Trucking Loading Injuries and Your Rights in a Fort Lauderdale Workers’ Compensation Claim
Truckers and delivery drivers in South Florida haul massive amounts of products, supplies, and materials. The workers who load those vehicles often work long hours and put tremendous strain on their bodies. Loading injuries are common, can cause potentially disabling harm, and can prevent workers from returning to the job site.
Florida workers’ compensation can help offset their medical care, lost income, and other costs, but benefits are often denied or disputed. Our experienced Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyer explains the hazards and how to protect your rights in a claim.
Loading Injuries Can Cause Serious Harm to Fort Lauderdale Workers
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) warns that the trucking industry has one of the highest rates of accidental injuries, and it’s not just truckers who suffer harm. Loading a commercial vehicle is a physically demanding job that puts workers at significant risk.
Whether you load local delivery vans or 18-wheelers and other big rigs, it’s important to be aware of the hazards. Common ways loading injuries can happen in Fort Lauderdale include:
- Falls from trailers, docks, or ladders during loading.
- Repetitive stress can impact the hands, wrists, arms, or knees.
- Back, neck, and shoulder strains from bending and heavy lifting.
- Getting struck by falling cargo, moving machinery (forklifts), or cargo loading equipment.
- Crushing injuries due to falling materials or getting trapped between the truck and the dock.
These and other injuries can leave you suffering serious harm and may prevent you from working for weeks or months afterward. Fortunately, benefits available through the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation can help cover your costs.
How to Protect Your Rights in a Fort Lauderdale Workers’ Compensation Claim
Truck loading injuries can cause serious harm, but to save money, insurers frequently dispute these claims. To protect your rights, take these steps:
- Report the injury to your supervisor in writing the same day it happens.
- If possible, photograph the scene, the load, the equipment, and any visible injuries before anything is moved or cleaned up.
- Identify any coworkers who witnessed the accident and write down their names and contact information.
- Get medical care immediately and let your doctor know exactly how and where the injury occurred.
- Follow all medical restrictions and attend every scheduled appointment to avoid gaps that insurers use against you.
If a defective piece of equipment, such as a faulty forklift, a broken dock plate, or an unsecured pallet rack, contributed to your injury, you may also be entitled to compensation in a third-party personal injury claim.
Consult Our Experienced Fort Lauderdale Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Truck loading injuries in South Florida can cause chronic pain, limited mobility, and may require months of medical care. To get the benefits you need to recover, contact our experienced Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyer.
The Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A., helps injured workers get the compensation they need to recover. Request a consultation in our Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach office today.
Sources:
osha.gov/trucking-industry/hazards
myfloridacfo.com/division/wc/home