Truck Accident Injury Treatment

Heavier vehicles, heavier injuries

A loaded commercial truck can weigh many times more than a passenger car, so the forces in a truck collision are often severe. Neck and back injuries, disc injuries, concussion symptoms and injuries to the shoulders and knees are common.

Commercial vehicle claims can involve the driver, the trucking company and more than one insurer. Clear, consistent medical records from the start matter even more.

How we help

• A complete exam and imaging when indicated
• Treatment for spine and soft tissue injuries
• Referral to medical specialists when your injuries need it
• Detailed records you can share with your attorney

Why are 18-wheeler crashes different from ordinary car crashes?

The size and height of a commercial truck change what happens in a collision. A car can slide under a trailer, get pushed into other traffic, or be struck from above the bumper line. Those crashes often involve more than one impact, which can injure the spine and joints in several directions at once.

Multi-impact crashes are harder to reconstruct from memory. You may remember being hit from behind but not the second impact against a barrier or another car. Details from the crash report, photos and witnesses help us understand every direction your body moved, which guides where we examine.

Truck crashes on busy DFW corridors can also happen at highway speed, where emergency care comes first. Once fractures, head injuries and internal injuries have been ruled out or treated, the neck, back, shoulder and knee injuries that remain are where our providers focus.

Occupants of a car also tend to brace hard in the seconds before impact when they see a large truck coming. Bracing locks the arms and legs, which can load the shoulders, wrists, knees and ankles in ways a surprise impact would not.

Who can be responsible after a commercial truck crash in Texas?

More than one party may share responsibility for a truck crash. Depending on the facts, that can include the driver, the motor carrier that employs or contracts with the driver, a company that loaded the cargo, or a business that maintained the truck. Sorting that out is legal work for an attorney.

This matters for your care because several insurers may be involved, each asking for records at different times. Consistent records that tell the same story from the first visit are easier for every party to follow. We send records only with your written authorization.

Trucking companies and their insurers often move quickly after a serious crash. Many injured people choose to speak with an attorney early. We are not attorneys and cannot advise you on that choice, but we can start your treatment right away so your health does not wait on the claim.

How much insurance do commercial trucking companies have to carry?

Federal rules set minimum financial responsibility for many interstate trucking companies. For-hire carriers hauling non-hazardous property in vehicles rated at 10,001 pounds or more generally must carry at least $750,000, and certain hazardous materials require $1 million or $5 million. Actual policies vary, and intrastate rules can differ.

Those figures are minimums, not what a claim is worth, and they do not decide whether a claim succeeds. Coverage questions depend on the carrier, the cargo, the route and the policy language, so an attorney is the right person to review them.

For you as a patient, the practical point is simple: a commercial claim can take a long time to resolve. Planning how your care will be paid in the meantime, through your own coverage, health insurance or an arrangement with your attorney, keeps treatment on track.

Keep copies of any letters or calls from insurers and share them with your attorney if you have one. Tell our front desk which insurers have contacted you, so record requests made with your authorization go to the right place.

What injuries are common after a truck accident on North Texas highways?

Truck crashes commonly cause neck and back sprains and strains, disc injuries, concussion symptoms, and shoulder, hip and knee injuries from bracing or hitting the cabin. Many people have several injured areas at once, so a thorough exam of each region matters more than focusing only on the worst pain.

Nerve symptoms deserve close attention. Numbness, tingling or weakness in an arm or leg can point to a disc pressing on a nerve, and those findings may call for an MRI or a specialist referral. Headaches, dizziness, light sensitivity and trouble concentrating can follow a concussion even without hitting your head.

Go to an emergency room right away for loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, worsening weakness, severe headache with vomiting or confusion, or chest and abdominal pain. These can signal serious injuries that need immediate medical care.

• Neck and low back sprains and strains
• Disc bulges and herniations
• Concussion symptoms
• Shoulder and rotator cuff strains
• Knee and hip injuries from dash or door impact

What records should you keep after a truck or delivery van crash?

Keep the crash report number, photos of the truck including any company name and DOT number on the door, the driver's information, witness contacts, all medical bills and a log of missed work. Add a simple symptom journal, noting pain levels and activities you cannot do, a few times a week.

Company markings and numbers on the truck help identify the carrier later, and they are easy to forget once the vehicle is gone. If a photo was not possible, write down what you remember as soon as you can, including the color of the cab and any logos.

Keep your medical story consistent. Tell every provider, including the ER, your primary care doctor and our team, the same account of how the crash happened and what hurts. Inconsistent histories are one of the most common problems in injury records, and they are easy to avoid.

If you drive for a living and were not working at the time of the crash, say so. If you were working, tell your employer promptly, because workers' compensation rules may also apply.

Frequently asked questions

This page is general information, not legal advice. For questions about a claim, talk to an attorney or the agency that handles your claim.