Amputations Caused by a Kearny Truck Crash
Truck crashes can be devastating due to the sheer size and weight of commercial vehicles, often causing catastrophic injuries like amputations that permanently alter a victim’s life. Seeking experienced Kearny truck accident legal representation after this type of injury is crucial to ensure that victims receive fair compensation for damages associated with the life-changing repercussions of an amputation.
How Truck Accidents Cause Collisions
Among the most devastating injuries that can occur in truck accidents are amputations, which occur when a person’s limb is partially or fully severed during or after a collision. Below is an overview of how these incidents lead to amputations.
- High-Impact Collisions: When a truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the difference in mass can be extreme – trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds fully loaded. The crushing force applied to a smaller vehicle can collapse the car’s frame, trapping occupants and causing severe trauma that necessitates surgical amputation.
- Contact with Debris: Truck crashes often produce large, sharp debris, such as torn metal pieces and shattered glass. These sharp objects can cause severe lacerations or amputations if the vehicle occupant’s extremities come into contact with them.
- Secondary Collisions: In truck accidents involving multiple vehicles, each additional impact can compound injuries. Repeated collisions can worsen initial injuries, increasing the likelihood of needing an amputation.
- Rollovers: During high-speed crashes or rollovers, occupants may be ejected from their vehicle. Hitting the ground at speed or colliding with objects outside the vehicle can cause severe limb trauma that cannot be repaired.
- Post-Accident Complications: Even if limbs remain intact immediately after an accident, infections or poor circulation caused by the trauma may lead to amputation.
Amputations are a severe and traumatic outcome in truck accidents. If you’re in this situation, make sure you speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to determine your possible recourse.
Liability in Truck Accidents Causing Limb Loss
Determining liability in truck accidents that cause amputations can be complex, as multiple entities may share responsibility for the severe harm victims suffer. Commonly liable parties include:
Truck Driver
If the driver operates the vehicle recklessly – by speeding, driving under the influence, or driving while distracted, for example – a catastrophic collision can occur, resulting in limbs being crushed or severed. Drivers are responsible for upholding safety standards, so negligence on their part can lead to traumatic amputations and significant legal liabilities.
Trucking Company
A trucking company that fails to properly train or supervise its drivers puts all motorists at risk of devastating crashes capable of causing amputations. Additionally, poor scheduling practices or ignored safety inspections encourage negligence, increasing the likelihood of catastrophic limb injuries. In these cases, the trucking company could be liable.
Maintenance Crew or Service Provider
Improper or delayed maintenance of crucial truck components – such as brakes, tires, or steering – can lead to equipment failures on the road. These failures can produce severe or high-impact collisions, elevating the risk of amputations if a passenger vehicle is struck or crushed.
Parts or Equipment Manufacturer
A defective part within the truck, whether it’s the braking system or another important component, can malfunction and trigger an accident leading to limb loss. When design or manufacturing defects are discovered, the manufacturer can be held responsible for the role these flaws played in the injuries.
Identifying the correct parties involved is essential for victims to pursue the compensation necessary to cover medical expenses, rehabilitation, and the lifelong costs associated with an amputation. For help with a claim, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.