Thousands of workers in the trucking industry get injured every year.
The job of a truck driver is one of the toughest. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there are approximately 17 deaths and 7 non-fatal work-related injuries per 100,000 workers in the transportation, warehousing and utility sectors, which means thousands of workers in the trucking industry get injured every year.
Common Injury Risks in the Trucking Industry
Truck drivers can sustain a wide variety of injuries in the course of their work including:
Musculoskeletal injuries: Truck drivers are prone to musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities, neck, and back, which are primarily caused by lifting heavy containers, cartons, tanks or boxes or by loading and unloading the truck. These injuries can also occur while working on vehicle tires and using loaders or dollies.
Falls: Truck drivers can fall on stairs, fall from vehicles, or fall into openings. Such injuries can occur when a driver makes delivery on an upper floor, or steps into a hole at a loading/unloading dock, or simply exits the truck. Falls from height can cause back and knee sprains.
Struck by/against objects: Workers can get struck by/against objects while opening containers or lifting hitched trailers to their trucks. The truck driver may hit or get hit by vehicle parts, pallet jacks, cartons, lift gates, and other similar objects.
Motor vehicle accidents: More than 50 percent of truck driver deaths are caused by car accident injuries. Workers may get injured when they collide with another car or lose control of their vehicle. Truck drivers are at risk of getting injured in the collision, and also of getting rolled over by their own truck.
The type of injuries a particular driver is prone to depend on the type of work he does. For example, truck drivers that deliver to residential areas may be at risk of a slip and fall injury when walking up to the client’s porch to make a deliver. On the other hand, industrial truck drivers are more likely to suffer loading/unloading related injuries.
The point is, truck drivers have a physically demanding job that can cause injuries over a period of time.
Have You Been Injured at Work?
If you are a truck driver who has suffered a work-related injury, you may be able to file a workers compensation claim as long as you are an employee and not an independent contractor. Whether the injuries are a result of a one-time incident or a cumulative effective of overexertion or repetitive stress, you may be entitled to workers compensation benefits. Get in touch with a qualified Kansas City worker compensation lawyer to learn more about your legal rights in Missouri.
Call (816) 399-3706 for a free case evaluation.