Most truck accidents are very serious in nature due to the force large trucks exert onto smaller vehicles. As a result, occupants in smaller cars are likely to suffer severe injuries. One type of serious injury that victims of truck wrecks often suffer from is a pelvic fracture. While most bone fractures aren’t critical, a pelvic fracture can actually be life-threatening.
Since most of us don’t give our pelvis any thought, many victims of truck accidents don’t know they have suffered a pelvis injury because they aren’t aware of the signs and symptoms associated with minor pelvic fractures. The following are symptoms of pelvic injury which may not present themselves for hours or even days after the accident:
- Difficulty walking
- Trouble standing
- Back pain
- Abdominal pain
- Hip pain
- Leg pain
- Tingling and numbness
- Bone tenderness
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Trouble going to the bathroom
- Blood in urine or stool or bleeding from the vagina or rectum
If you have any of these symptoms, it is essential that you seek medical attention immediately to get the appropriate diagnostic tests like an x-ray, MRI, or CT scan. The scan will tell the doctor which of the following types of pelvic fracture you suffered:
- Stable pelvic fracture. With this type of pelvic injury, there is a break in one of the pelvic bones. Generally, there is minimal bleeding and surgery isn’t required.
- Unstable pelvic fracture. With this type of pelvic injury, there is a break in two or more of the pelvic bones. Generally, there is a great deal of bleeding and surgery will need to occur to repair the damage.
Because the pelvic ring—a ring of five bones at the base of the spine—protects the rectum, bladder and intestines, it is likely that internal organ damage will occur in addition to a pelvic fracture. Because of this, and because injuries to blood vessels can occur and cause massive blood loss, pelvic fractures can be very serious and even life-threatening.
If you have suffered from an unstable pelvic fracture following an accident with a large commercial truck, you may need surgery, physical therapy, and time off of work to heal. Before you accept a settlement from the insurance company, it is important that you understand the full extent of your injuries and damages.
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