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Semi-truck accidents have become increasingly common in Florida over the years. The number of accidents increased by 74 percent between 2012 and 2020. Injuries soared 55 percent over the same eight-year period, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) statistics.

In 2020, the FLHSMV reported that commercial semi-truck drivers in the U.S. were involved in 27,000 motor vehicle accidents while driving trucks that weighed more than 10,000 pounds. These large semi-trucks are no match for other smaller vehicles.

In January 2022, several of these commercial semi-trucks caused a 35-vehicle chain-reaction accident on I-95 South in Jacksonville, Florida, according to News 4 Jax. The accident was triggered when a semi-truck driver did not see a rear-end collision, swerved, and hit another large commercial truck. A total of 11 people were transported to area hospitals with injuries.

Jacksonville Fire Rescue Captain Eric Prosswimmer told News 4 Jax, “When you’ve got sliding semi-trucks and cars coming to screeching halts and people scattering in every different direction, it’s truly amazing and a miracle that nobody was killed.”

Brain injuries can occur when passenger vehicles and semi-trucks are in accidents when the head impacts the dashboard, steering column, windshield, headrest, airbag, or any flying object. These brain injuries can be the most severe type of injury accident victims can experience. Serious brain injuries are commonly referred to as traumatic brain injuries or TBIs. Health problems from TBIs may last just a few days for mild injuries or the rest of an accident victim’s life for more serious TBI injuries. They are a major cause of disability and death and are difficult to diagnose and treat.

Types and signs of TBIs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there are three types of TBIs:

• Mild TBI or concussion
• Moderate TBI
• Severe TBI

 The Mayo Clinic reports the signs of a mild TBI include:

• Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
• No loss of consciousness, but a state of being dazed, confused, or disoriented
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Problems with speech
• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than usual
• Mild headaches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Strange tastes
• Altered sense of smell
• Concentration issues
• Memory deficiencies
• Dizziness or loss of balance
• Loss of coordination
• Depression or anxiety 

The Mayo Clinic also lists some of the symptoms consistent with moderate or severe TBIs:

• Complete loss of consciousness
• Severe headaches
• Dilated pupils
• Clear fluids coming from the nose or eyes
• Weakness
• Confusion
• Recurrent vomiting and nausea
• Seizures
• Loss of coordination
• Numbness in the fingers and/or toes
• Slurred speech
• Agitation
• Coma 

People of all ages can be affected by accident-caused TBIs.

If children suffer TBIs in vehicle accidents, the CDC reports their development may suffer, and they may not be able to participate in school or other activities enjoyed by other healthy children.

Seniors are more likely to tragically die from TBI injuries and may be misdiagnosed because the symptoms of TBIs overlap with other medical conditions that are common among seniors, like dementia. Seniors on blood thinners also have an increased risk of bleeding in the brain, according to the CDC.

How our Fort Myers Truck Accident Brain Injury Attorneys Can Assist you.

Our Fort Myers Truck Accident attorneys are available 24/7 to assist you when you are injured because of the negligence of a semi-truck driver. Our team gathers the information and investigates your case to help determine your options which could include a claim for such things as compensation for past, present, and future medical expenses caused by the accident, pain and suffering, and lost wages. There are no fees or attorney fees until we receive a monetary recovery for you. You need to contact us immediately following an accident after seeking medical attention. We provide you with personal contact and information along with aggressive representation. Please visit our settlements and verdicts to see our results, and contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. at 239.337.7483, or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or contact us online at SpiveyLaw.com.