Truck drivers must check the conditions of their trucks before the start of their journey, at specified intervals during the journey, and once they have completed their trip. When inspecting the condition of the truck, drivers should look out for: Faulty brakes Worn out tires The condition of the horns Any issues with steering Other operational issues. The driver does not hold full responsibility for ensuring that the trucks are in good condition. Trucking companies legally must keep their trucks in good condition by carrying out regular maintenance, and doing repairs, if and when required. Types of Truck Accidents The following are the common accidents unqualified truck drivers cause: Jackknife accidents. Jackknifed truck accidents are some of the most gruesome accidents on the road. The driver's failure to take caution when braking may cause the tractor and trailer to misalign. In such cases, the driver loses control of their vehicle, crashing with other vehicles. Head-on-collisions. Tired or drunk drivers often cause head-on-collisions. Rear-end accidents. Trucks do not stop as quickly as cars do. During bad weather conditions, such as after heavy storms, trucks will require more distance to come to a complete stop. When an unqualified driver is behind the wheel, they may not be aware of stopping distances and are more likely to cause multiple fatalities. Common Injuries from Truck Accidents Any moving vehicle on the road can cause accidents. But when large trucks are involved, the injuries sustained from such accidents are more gruesome. Victims of truck accidents commonly suffer: Spinal cord injuries. A truck accident may throw you around, causing a spinal injury. This type of injury will affect you for the rest of your life, as you may become paralyzed. Traumatic Brain Injury. Strong impacts can lead to brain injuries and other injuries to the head, which can have lifelong impacts. Burn injuries. If a truck is carrying hazardous materials or the accident causes a fire outbreak, accident victims can suffer long-lasting trauma from burns. They may require repeated skin grafts and may scar them for life. In addition to such procedures being overly expensive, they also negatively impact the victims' self-esteem. Soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue injuries are not easily detectable since they are not as apparent as other injuries to the body. It is, however, essential to note that torn ligaments and stretched muscles can cause severe pain for months. Broken bones. Depending on the impact, truck accidents can cause broken hands and legs. You may require multiple surgeries to heal, and in the worst cases, surgeons may need to amputate, leaving you incapacitated for life. Damages in a Truck Accident Truck accidents involve two types of damages: 1. Economic damages cover all financial injuries that can be easily assigned a monetary value. Such losses include, but are not limited to: Lost wages Lost future earnings medical bills Economic damages are easy to calculate and prove as they only require receipts. 2. Non-economic losses. You cannot easily attach a monetary value to these more abstract losses. Examples of losses under this category are: Pain and suffering Trauma Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Loss of consortium. Proving non-economic losses is often complicated. With the help of a truck accident attorney, victims have to submit testimony from their doctor or psychiatrist.