Truck drivers face unique and significant risks of injury due to the nature of their employment. Operating large commercial vehicles on busy roads every day, especially along heavily trafficked routes like Interstate 80 in Nebraska and Iowa, is an enormous responsibility requiring special skill. When a trucking accident happens, resulting injuries can be significant, leaving drivers unable to work with unpaid expensive medical bills. Workers’ compensation benefits provide financial support to truck drivers via off work cash benefits and medical coverage for trucker hurt while performing their job duties, even if injured during non-driving hours while out over-the-road.
Common causes of truck driver injuries
Truck drivers often experience accidents caused by bad drivers, long hours, poorly maintained equipment, hazardous weather, and heavy, congested traffic. Collisions with other vehicles are a leading cause of injuries, but incidents like falls or strains during loading or unloading, repetitive stress injuries from long drives or poorly maintained equipment, and accidents at truck stops also occur. These injuries can leave drivers with mounting medical bills and limited income if they are unable to work.
Filing a workers’ compensation claim
After a work-related truck accident, obtaining immediate medical attention should be the top priority. Be sure to report to medical providers every part of your body impacted by the work accident. For accidents which do not occur while operating the truck, where the employer is often aware immediately due to tracking technology, truck drivers need to immediately report the accident to their employer as soon as possible. Be sure to report each and every injury as soon as possible. In both Nebraska and Iowa, timely reporting of injuries is crucial. Failure to properly and timely report a workers’ compensation claim can prevent recovery of benefits, even if later the accident-related injuries are found to be significant.
Benefits available under workers’ compensation
Workers’ compensation provides a range of benefits to injured truck drivers. These include coverage for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and wage replacement for lost income while recovering. If the injury results in long-term disability, additional high-value compensation may be available. Nebraska and Iowa laws vary regarding how benefits are valued, so legal guidance is valuable. Rarely will the workers’ compensation insurance company voluntarily pay maximum benefits allowable.
For this reason, truck drivers injured on the job should know their legal rights. Workers’ compensation benefits are written in State statutes—they are laws that have been passed to protect you. Insurance companies often work to minimize payouts or deny claims, even when injuries are clearly work-related. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help drivers navigate the claims process and fight for the benefits they deserve. Getting professional legal assistance ensures injured drivers can focus on recovery with peace of mind knowing there are experts working to ensure financial stability during recovery and thereafter.
