Common Injuries After Chain-Reaction Truck Crashes in Boca Raton
Although all truck accidents in Boca Raton can be dangerous, a “chain reaction” crash represents a particularly hazardous scenario. This type of accident has the potential to affect numerous motorists, and past truck accidents of this nature have been described as “mass casualty events.” If you were hurt in a chain reaction crash, you may be recovering from various injuries.
What Is a “Chain-Reaction” Crash in Boca Raton?
A chain-reaction crash starts with a rear vehicle and continues forward, impacting numerous additional cars in a row. After the initial rear impact, the next car lurches forward and strikes the one immediately ahead. This subsequent collision causes another, and the pattern continues until the momentum fades.
With a strong impact from a semi-truck at the rear, chain-reaction crashes can affect dozens of vehicles. Motorists are especially vulnerable when traffic slows to a crawl. In these congested areas, there is limited space between vehicles – making chain-reaction crashes more likely. Semi-truck drivers are often to blame, especially if they fail to slow down when approaching congested areas.
Common Injuries After Chain-Reaction Crashes in Florida
Although chain-reaction crashes can cause various injuries, some are more common than others in this scenario. Here are a few examples:
- Whiplash: A chain-reaction crash is essentially a type of rear-end collision. As with all rear-enders, whiplash is a common injury among chain-reaction crash survivors. While often described as “moderate” by doctors, this injury can cause pain, discomfort, and months of missed income.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: A more serious outcome is a spinal cord injury. This may leave motorists paralyzed, and it can affect them for the rest of their lives. Living without assistance and earning income may prove impossible after a spinal cord injury.
- Fractured Ribs: After being jolted forward by a rear impact, a motorist may suffer impacts to the torso area. This can easily cause rib fractures. Although this is typically a long-term injury, it may also be associated with internal organ damage, collapsed lungs, and similar torso injuries, especially in elderly victims.
- Head Injuries: A chain-reaction truck accident can easily cause serious head injuries. Motorists may strike their heads on the steering wheel or dashboard after being thrown forward. Airbags may fail to activate. Even if your airbag activates, you may still suffer severe head injuries.
- Lower Extremity Fractures: The knee and leg area is particularly vulnerable after rear-end impacts. Your knee may suddenly slam forward into the lower dashboard or the sturdy metal ignition component. This can cause fractures throughout the leg area. In some cases, the vehicle may be crumpled in a way that crushes your legs.
Work With a Boca Raton Truck Accident Lawyer
If you’re serious about pursuing legal action after a truck accident, work with a qualified, experienced Boca Raton truck accident attorney. These legal professionals can examine the circumstances of your accident in more detail. Often the “root cause” of a multi-vehicle crash can be difficult to determine. Who started this “chain reaction?” These are questions Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather can answer. Book your consultation today to get started.
Sources:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7570167/
onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1989/1208/1208-005.pdf
