Consider working with a truck accident lawyer to help you calculate the value of your long-term losses.
How a Litco Law Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help After a Truck Accident in Alberta
When you’re dealing with painful injuries, financial strain, and emotional trauma, filing a truck accident claim on your own can feel overwhelming. Litco Law can guide you through every step of the legal process, including:
- Managing documentation and paperwork
- Conducting an investigation and gathering evidence
- Communicating with insurance representatives
- Identifying the extent of your losses
- Negotiating a fair settlement that accurately reflects what you’ve been through
Our goal is to reduce your stress and protect your rights, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
Why Albertans Choose Litco Law for Truck Accident Claims
As Alberta’s trusted, family-owned law firm, our team has proudly served Albertans since 1976. Our purpose is to balance the power between our clients and the insurance companies that seemingly have unlimited resources. We know the tactics some insurers may use that may result in you accepting less than you deserve, and we’ll fight against this unfair treatment.
Our client testimonials and award-winning legal service reflect our dedication to the Albertans we serve. We build trust with clear communication, personalized support, and transparent pricing.
We work on a contingency fee basis, and you won’t pay us anything while your claim progresses. Our fee is a percentage of the settlement we recover for you, and you’ll know that percentage before you ever hire us.
Your Own Personal Legal Team
At Litco Law, we do things differently. Rather than assigning just one lawyer to your claim, you get your own personal team of legal professionals who are by your side every step of the way. We work together to provide an exceptional client experience, which includes regular communication, clear answers to your questions, and an approach tailored to your specific needs.
Our Legal Team Can Help You Today
A truck accident injury can turn your life upside down in an instant, leaving you with expensive medical bills and significant suffering. We’re Lawyers You’ll Love because we will go the extra mile to ensure you feel supported and cared for every step of the way.
Call (403) 273-8580 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation. We’ll walk you through your rights, legal options, and how we might be able to help with your claim. Our promise is to help you find a solution, even if we’re not it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accident Injuries
Below are answers to some of the questions we often hear about truck accident injuries. To get answers specific to your situation, connect with our team today.
What Should I Do if My Symptoms Get Worse Days After the Truck Accident?
If your injury symptoms worsen, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Waiting too long could affect your health and possibly have an impact on your claim if you choose to take legal action.
How Long Do Truck Accident Injuries Usually Take To Heal?
How long it takes to recover will depend on the severity of the injury and what your doctor says about your expected recovery. While minor injuries could take weeks or months to heal, more serious injuries may last longer.
Can I Claim Compensation if I Wasn’t Wearing a Seatbelt During the Collision?
Yes, you may still be able to claim compensation if you were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. However, the amount you recover could be reduced by the percentage of responsibility you share for your injury.
For example, if by not wearing a seatbelt you were considered 20% responsible for your injuries. In this situation, your settlement amount could be reduced by 20% to account for the percentage of fault you share.
What Happens if I Share Fault for the Accident?
If you’re partially at fault for an accident, you may still be able to recover compensation. Alberta’s Contributory Negligence Act allows you to recover compensation that is proportionately reduced by your percentage of fault. It’s important to speak with a lawyer to discuss your specific situation. An example of this may be a driver texting when the truck accident occurred. Because the driver was texting, he may be found to be 30% at fault for what happened. While the injured driver is offered a settlement of $100,000 for his losses and suffering, the amount is reduced by 30% to $70,000.
What if the Trucking Company’s Insurer Contacts Me?
Be cautious when speaking with the trucker’s insurer. They may ask complicated questions which could impact the outcome of your claim, or push for a quick settlement, which could be less than you’re entitled to. We recommend working with a lawyer who can speak to the insurance company on your behalf.
