Common Injuries Sustained by Commercial Truck Drivers

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Truck drivers perform pretty dangerous work. They spend all of their working day around equipment and machinery, heavy cargo, and on the road with other potentially negligent or reckless motorists. Operating a large commercial truck also requires a great deal of experience and skill. It can be easy for a truck and its driver to get into an accident, perhaps more so than other passenger vehicles. 

If a truck driver suffers a debilitating injury on the job, they may end up losing income until they recover enough to return to work. When a driver is employed by a trucking company, they may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits from their employer. Other truck drivers who work as independent contractors may purchase disability insurance, which can help pay for medical expenses and replace wages when a driver is injured in the course and scope of their work.

Examples of Most Common Injuries

Official statistics show that a sizable number of fatalities in commercial truck accidents are the truck drivers themselves. Due to the time truck drivers spend on the road, along with the fact that they have to work with machinery and equipment like forklifts and have to move heavy boxes or cargo around, truck drivers are exposed to the risk of any number of injuries. Some of the most common injuries truck drivers can suffer on the job include:

• Cuts and severe lacerations, which can lead to serious or life-threatening bleeding
• Strains, sprains, and tears of soft tissues such as ligaments, muscles, and tendons
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Broken bones
• Neck and back injuries, including spinal disc herniations or ruptures
• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injury
• Crush injuries, caused by cargo or equipment falling on a driver
• Amputations

Bruises, lacerations, and strains and sprains represent the majority of reported truck driver injuries. Fortunately, many of these injuries will heal with time and, in some cases, rehabilitation. But many strain and sprain injuries, especially in the neck and back, never fully heal, leaving a driver with long-lasting pain. Fractured bones can also result in complications such as complex regional pain syndrome, caused by traumatic injury to the nerves that triggers long-lasting, widespread, debilitating pain. Some of the most serious injuries on this list can even result in permanent disability that prevents a truck driver from returning to work. 

How an Attorney Can Help After a Truck Accident

If you are a truck driver injured on the job, you may be waiting for insurance companies to investigate your accident and injuries and negotiate liability for your medical expenses and lost income. That’s why it’s critical to have an advocate for your rights and interests. A personal injury or workers’ compensation attorney can help facilitate the claims process, ensuring that you receive benefits or financial compensation in a more timely manner. A lawyer can also ensure that the benefits or compensation you receive represent the full recovery you are entitled to under the law. In particular, if you are offered a settlement in your workers’ compensation or personal injury claim, an attorney can review the offer to ensure that it will fully compensate you for both your past as well as your future expected losses and damages.

Contact a Rochelle Park Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Truck Accident Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a truck accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. represent clients injured because of truck accidents in Hackensack, Teaneck, Fort Lee, Fair Lawn, Paramus and throughout New Jersey. Call 201-231-7847 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 340 West Passaic Street, Rochelle Park, NJ 07662.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.