Minnesota car accident doctor for T-bone truck crash in Twin CitiesWhen a commercial semi-truck and a passenger car collide, severe injuries to the occupants of the smaller vehicle usually result. A fully loaded 18-wheeler weighs up to 80,000 pounds. Even at a slow speed, it can do major damage to a 4,000-pound car. Head-on or rear-end collisions with a tractor-trailer are bad enough, but the worst of the worst is a T-bone crash. If you have the unfortunate chance of experiencing such an ordeal, our Minnesota car accident doctor is here to help get you back on yoru feet again.

Why T-Bone Truck Accidents Are So Serious

If you're rear-ended or hit head-on by a commercial truck, you have the following protection:

  • A bumper and a trunk or a hood to shield you somewhat from the impact
  • A safety belt and airbags to protect you from the front
  • A seat back behind you

When you are T-boned, however, you have none of the above to save you. A T-bone accident occurs when a truck runs into you from the side, where you have no protection beyond your door. The door panel collapses inward, and the side of your body takes the full force of the impact. You and your passengers are thrown around inside the car, banging into hard surfaces and/or each other, generally sustaining catastrophic injuries. If your car rolls or is pushed into other traffic, the results are even worse, which is why you need an experienced Minnesota car accident doctor.

Common Locations and Causes of T-Bone Truck Crashes

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), T-bone crashes are most likely to occur:

  • In parking lots when a truck pulls into or out of a parking space
  • On busy streets where a trucker merges or changes lanes without checking mirrors or blind spots carefully
  • At intersections where a truck driver runs a light and/or makes an illegal turn

Of these three locations, intersections are the most dangerous. A T-bone wreck is more likely where traffic converges from four directions, especially if a trucker is:

  • Tired or falling asleep from driving long hours to meet delivery deadlines
  • Talking or texting on a phone
  • Impaired by alcohol or drugs

T-Bone Truck Wreck Injuries in the Twin Cities? You Need a Minnesota Car Accident Doctor

The difference in size between the vehicles, along with your defenselessness against side impact, can cause serious injuries requiring immediate medical treatment from an experienced Minnesota car accident doctor:

  • Crushed, broken, or fractured bones are extremely painful and slow to heal. Breaks that don’t heal correctly can cause chronic pain and long-term disability.
  • Cuts, lacerations, and scarring can result from contact with broken glass and other sharp objects in the car.
  • Whiplash and other neck injuries are often caused by the force of impact.
  • Spinal cord injuries affecting vertebrae, ligaments, and/or discs not only cause chronic pain but can also affect your overall mobility and possibly lead to paralysis.
  • Concussions and other head injuries result from an impact to the skull.
  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can have serious cognitive, sensory, and physical consequences—sometimes requiring long-term or lifelong medical care.
  • Amputations can happen instantaneously in the crash or later if limbs cannot be saved.
  • Death, unfortunately, is not uncommon in T-bone truck crashes.

Your first priority after sustaining any such injury is getting to a Minnesota car accident doctor for medical attention and documentation of injuries resulting from the crash.

Have You Been Hurt in a T-Bone Truck Crash? 

The first thing you need is medical attention, and the second thing is legal help. Our free referral service will find you the right local physician to treat your pain, if your injuries fall outside the scope of what we're able to treat, as well as an experienced local truck accident attorney to help you seek compensation for damages. Contact us online or call 763-251-PAIN for a free consultation.