Truck drivers can be seriously injured in traffic collisions, as well as in other circumstances while performing their jobs. While large truck accidents are often known for causing serious and fatal injuries to occupants of smaller passenger vehicles, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there has been “an upward trend in fatal occupational injuries to truck drivers during the 10-year period from 2009-18,” and large truck drivers continue to sustain injuries at a high rate in collisions. If you were injured while working as a truck driver, or if your loved one was killed while driving an 18-wheeler or another large truck, it is important to find out more about seeking workers’ compensation benefits.
Our West Palm Beach workers’ compensation lawyers can provide you with more information about coverage for injured truck drivers in South Florida.
Getting the Facts About Truck Driver Injuries
What do you need to know about truck driver accidents and injuries? The following facts come from the BLS:
- Transportation accidents are the most common cause of serious and fatal occupational injuries for truck drivers;
- Truck drivers can also be injured due to contact with objects and equipment, as well as by exposure to harmful substances;
- Slips, trips, and falls are the fourth-leading cause of serious and deadly injuries among truck drivers;
- Traumatic brain injuries are the most common cause of accidental death among truck drivers, followed by traumatic injuries to bones and nerves and the spinal cord, as well as due to burns; and
- Tractor-trailer drivers suffer injuries more frequently than other types of truck drivers.
What Job Duties Do Truck Drivers Have?
Truck drivers, including long-haul truck drivers and delivery truck drivers, are responsible for many different duties. The BLS cites the following as typical work tasks of heavy truck and tractor-trailer drivers:
- Driving long distances over lengthy periods of time;
- Following traffic laws;
- Securing cargo to be transported;
- Inspecting the trailer to identify and report and defects or maintenance issues;
- Keeping a work hour log to comply with state and federal FMCSA regulations; and
- Reporting mechanical issues.
Steps a Truck Driver Should Take to Seek Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Any truck driver who is injured on the job should find out about their eligibility to obtain workers’ compensation benefits. If the truck driver is eligible for workers’ compensation benefits and the employer is “covered” by workers’ compensation requirements, the truck driver must report the work injury to their employer within 30 days from the date the accident happened. Then, the truck driver will need to seek medical care.
If the injury occurs in an emergency situation, the truck driver should initially seek medical care wherever is closest and easiest to the accident site. For follow-up appointments, the truck driver will need to see a health care provider who has been approved by the employer or insurer.
Contact a West Palm Beach Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today
Truck drivers who have been injured on the job deserve to seek compensation for their injuries, which are often debilitating. One of the experienced West Palm Beach workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. can assess your circumstances today and discuss your options for filing a workers’ compensation claim.
Sources:
bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/truck-drivers-2018.htm#:~:text=Nature%20of%20Injury%3A-,The%20most%20common%20nature%20of%20fatal%20occupational%20injuries%20to%20truck,and%20other%20injuries%2C%20except%20fractures
bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm#tab-2
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0440/0440ContentsIndex.html
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