Types of Health Risks That Truck Drivers Face
Those who work in the trucking industry and operate big rigs for hours a day, day after day, face certain health risks that those in other industries do not. Not only are truck drivers at a greater risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident, which could result in mild or severe injuries, but they also are at risk of developing a number of adverse health conditions over the years. Consider these types of health risks that truck drivers face, and reach out to our workplace injury lawyers if you have questions about your right to bring forth a claim for damages.
Acute Injuries and Accidents
Truck drivers, based on the nature of their work, are at an increased risk of certain acute accident and injury types. These include:
● Motor vehicle accidents;
● Cargo-related loading and unloading injuries;
● Slips, trips, and falls;
● Assaults and homicides; and
● Contact with objects and equipment.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , there were more than 700 truck drivers in the U.S. who lost their lives in a single year as a result of involvement in the accident types listed above.
Truck Driver Lifestyle and Adverse Health Conditions
Acute accidents and injuries are not the only risks that truck drivers face; their lifestyle and their job duties can also cause or contribute to a number of adverse health conditions. These conditions are often the result of sitting for long hours at a time, failing to get enough sleep or sleeping at odd hours that are misaligned with the body’s circadian rhythm, using prescription and over-the-counter drugs to manage pain and fatigue, and poor diet. Some of the adverse health conditions that disproportionately affect truck drivers include:
● High blood pressure;
● Obesity;
● Diabetes;
● Coronary artery disease;
● High cholesterol;
● Depression;
● Sleep apnea; and
● Stress.
These health conditions can diminish a person’s quality of life, are often associated with other adverse health events, and can be expensive to treat.
Compensation for Injuries and Occupational Diseases
Workers’ compensation insurance is designed to pay for injuries and occupational diseases that workers suffer/incur as a direct result of their work-related activities. While workers’ compensation insurers often compensate workers for acute injuries such as a traumatic brain injury that is suffered as a result of a motor vehicle collision, compensation for an occupational disease is much harder to obtain; it can be difficult to prove that a worker would not have suffered a disease but for his or her employment.
Consult with Nebraska Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Today
To learn more about your rights as a truck driver if you have suffered an injury as a result of your work-related activities, or if you have been diagnosed with a disease that you do not believe you would have incurred but for your job, reach out to our experienced Nebraska workers’ compensation lawyers at Andres Law Offices PC LLO. Our lawyers are passionate about protecting the rights of truck drivers in our state, and we want to help you recover the benefits you deserve. Reach us today online or by phone to get started.