Common Injuries in Big Rig & Truck Accidents in Fresno

Truck accidents hit harder than most crashes. The size and weight of a big rig mean a smaller car and its occupants take the worst of the impact. It’s not just crumpled metal—people walk away with injuries that can change the rest of their lives.

Common injuries in Fresno truck accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): From concussions to severe brain damage, symptoms may show up hours or days later—headaches, confusion, memory issues, mood changes.
• Spinal cord injuries: These can lead to partial or complete paralysis, chronic pain, and major changes in mobility and independence.
• Broken bones: Arms, legs, ribs, hips, and facial fractures are common and often require surgery, rehab, and extended time off work.
• Internal injuries: Damage to organs and internal bleeding might not be obvious at the scene, but can quickly become life-threatening without prompt treatment.
• Burns: When fuel ignites after a crash, victims can suffer serious burns that need skin grafts, multiple surgeries, and long-term care.

The damage isn’t only physical. Many people develop anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a violent truck crash. Nightmares, flashbacks, and fear of driving can disrupt work, family life, and sleep, even long after the body has started to heal.

These injuries often bring a wave of expenses and losses: emergency care, surgeries, rehab, medications, assistive devices, and missed paychecks. To protect a future claim, it helps to document as much as possible, including:

• Photos and video of the scene and vehicles
• Medical records, diagnoses, and bills
• A list of missed work and lost income
• Names and contact details for witnesses

Because truck cases involve commercial policies, federal and state regulations, and multiple parties, they get complicated fast. A Fresno truck accident attorney at Heidari Law Group can step in to investigate what happened, deal with trucking and insurance companies, and build a claim for compensation that covers medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Understanding Common Injuries in Big Rig and Truck Accidents

Beyond the crash scene and damaged vehicles, many people face months or years of physical limitation and emotional fallout.

Common physical injuries in truck accidents include:

• Whiplash: Sudden back-and-forth movement of the neck leading to pain, stiffness, headaches, and reduced range of motion.
• Fractured ribs: Often caused by the force of impact or seatbelts under heavy load. These fractures make breathing, coughing, and simple movements painful and can keep someone off work for weeks or months.
• Soft tissue injuries: Sprains, strains, and deep bruises that may look minor but can cause serious pain and limit movement if not treated properly.

Some crashes lead to catastrophic injuries such as amputations or crush injuries that permanently change how a person lives and works. Losing a limb or major function means long hospital stays, surgeries, rehab, prosthetics, and a complete adjustment of home, work, and daily routines. These cases almost always carry enormous medical costs and deep emotional strain for both the victim and their family.

Because the impact of a truck accident touches so many parts of life, strong documentation matters. Helpful records include:

• Medical reports, visit summaries, and treatment plans
• Notes on pain levels and daily limitations
• Photos of injuries and the accident scene
• Proof of missed work and reduced income

How to Seek Compensation for Truck Accident Injuries

After a truck accident, the shock wears off fast, and the real problems start: injuries, bills, missed work, and phone calls from insurers. Seeking compensation isn’t about “getting a payday”; it’s about covering the costs and losses that the crash dumped on you.

Strong cases are built on evidence. That means keeping track of everything tied to the crash, including:

• Photos and video of the scene, vehicles, and visible injuries
• Medical records, test results, and treatment plans
• Police reports and incident numbers
• Receipts and invoices for towing, repairs, medications, and equipment

Truck cases are rarely simple when it comes to fault. Responsibility might fall on:

• The truck driver (speeding, fatigue, distraction, DUI)
• The trucking company (poor training, scheduling, or maintenance)
• A third party, such as a shipper, loader, or another driver

Insurance is its own battlefield. Your insurer and the trucking company’s carrier want to close files cheaply. They may push for a quick, low settlement before you understand the full scope of your injuries. An attorney can handle those communications, submit the right documentation, and push back when adjusters undervalue your claim or try to twist your words.

Steps to Take After Sustaining Injuries in a Truck Accident

A truck accident is jarring and disorienting, but what you do next matters. Get yourself to safety if you can and pay attention to how you feel. If you’re able, start gathering evidence before the scene changes. Use your phone to capture:

• Wide shots of all vehicles and their positions
• Close-ups of damage, skid marks, debris, and road conditions
• Photos of visible injuries
• Talk to any witnesses and note their names and contact information.

Notify your insurance company once the immediate crisis is under control. Give them the basic facts of what happened and the information you’ve collected, but avoid guessing about fault or the extent of your injuries. Insurance adjusters often look for statements they can use to limit payouts. Stick to what you know, not what you think or assume.

Legal help is important in truck cases, especially in Fresno, where heavy commercial traffic and complex insurance layers are common. A Fresno truck accident attorney at Heidari Law Group can handle communication with insurers, identify all potentially liable parties, and advise you on what your claim may actually be worth.

Keep detailed records of everything related to your injuries and losses. That includes:

• All medical visits, diagnoses, treatments, and prescriptions
• Therapy or counseling for anxiety, PTSD, or sleep problems
• Time missed from work and any changes to your duties or income
  Let your employer know what’s going on if you need time off or modified duties so your absence and limitations are documented.

Stay organized. Keep medical records, police reports, insurance letters, receipts, and your own notes about pain levels and daily limitations in one place. That documentation becomes the backbone of your claim and helps your attorney show the full impact of the accident on your life.

Understanding Liability in Big Rig Accident Injury Cases

Liability in a big rig accident is rarely simple. More than one person or company can share the blame, and that directly affects how much compensation you can recover. It’s not just about what the truck driver did in the moments before impact; it’s about the entire system behind that truck—who hired the driver, who maintained the vehicle, who built the parts, and how other drivers behaved on the road.

Several parties can be on the hook in a Fresno truck crash, including:

• Truck driver: distracted driving, speeding, fatigue, DUI, unsafe lane changes
• Trucking company: poor hiring or training, unsafe schedules, skipped maintenance, and ignored safety rules
• Vehicle or parts manufacturer: defective brakes, steering components, tires, or other critical systems
• Other drivers: cutting off a truck, sudden lane changes, road rage, or other dangerous maneuvers

Proving who’s responsible comes down to evidence. Useful proof includes:

• Photos and videos of the scene and vehicle damage
• Black box / ECM data from the truck
• Maintenance and inspection records
• Driver logs and dispatch records
• Police reports and witness statements

Liability is often shared. Under comparative negligence, more than one driver or company can be assigned a percentage of fault. If a truck driver was speeding and another driver suddenly swerved without signaling, both may be found partially responsible. Your compensation is then reduced by your own share of fault, which makes accurate fault allocation and strong advocacy especially important.

Timing matters. Claims against drivers, trucking companies, manufacturers, or others all have deadlines under the statute of limitations. Miss those, and you can lose your right to recover, no matter how strong the facts are. An experienced Fresno truck accident attorney at Heidari Law Group can identify every potentially liable party, track the deadlines, and build a case that targets all available sources of compensation so you’re not left carrying the cost of someone else’s negligence.

Truck Accident Injury FAQ

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I felt “okay” after the crash. Do I still need to see a doctor?

Yes. Truck crashes create violent forces even at moderate speeds. Adrenaline hides pain, and injuries like concussions, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage can show up hours or days later. Seeing a doctor:

• Protects your health
• Creates a medical record linking your symptoms to the crash
• Prevents insurers from arguing that you weren’t really hurt

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How is a truck accident case different from a regular car crash?

Truck cases bring extra layers:

• Commercial insurance policies with higher limits
• Federal and state regulations on hours, maintenance, and loading
• Corporate defendants with legal teams
• More complex evidence: black box data, driver logs, inspection reports

These cases often need deeper investigation and expert input than a standard two-car collision.

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Should I talk to the insurance company before calling an attorney?

You can report the crash, but keep it short and factual. Do not:

• Guess about the fault
• Minimize your pain
• Agree to a recorded statement without advice
• Accept a quick settlement offer

Insurers work to save money, not protect you. Having a Fresno truck accident attorney step in early reduces the risk of saying something that harms your claim.

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How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in California?

In many personal injury cases in California, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. Claims against government entities have shorter deadlines. Evidence also gets harder to find with time. The safest move is to speak with an attorney as soon as you can after the collision.