Truck drivers are at relatively high risk of injury while they are on the job. According to federal workplace safety statistics, collisions are the top cause of fatal injuries for those who drive commercially.
However, there are many non-fatal injuries that may require time off or a change of profession for every fatal incident that occurs in the transportation sector. Collisions can lead to non-fatal injuries, but they are the least common of the top four causes of non-fatal truck driver workplace injuries.
What other job hazards are particularly likely to force a commercial driver to take time away from work and file a workers’ compensation claim?
1. Overexertion and bodily reaction injuries
Truck drivers often need to lift heavy objects when loading or unloading. They can easily throw out their backs or injure their knees through repetitive, heavy lifting responsibilities. They may also develop repetitive strain injuries from sitting for hours in a chair without adequate lumbar support and gripping a steering wheel for eight hours or more every day. They may require surgery, physical therapy or time off to heal from overexertion injuries caused by job responsibilities.
2. Slips, trips and falls
While truck drivers spend much of their time in the cabs of their vehicles, they may also need to walk around the exterior of their vehicle at all times of day and in all kinds of weather to check their loads. They may also end up slipping or tripping while in a warehouse or the office facilities of their employers. Even a same-level fall can lead to fractures, brain injuries and soft tissue injuries that make time away from work necessary.
3. Accidental contacts with objects
Truck drivers may end up hurt in warehouse or loading dock environments. Rapidly moving heavy equipment can strike drivers, causing a variety of serious injuries. Drivers are also at risk of struck-by incidents when inspecting their trailers or unloading cargo. Items that shifted during transport may fall on drivers, putting them at risk of broken bones, brain injuries and even spinal cord injuries.
A workers’ compensation claim can help an injured truck driver pay for their care and replace some of their lost income after an injurious incident while working. Working with a lawyer can help injured commercial drivers understand benefits and manage the paperwork involved in a workers’ compensation claim.