Spinal Cord Injuries and Traumatic Brain Injuries Caused in Car and Truck Accidents
Spinal cord injuries (paraplegia, quadriplegia and tetraplegia) and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are among the most severe and life-altering consequences of car and truck accidents, particularly those involving 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, and big trucks. These types of accidents present a unique set of dangers due to the sheer size and weight of the vehicles involved, as well as the complex forces at play during a collision. Understanding why these accidents can cause such devastating injuries, including the biomechanics of the body, spine, and brain, is crucial in recognizing the risks, preventing these injuries, and providing appropriate medical care and rehabilitation.
The Danger of Large Truck Collisions
Car accidents can result in a variety of injuries, but when a smaller vehicle collides with a large truck, the forces involved are exponentially greater. Large trucks, especially 18-wheelers, can weigh up to 80,000 pounds or more, which is significantly heavier than the average passenger car or pickup truck, which typically weighs between 3,000 and 9,000 pounds. The disparity in size and weight means that the force of impact in truck accidents is often far greater than in collisions involving only smaller vehicles.
When these heavy trucks are involved in a crash, the energy generated during the impact is much higher, placing extreme forces on the passengers in both the smaller vehicle and the truck itself. These forces can result in serious, life-threatening injuries, including spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries, both of which are highly disabling and difficult to treat.
NAVIGATE THIS PAGE
- The Danger of Large Truck Collisions
- Why Seat Belts and Airbags May Not Always Prevent Injury
- Understanding the Biomechanics of Injury
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Forces in Different Types of Collisions
- Legal Options for a TBI Claims
- Legal Options for Filing a Personal Injury Claim
- Contact Us
Why Seat Belts and Airbags May Not Always Prevent Injury
While modern safety features like seat belts and airbags have saved countless lives, their effectiveness in reducing the severity of injuries in accidents involving large trucks at highway speeds is limited. The reason for this lies in the tremendous forces involved when a small vehicle collides with a much larger one. When a passenger vehicle is hit by a semi-truck or 18-wheeler, the sheer size difference means that the truck absorbs most of the energy from the crash, while the smaller vehicle is often crushed or violently thrown.
In a head-on collision or rear-end crash with a large truck, the forces can overwhelm the protection provided by seat belts and airbags. Seat belts are designed to restrain occupants in place and prevent ejection, but they may not prevent the spine from experiencing dangerous forces like hyperextension or compression. In fact, the violent whiplash motion in rear-end collisions can still cause significant damage to the neck and spine, even with a seat belt on. Airbags, while effective at cushioning the impact to the chest and head in many car accidents, may not deploy or offer sufficient protection when the collision involves in a massive truck accident. In extreme trucking crashes, especially those at highway speeds, the occupant may still suffer catastrophic spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries or death, as the force of impact can be too great for these safety features to mitigate fully.
Understanding the Biomechanics of Injury
In any vehicle accident, the human body experiences a range of forces that cause different types of damage. The biomechanics of injury refers to the way in which these forces interact with the body’s tissues, bones, and organs during an accident. When the forces involved are extreme—such as those found in a truck accident—the potential for catastrophic injury is greatly increased.
Immediate and Long-Term Effects
of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Spinal Cord Injuries
The spine plays a critical role in protecting the spinal cord, which is the central nervous system’s communication highway between the brain and the rest of the body. When the spine is subjected to sudden, violent forces, such as those in a car or truck accident, it can be compressed, twisted, bent, or even fractured, leading to damage of the spinal cord itself. This damage can interrupt the transmission of nerve signals from the brain to the body, resulting in paralysis, loss of sensation, and dysfunction of various body systems.
The primary mechanisms that cause spinal cord injuries during accidents include:
- Hyperflexion and Hyperextension: This refers to the excessive bending of the neck or spine, either forward (hyperflexion) or backward (hyperextension). In a collision, especially in rear-end crashes or head-on crashes, the body is often jerked violently in one direction, causing the spinal column to move beyond its normal range of motion.
- Axial Loading: When the head or neck is forced downward (e.g., during a rear-end collision or rollover), the spine is compressed vertically, increasing the risk of disc herniation, fractures, or dislocations. The vertebrae and discs can collapse under the pressure, causing direct injury to the spinal cord.
- Rotation: When a vehicle spins or twists in an accident, the torso and head can rotate at different speeds, placing significant stress on the spine. This can lead to fractures, dislocations, and damage to the spinal cord.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, contusions, and diffuse axonal injuries, are another significant risk in car and truck accidents. The brain is protected by the skull, but the skull is not immune to external forces. When a vehicle comes to a sudden stop or is jolted by a collision, the brain may continue to move within the skull, causing it to strike the inside of the cranium. This movement can lead to bruising, tearing, or swelling in the brain, causing long-term neurological impairments.
The mechanisms of TBI in accidents are similar to those that cause spinal cord injuries, involving forces that impact the head and neck. Common mechanisms include:
- Deceleration: In a crash, when a vehicle suddenly slows or stops, the head may continue moving at the original speed. This sudden deceleration can cause the brain to collide with the skull.
- Impact and Rotation: In side-impact or rollover accidents, the head may rotate sharply, resulting in shearing forces that can damage brain tissue.
- Coup-Contrecoup Injuries: These injuries occur when the brain strikes one side of the skull (coup) and then rebounds to strike the opposite side (contrecoup), often resulting in widespread damage to brain tissue.
Forces in Different Types of Collisions
The forces involved in different types of accidents can affect the body in various ways, and each type of crash can lead to different patterns of spinal cord and brain injuries.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions are among the most severe types of accidents, especially when high speeds are involved. In a head-on crash, the front of the vehicle absorbs most of the impact, and the sudden stop can cause extreme forces to act on the occupants of both vehicles.
- Biomechanics of Injury: The body is thrown forward, potentially causing hyperflexion of the neck and spine. The head and neck may also snap backward, causing hyperextension. In the worst cases, the force may cause a direct impact to the chest, which can lead to fractures of the spine, as well as damage to internal organs.
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injuries: The violent motion of the body during a head-on crash can result in cervical (neck) spinal cord injuries, which can lead to paralysis from the neck down (quadriplegia). Brain injuries may occur due to the violent whiplash motion, leading to concussions, contusions, or diffuse axonal injuries.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions, while often not as severe as head-on crashes, can still lead to serious spinal and brain injuries, particularly when the vehicle is stopped, and the impact occurs at high speed.
- Biomechanics of Injury: When struck from behind, the body is propelled forward while the head and neck lag behind. This can cause hyperextension of the neck and spine, which increases the risk of spinal cord injury at the cervical or upper thoracic levels. In addition, the whiplash motion of the head can cause the brain to move inside the skull, leading to a TBI.
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injuries: Whiplash-associated injuries can result in a range of symptoms from mild neck pain to severe spinal cord damage. Brain injuries such as concussions are also common in rear-end crashes, as the rapid motion of the head can cause the brain to strike the inside of the skull.
Side-Impact (T-Bone) Accidents
T-bone accidents, or side-impact collisions, occur when one vehicle strikes the side of another, often at high speeds. These accidents can be particularly dangerous because the side of the vehicle is less protected than the front or rear.
- Biomechanics of Injury: In a T-bone accident, the side of the vehicle absorbs the brunt of the impact, potentially causing lateral forces to act on the body. The spine may experience compression and rotation, which can cause fractures and dislocations. The head and neck are also vulnerable to side-to-side movement, which can lead to severe whiplash injuries and brain trauma.
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injuries: Injuries to the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spine are common in side-impact crashes, along with fractures and disc herniation. Brain injuries may result from the head striking the side of the vehicle or from the rapid rotation of the head.
Underride Accidents
Underride accidents occur when a smaller vehicle slides underneath a larger truck, often a semi-truck or 18-wheeler. These accidents are particularly dangerous because the smaller vehicle may become trapped beneath the truck, causing extreme crushing forces on the occupants.
- Biomechanics of Injury: In an underride accident, the vehicle is often partially or fully crushed, subjecting the occupants to extreme compression forces. The spine is at risk of being compressed along its length, which can cause severe spinal cord injuries. The head and neck may also be crushed or subjected to violent forces.
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injuries: Spinal cord injuries in underride accidents can be devastating, as the forces involved are often sufficient to cause multiple fractures, dislocations, and even severing of the spinal cord. Brain injuries are also common due to the forceful impact, which can cause significant head trauma.
SCI & TBI From Truck Accidents – A Deadly Certainty
Spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries are severe and often lifelong consequences of car and truck accidents, particularly those involving large vehicles like 18-wheelers and semi-trucks. The forces at play during different types of collisions—head-on, rear-end, side-impact, and underride—can cause catastrophic damage to the spine and brain, resulting in paralysis, loss of cognitive function, and long-term disability.
Understanding the biomechanics of injury and the forces involved in these crashes is essential for preventing accidents, improving vehicle safety, and providing appropriate medical care and rehabilitation for those affected. As technology advances, innovations in vehicle design, crash protection systems, and trauma care continue to improve, but the risks associated with large vehicle accidents remain significant. For victims of SCI and TBI caused by such accidents, comprehensive medical treatment, physical rehabilitation, and psychological support are critical for improving quality of life and adapting to the challenges of living with these debilitating injuries.
Let Us Help You
Request Your FREE CONSULTATION Today!
Call (800) 883-2020 or fill out the form below to contact our team.