When thinking about trucking-related injuries, many people’s minds think about the injuries caused by trucking accidents. While those injuries can tend to be more serious and life-threatening, truck drivers also experience serious injuries as a result of daily activities that are a part of their job. Due to the physical strain required for their job, truck drivers can sustain recurring injuries that increase in severity over time.
What Injuries Do Truck Drivers Experience?
Truck drivers can experience a variety of health issues related to their job. Some from the act of driving alone, and others from removing and replacing the cargo that they travel with. The most common injuries experienced by truck drivers are:
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Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD)
These disorders greatly impact the muscles, nerves, joints, tendons, spinal discs, and cartilage. They are a result of overexertion and can occur when drivers have to unload and reload products onto their trucks.
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Truck-related injuries
Truck drivers are not exempt from vehicle accidents and can be seriously injured if they are involved in one. Additionally, they could sustain injuries relating to a faulty truck or product construction.
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Being struck by objects
Many objects can fall and crash into a truck driver while they are working. Some of the most common include vehicle parts, winch bars, lift-gates, pallet jacks, cartons, chains, binders, and boxes.
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Falls
Falling out of a vehicle or falling when loading and unloading a vehicle can cause severe damage to truck drivers. They often suffer from back and knee sprains as a result of these falls.
Some of these injuries may seem as though they are unpreventable, however, the CDC has gone into depth on how certain workplace controls can limit the injuries caused by this line of work. Their article outlines how the use of engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment could prevent truck drivers and those who work around trucks from getting serious injuries.
What To Do If You’ve Experienced Truck-Related Injuries
If you have experienced truck-related injuries and are unsure of what to do next, these steps may be beneficial:
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Seek medical attention
If you have experienced any injury, it is important to seek medical attention so that your injuries don’t worsen or escalate into something more serious and life-threatening.
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Report your injuries
Reporting your injuries to your employer and documenting your report can be crucial evidence should you need to file a claim for your injuries in the future. It is, however, just as important to have proof that you sustained an injury while working.
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File a legal claim
If your injury could have been prevented and has resulted in hefty hospital bills that are difficult or impossible for you to repay, you may want to file a legal claim. There are two different types of claims that you can file based on your situation, those two being a worker’s compensation claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
It is important to know the full extent of your injuries and if they will affect you in the future. This information, especially if used in your case, can help you receive a settlement that takes your future medical expenses into account.
Contacting An Attorney
If you decide that you are going to go forward with filing a legal claim, you will need to find a reputable attorney and choose between filing a worker’s compensation claim or a personal injury lawsuit. The difference between these two are:
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Worker’s compensation
A worker’s compensation claim doesn’t require fault on anyone’s behalf. This injury can typically result from normal day-to-day job requirements.
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Personal injury lawsuit
This type of lawsuit has to result from the fault of someone else. An injury must have been caused by negligence and be able to be proved in a court of law.
For more information on worker’s compensation and personal injury lawsuits, you can visit this site. If you are still unsure of which claim to pursue, your attorney can guide you in the correct direction and make sure that you are pursuing the most beneficial course of action for your case.
It is important to begin your case immediately. Every state has a different statute of limitations, or the time after an accident you have to file a claim. If your injury is serious enough to warrant legal intervention, it is best to file your claim as soon as possible.
Who is Liable For Truck-Related Injuries?
If you have decided to move forward with a personal injury case, liability will need to be determined. Depending on your injury and the circumstances under which it was sustained, many different parties could be liable. Some possible liable parties include:
- Loading companies
- Shipping companies
- Truck manufacturers
- Other drivers on the road
If you are unsure about who the liable party may be, an attorney can help you figure it out. There may even be more than one party found liable for your injury.
Truck Injury Lawsuits
If your injury was caused by a negligent party, you may be entitled to financial compensation fitting to your situation. Your attorney should fight to be able to recover any wages you have lost because of your injury, money to cover past, present, and future medical bills, and money for damages including pain and suffering. After reviewing all of the evidence, there may be additional damages that need to be accounted for in your claim. If so, they will also be applied. The goal of your attorney should be to provide you and your family with appropriate compensation so that you can maintain financial stability during this difficult time.
Contact Us
If you have been injured as a result of your job as a truck driver, contact the experts at Dash Injury Law. Our attorneys will provide attentive care to your case and help you receive appropriate compensation for your injury.