Truck Driver Injuries Caused By Improper Loading
Truck drivers are routinely at risk of a wide range of injuries while they are working, from injuries caused by heavy lifting to those resulting from encounters with animals during deliveries to accidents that happen on the road. Whether a truck driver is responsible for long-haul routes in an 18-wheeler or semi-truck, or drives locally in South Florida to do deliveries for a specific business, a truck driver can sustain serious and life-threatening injuries in a trucking collision. The causes of truck crashes in which truck drivers are injured can vary widely. One common reason for trucking accidents is an improperly loaded truck bed or trailer. Our Pompano Beach workers’ compensation attorneys can tell you more about this common cause of work accidents for truck drivers and how to seek workers’ compensation coverage.
Unsafe Truck Loading and Workplace Injuries
Large trucks need to be properly loaded in order to prevent accidents. To be sure, when trucks are improperly loaded, drivers can suffer serious injuries in single-vehicle crashes or in multi-vehicle crashes involving other motorists. There are multiple ways in which a truck can be loaded improperly. According to Sentry, the following are some of the most common issues involving improper loading, which can lead to crashes and injuries for truckers on the job:
- Overloading the truck, resulting in the truck requiring a greater stopping distance and increased risk of a crash;
- Cargo that has a center of gravity that is too high, which can result in difficulty with handling and can result in a truck rollover accident, especially for smaller delivery trucks;
- Oversize loads that are not properly planned for, and which can result in crashes due to handling issues or due to encounters with road features that cannot accommodate the oversize load (such as a crash in a smaller tunnel or on a narrow bridge);
- Off-balanced or imbalance loads, which can place too much weight on one side of the truck and can create traction problems and braking issues; and
- Unsecured cargo, which can make it difficult for the truck driver to drive safely and can lead to roadways hazards for other vehicles.
How to Seek Compensation
If an improperly loaded truck or trailer causes a truck accident while you were driving for work, you should report your injury to your employer no later than 30 days from the date of the accident, and you should seek medical attention from an approved provider. In addition, depending upon the circumstances, you could be eligible to file a third-party lawsuit against the party that failed to properly secure or load the truck.
Contact a Pompano Beach Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today
Were you recently injured in a truck crash while driving a truck for an employer in South Florida? You could be eligible to seek workers’ compensation coverage and, depending upon the specific circumstances, you could be eligible to file a lawsuit against an at-fault third party in addition to seeking compensation through the Florida workers’ compensation system. Do not hesitate to reach out to one of the experienced Pompano Beach workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. to find out more about getting the benefits you need. We have years of experience representing injured workers, and we are here to assist you with your claim.
Sources:
sentry.com/what-we-offer/tools-and-services/sentry-safety-services/improper-loading-techniques
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0440/0440.html
