Workers’ Compensation Attorneys For Truck Drivers
One of the greatest injury risks that truck drivers face is simply suffering injuries in a motor vehicle accident. All it takes is one other driver to make a mistake and a safe truck driver could be drawn into a catastrophic accident. When these crashes happen while truck drivers are on the clock, they need to know how to seek workers’ compensation benefits.
At Taradash Johnson Janezic, we have more than 70 years of valuable experience. Our attorneys have recovered millions for our clients. We also work on contingency fees, so there is no upfront payment and you own nothing until our lawyers win your case. We handle both workers’ comp and third-party injury claims for injured truckers. Contact our office to get started with a free, no-obligation consultation.
Trucking Is A Dangerous Job
Even for safe drivers, trucking is dangerous. Commercial drivers spend years on the road, creating a high level of risk exposure. They have to share the road with:
- Teen drivers, who have the highest fatal accident rate
- Fatigued drivers, including other truck drivers
- Impaired drivers, including both drugs and alcohol
- Distracted drivers, especially from smartphones
- Aggressive drivers, especially during rush hour
Americans are injured in car accidents every day, and more than 40,000 people die annually in accidents. Plus, truck drivers could be injured when loading the trucks or securing loads. Common issues include back injuries from lifting heavy objects or injuries suffered in slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents. Here are other types of truck accidents truckers might be injured in:
- Rear-end Collisions: These accidents occur frequently in trucking, typically when a truck follows another vehicle too closely or if the vehicle in front makes an abrupt stop.
- Jackknife Accidents: This type of accident happens when a truck’s trailer swings out to form an angle with the cab, often resulting from incorrect braking or steering maneuvers. These can be single vehicle accidents or lead to multi-vehicle crashes.
- Rollover Crashes: Trucks can tip over onto their sides due to factors like uneven weight distribution, taking curves too quickly, or having worn-out tires. Injuries from rollover crashes can be minor or severe.
- Wide Turn Accidents: Due to the size of trucks, executing wide turns can be difficult, sometimes leading to collisions with nearby vehicles.
- Blind Spot Collisions: These occur when smaller vehicles are not visible in the truck’s blind spots, leading to accidents during lane changes.
- Tire Blowouts: A sudden failure of a truck tire can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
- Underride Crashes: These dangerous situations happen when a smaller vehicle slides under a truck during a collision. While an underride crash is often deadly to the smaller vehicle, it can leave a trucker with injuries, too.
- Lost Truck Loads: Improperly secured cargo can fall onto the roadway, posing a danger to other motorists.
Severe Injuries Truckers Face
When truckers are involved in serious accidents, potential injuries they face include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Crushing injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Loss of sight and vision injuries
- Burn injuries
- Permanent disabilities
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
Not only do these often lead to extensive medical bills, lost wages, and significant pain and suffering, but they may mean that a truck driver can never return to work, creating a long-term loss of income or reduced earnings.
Truckers, Call For A Free Consultation
If you have been injured on the job, call Taradash Johnson Janezic at 815-669-4635 or use the online contact form to set up your completely free initial consultation with our experienced team.