The holiday season is meant to be a happy time that is full of family togetherness, gift-giving, and preparing for the year to come. Unfortunately, car accidents involving drunk driving often increase during this time. Hundreds of people are killed in these types of collisions every holiday season, with around 300 fatalities occurring during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

While it is unknown how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect the rates of traffic fatalities in the 2020 holiday season, drunk driving continues to be a concern. Even though many bars and restaurants are currently closed, reducing the chances that a person will drink and drive after a night out on the town, many people will still be drinking alcohol while attending holiday parties or getting together with their families. In addition, the isolation that many people are experiencing during the pandemic may cause them to increase their use of alcohol or drugs, leading to risky behaviors that could lead to dangerous car accidents.

Legal Options Following a Drunk Driving Crash

Car accident victims may have multiple options for pursuing compensation from a negligent driver or another party who was at fault for a collision. A person may be covered by the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy, or in a case involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist, they may receive coverage through their own insurance policy. A personal injury lawsuit may also allow a person to recover damages from a driver or other parties, such as the manufacturer of defective auto parts or a government organization that did not correct a dangerous road or intersection.

If you are injured while working, you will typically be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits will fully cover the costs of medical treatment for a work-related injury, and you may also be able to receive compensation for loss of income due to a temporary or permanent disability. Workers’ compensation will be available whether you or your employer were at fault for your injury. In addition to workers’ comp, you may also be able to pursue a third-party personal injury lawsuit against other people or organizations who were liable for your damages.

Reasons to Pursue a Third-Party Claim

Multiple parties aside from you or your employer may have been responsible for your work-related injury. For example, if you were injured in a car accident while working, another driver may have been responsible for the collision due to speeding or distracted driving. You may also be able to pursue a third-party claim against a manufacturer of defective tools that caused an injury, or a premises liability lawsuit may be filed against a property owner who did not properly address hazards in an area where you were working.

In many cases, a third-party claim can allow you to recover additional compensation that is not available through a workers’ comp claim. Disability benefits through workers’ compensation will only provide you with a percentage of the income you were unable to earn because of your injury. A third-party claim, on the other hand, may allow you to be fully compensated for all income you have lost while recovering from your injuries, as well as impairment to your ability to earn an income in the future.

Falling down after losing one’s footing on a sidewalk, floor, or walkway may seem like a minor incident, but in reality, slip, trip, and fall accidents can lead to a variety of serious injuries. The impact with the ground may lead to broken bones, including fractured wrists, hips, or kneecaps. Victims can also suffer dislocations of joints such as wrists, shoulders, knees, or ankles, or they may experience painful sprains and bruises. In especially dangerous cases, such as a fall from a higher level to a lower level, a person may suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, or even wrongful death.

Victims of slip and fall accidents may be able to pursue compensation for their injuries and damages through a premises liability lawsuit. In these cases, a property owner or the tenant in control of a property may be held responsible for injuries that occurred because of their negligence.

Elements of a Premises Liability Case

To pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit, a plaintiff will need to demonstrate the following:

Work-related injuries or illnesses can put a person and their family in a difficult position. Medical treatment can be very expensive and paying these and other bills may seem impossible if an injury has affected a person’s ability to continue working. Fortunately, workers’ compensation benefits are available to those who are injured while on the job. Employees will want to be sure to understand the types of benefits they can receive, including payments that address the income lost due to their injuries.

Temporary and Permanent Disability Benefits

Any injuries that occur while working or illnesses contracted because of a person’s job are covered by workers’ comp, whether an employer or employee was at fault. Disability benefits will address the income lost while a victim is recovering from their injuries, as well as any impairment to their income-earning capacity in the future. In Illinois, disability benefits are grouped into the following categories:

• Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) - An injury may lead to a reduction in the number of hours a person can work during the time they are recovering, or they may need to temporarily move to a new position where they earn a lower income. TPD benefits will provide an injured worker with two thirds (66.7%) of the amount calculated by subtracting the amount they currently earn from their average weekly wage before their injury.
• Temporary Total Disability (TTD) - If injuries cause a person to be unable to work at all while they are recovering, TTD benefits will provide them with two thirds (66.7%) of the average weekly wages before being injured.
• Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) - A work-related injury or illness may lead to the loss of body parts or an inability to fully use certain parts of the body. In many cases, PPD benefits will provide a certain number of weeks of pay, depending on the part(s) of the body that were injured and the percentage of function they have lost in these parts. These benefits will be calculated by determining 60% of a person’s average weekly wage and multiplying that amount by the number of weeks of pay they should receive. In other cases, a person may receive wage differential benefits, in which they will receive two thirds (66.7%) of the amount calculated by subtracting their current wages from what they previously earned.
• Permanent Total Disability (PTD) - When injuries are so severe that a person becomes permanently disabled and unable to resume work, they may receive PTD benefits, which will provide them with two thirds (66.7%) of the average weekly wage they had earned before being injured. These benefits will be paid for the remainder of their lifetime.

Contact Our Aurora Disability Benefits Attorneys

At Kinnally Flaherty Krentz Loran Hodge & Masur, PC, we can provide legal help to make sure you understand the steps you should take following a work injury, and we can assist in filing a workers’ comp claim and protecting your right to disability benefits and medical benefits. To set up a free consultation, contact our Kane County workers’ compensation lawyers today by calling 630-907-0909.

When a person files a lawsuit in the wake of a car accident, slip-and-fall, or other personal injury matter, they hope to recover enough in the way of damages to address the losses they have suffered. These losses generally include expenses related to physical injuries, as well as lost wages, property damage, and more. What many victims do not realize, however, is that their compensation may be reduced, as it is fairly common for an injured party to share in the liability for the accident. The legal doctrine under which a personal injury can be reduced for this reason is called “comparative negligence.”

Contributory Negligence vs. Comparative Negligence

One of the first questions in any personal injury matter is “Who was at fault for the accident?” Under the principles of common law, historically, if the injured party played any part in causing the accident, he or she was barred from seeking compensation from anyone else. The thought process was that a person has the duty to reasonably protect themselves from injury, so failing in that duty was seen as grounds to bar recovery.

Over time, U.S. states began to shy away from this principle, which is called “pure contributory negligence.” Lawmakers realized that it was unfair to deny recovery in a case where, for example, the injured party was only 10 percent responsible for the accident. While four states and the District of Columbia still maintain pure contributory negligence laws, all of the other states—including Illinois—have adopted comparative fault standards. There several different versions of comparative fault standards, but the most common allow a plaintiff to recover damages as long as he or she is not more than 50 percent responsible for the accident.

Most of us can remember the joy of being a child playing on a playground during summer break. Playground equipment like slides, monkey bars, jungle gyms, and swings can be a source of endless fun for children. However, this type of equipment must be accurately constructed and carefully maintained in order to be safe for children to enjoy. When a park or playground is not adequately maintained, unsafe conditions can lead to a child being seriously injured or even killed. If you have a child who has suffered an injury or wrongful death in a playground accident, an Illinois personal injury attorney may be able to help.

Most Common Playground Injuries

Children playing on a playground at a daycare, school, city park, church, health club, or other facility are probably not worried about whether or not the equipment they are climbing on is safe—nor should they have to be. Facilities with playground equipment have a duty to ensure that their equipment is not flawed or faulty in such a way that it presents a hazard to those lawfully using it.

Unfortunately, serious playground accidents can and do happen. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 200,000 children under the age of 14 require emergency room treatment for a playground-related injury each year in the United States. These injuries can include serious fractures and broken bones, concussions, internal injuries, dislocations, and amputations. Some of these injuries are so severe that they can change a child’s life forever.

Throughout the United States, pedestrian fatalities have increased by an incredible 50%. According to statistics compiled by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), approximately 6,590 pedestrians were fatally injured in car accidents throughout 2019. The number of pedestrian fatalities in 2019 marked a 5% increase over 2018 numbers and a thirty-year high in the United States. In the state of Illinois, pedestrian fatalities rose by a staggering 19% throughout 2018. If you or a loved one have been struck by a motor vehicle, you deserve compensation.

Why Pedestrian Fatalities Are Rising

Throughout the early portion of the 2000s, pedestrian fatalities were on a consistent decline, but over the past decade have risen to disturbing and unprecedented levels. According to safety officials throughout the United States, the rise can be largely attributed to increased driver negligence. According to the GHSA, intoxication often plays a role in collisions involving pedestrians. Driving while intoxicated is proven to impact a driver’s vision, decision making, and reaction time. Studies also indicate that an increase in cell phone usage has contributed significantly to the number of pedestrian fatalities. Despite the implementation of Bluetooth and other hands-free technology, drivers continue to text and drive. Taking your hands off the wheel and eyes off the road is a dangerous and negligent action.

Securing Compensation for Your Family

After seeking the necessary medical attention, it is important to act quickly in the aftermath of a car accident. If you are able to seek out as much information from the other driver including the make and model of their vehicle, the driver’s license plate number, and the insurance information of the driver. If the driver flees the scene, which occurs in roughly 12% of all collisions throughout the United States, contact law enforcement officials and gather information from any witnesses of the accident. As mentioned above, negligence plays a role in a significant number of pedestrian accidents, a police report can be used as evidence of the driver’s negligence.

In 1999, the medical community was rocked by a report prepared by the Institute of Medicine which classified the problem of medical errors as an epidemic. That report concluded that approximately 95,000 people died each year from preventable medical mistakes. The annual cost to medical facilities was determined to be between $17 billion and $29 billion.

Although the Institute of Medicine’s report prompted much debate over the years regarding what could be done to protect patients, a more recent report prepared by researchers from John Hopkins University found that the medical community might not have had too much success in doing so. In fact, preventable medical errors are now the third leading cause of death in this country.

Disturbing Numbers

Unlike the 1999 report, which relied upon data from just one study, the Johns Hopkins report used data collected from four major studies. Two of these studies were from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, during the years 2000 to 2008.

After being involved in a car accident of any severity, a person’s life can be changed drastically. While only the most severe car accidents will likely lead to fatal or life-threatening injuries, even minor accidents can lead to some level of harm as well as vehicular damage. Regardless of the type of accident you have been involved in, there are a few steps that all people should take in the immediate aftermath of an accident. If you or a loved one have been injured in a motor vehicle collision, it is time to reach out to a knowledgeable personal injury attorney.

Contacting Emergency Personnel

When a person is involved in a car accident, it can be hard to regain a calm and collected mindset, but your ability to act in a prudent manner is critically important to the health of all passengers and the wellbeing of your family. First and foremost, if any person in your vehicle has suffered an injury, you need to contact medical personnel. Serious injuries such as traumatic brain injuries can showcase delayed symptoms and cause permanent damage if untreated. Visiting a medical professional will also give you an accurate understanding of all injuries suffered as it may pertain to an insurance claim or personal injury case.

It is equally important to contact local law enforcement officials after an accident. If the other driver had plans of fleeing the scene, threat of law enforcement involvement may encourage them to stay. It should also be noted that in many cases, insurance companies will request an accident when you are filing a claim. If the driver was acting in a negligent manner, such as drinking and driving, a police report can be invaluable in a personal injury case.

While injuries at the workplace can occur in any industry, it should come as no surprise that construction workers face an increased risk of both fatal and non-fatal injuries. Tragically, more than 1,000 construction workers were fatally injured while at work, throughout 2018 alone. In all, construction site accidents constituted 47% of all workplace fatalities throughout 2018. Equally concerning is the fact that non-fatal injury rates are 71% higher in the construction industry than any other industry in the United States. If you or a loved one have suffered an injury in a construction accident, it is time to seek out the help of a qualified attorney.

Causes of Injuries

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), nearly 3 out of every 10 non-fatal construction injuries are caused by slip, trips, or falls. In many cases, these accidents can be due to employer negligence. If slippery surfaces are not properly marked by an employer, they can be deemed liable for injuries suffered. If employees are not properly equipped with safety equipment and protective gear while working on a roof or on a multi-story building, injuries suffered can also be viewed as a result of employer negligence. Regardless of how the injury occurred, if you or a loved one suffer an injury while working at a construction site, you may be entitled to significant compensation.

The Most Common Construction Injuries

In the construction industry, some of the most common injuries include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and injuries to the spine. If a person suffers a serious fall, injuries to the ribs or limbs can result in loss of work hours, and costly medical expenses. Even more concerning are the long term ramifications of suffering brain trauma or an injury to the spine. A serious concussion can leave a person unable to return to work for significant amounts of time. Tragically, some forms of brain trauma can result in permanent cognitive damage. Spinal injuries can range from minor whiplash to spinal fractures resulting in paralysis. In the aftermath of a construction injury, seek immediate medical attention.

Every single year, there are an average of six million car accidents throughout the United States. While only a small number of motor vehicle collisions result in fatal injuries, the reality is that millions of Americans suffer injuries in car accidents each and every year. Unfortunately, the true impact of a motor vehicle collision can go far beyond the initial injuries suffered. If you or a family member have been injured in a car accident, it is important to reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

Personal Property Damage

First and foremost, ignoring the injury implications of a car accident, the vehicular damage suffered in a collision can be incredibly costly. Fortunately, a skilled and experienced legal professional can work to develop a fair and accurate settlement and apply the necessary pressure needed to ensure that the other party’s insurance company will pay for the damages. If you or a family member are suffering from injuries, you do not need to feel financial pressure from damage to your vehicle.

Loss of Work Hours

In many cases in which a person suffers a serious injury in a car accident, they will face some form of income loss. Whether your injuries require a long-term recovery and will hinder you from going to work, or you are forced to attend trials and other legal obligations after the accident, you should be prepared to face some income loss. Speaking with your attorney regarding your level of compensation and the number of hours lost, will provide your attorney with the possibility of including that income loss into the settlement.

In the United States, our economic well being is based in large part on exports and imports. The commercial trucking industry serves as our primary facilitator of the exporting and importing of goods. While commercial trucking may be a necessary component to our economy and way of life, the industry does come with some safety risks. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, approximately 4,136 Americans died in commercial trucking accidents throughout 2018 alone. If you or a loved one suffer serious injuries in a collision with a commercial truck driver, you need to quality legal representation.

Examining Commercial Trucking Accidents and Injuries

Due to the sheer size of commercial trucks, the overwhelming majority of fatalities in these collisions occur to passengers in standard motor vehicles. Whether your loved one was severely injured or killed in an accident, it is important to seek legal action in a prudent manner. In many of these instances, the negligence of the commercial truck driver was the ultimate cause of the collision. The most common forms of truck driver negligence include drinking and driving, distracted driving, and exceeding their hour restrictions resulting in drowsy driving. In other instances an employer may overload a commercial truck or fail to properly maintain the vehicle, resulting in an increased risk of an accident.

How an Attorney Can Help

When accidents involve corporations, it is common for the company to treat you unfairly. The company may offer you a significantly lower settlement than what you deserve or deny any fault in the collision. An experienced legal expert will work to investigate the accident and prove that the driver or employer acted in a negligent manner. With a skilled attorney at your side, the threat of a trial will present a serious risk to the company’s reputation and finances, because of this they are more likely to offer a fair settlement. A serious injury can result in loss of income and significant medical expenses, working with an attorney you can trust, can ensure that your family receives the compensation you need.

Throughout the United States, tens of thousands of motorcyclists are involved in motor vehicle collisions each and every year. Tragically, according to statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 4,985 motorcyclists were fatally injured in accidents throughout 2018 alone. Injuries tend to be more severe among motorcyclists in collisions involving a standard motor vehicle because of the lack of protection they have. If you or a loved one are injured in a motorcycle collision, it is time to seek legal assistance.

Negligence and Motorcycling

Due to the exciting nature of motorcycling, some motorcyclists operate their vehicle in a negligent or reckless manner. The most common forms of motorcycle negligence include swerving in between lanes of traffic, riding at excessive speeds, following other vehicles too closely, and illegally passing. These forms of negligence can lead to both rear-end and head-on collisions. If a motorcyclist is swerving in and out of lanes of traffic, it can make spotting the motorcyclist more difficult for other drivers. It should also be noted that drinking and driving is an increasingly common form of motorcycle negligence. According to the NHTSA, an incredible 28% of motorcyclists killed throughout 2017, were legally drunk.

Securing Compensation

Unfortunately, because of the above statistics, there is a prejudice by the general public that a motorcyclist who has been injured in a crash must have caused the accident. The reality is that the majority of motorcycle drivers are keenly aware of the dangers and operate in a safe manner. The majority of crashes are actually caused by other drivers and not motorcyclists.

Today, distracted driving has become one of the leading traffic safety concerns throughout the United States. Distracted driving can come in a number of forms including texting and driving, consuming food or beverages while driving, or any action that will take a driver’s hands off the wheel or eyes off the road. Despite the fact that distracted driving is inherently dangerous, thousands of Americans make the reckless decision to drive while distracted. If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you need the help of a qualified legal professional.

Is Distracted Driving Really that Dangerous?

With the sheer number of distracted drivers on American roadways, it is natural to wonder how much of a health hazard distracted driving is. The short answer is simply that distracted driving is one of the leading causes of motor vehicle collisions and traffic fatalities in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving resulted in approximately 2,841 fatalities throughout 2018 alone. While the vast majority of these deaths were drivers and passengers, an alarmingly high number of pedestrians (400) and bicyclists (77) were killed by the reckless actions of distracted drivers.

The dangers of distracted driving are multifaceted, taking your hands off of the wheel will impact your ability to operate a vehicle safely, while taking your eyes away from the road will impact your reaction time. Studies conducted by the NHTSA state that reading or sending a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. If the driver is traveling at 55 mph or higher, they will be driving blind for at least 100 yards.

Throughout the United States, rear-end collisions are the most common form of motor vehicle accidents. While most people think that rear-end collisions only result in minor vehicular damage and no injuries, nearly 500,000 of the 2 million annual rear-end collisions nationwide result in injury. Equally concerning is the fact that an average of 1,700 Americans die each year in rear-end collisions. Below we will examine some of the most common injuries associated with rear-end collisions, as well as discussing the importance of seeking legal consultation in the aftermath of an accident.

Severe Rear-End Collision Injuries

Due to the fact that a rear-end collision often takes a victim by surprise, the injuries can be increasingly severe. Even if you are able to walk away from the accident, it wise to seek out medical attention. One of the most common injuries associated with rear-end collisions is a concussion. In many instances, a person suffering from a traumatic brain injury will not experience symptoms of the injury for some time, but if left untreated a concussion can come with long-term health ramifications. If you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, or a headache, you need to seek out medical attention immediately.

In other instances, the symptoms of a serious injury will show up immediately after a rear-end collision. Injuries such as broken ribs, damage to the spine, and other bone fractures, can cause immediate discomfort. Due to the jerking motion associated with most rear-end collisions, spinal cord injuries are some of the most common injuries in rear-end accidents. Whether you have suffered from a spinal cord fracture or are experiencing minor whiplash symptoms you may still face loss of income, significant medical expenses, and chronic pain. Fortunately, a knowledgeable personal injury attorney can work to ensure that you and your family receive the compensation you need to recover from any and all injuries suffered.

For parents, there is nothing more important than protecting our children. Unfortunately, some accidents can be caused by the negligent actions of another party. This is especially true as it pertains to motor vehicle collisions. Tragically, car accident injuries to children can be increasingly severe due to their smaller stature. Injuries to a child can result in chronic pain and even impact their physical and mental development. If your child has been injured in a motor vehicle collision, it is time to speak with a knowledgeable attorney.

Alarming Information on Child Injuries

Despite numerous safety measures in place to keep our children safe, the amount of children injured in car accidents each year is alarmingly high. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 116,000 American children were injured in motor vehicle collisions throughout 2017 alone. Of those injured children, approximately 675 ultimately died due to their injuries. For parents, the biggest step one can take is properly restraining your child. Studies conducted by the CDC found that 35% of all children that were fatally injured in car accidents throughout 2017, were not properly restrained.

The sad reality though is many children suffer injuries even when they are properly restrained in a booster seat, car seat, or standard seat belt system. The most common injuries to children in car accidents are head, chest, organ, and back injuries. In other words, many of these injuries can have a life-long impact on a child. If a child suffers severe brain trauma in a car accident, their brain development can be stunted or permanently altered. Similar issues can occur in spinal and back injuries, impacting mobility for an extended period of time.

Every single year, upwards of 6 million motor vehicle collisions occur throughout the United States. Approximately 50% of those car accidents result in injuries of some kind. Statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that 90 people die every day in car accidents throughout the United States. While some car accidents occur when all drivers involved are operating their vehicles safely, many of these collisions are the direct result of driver negligence. Below we will examine some of the most common forms of driver negligence, and how you should react if you or a loved one are injured in a motor vehicle collision.

Negligence Leading to Collisions

Some experts claim that car accidents are simply an unavoidable aspect of our lives, but studies suggest otherwise. A massive percentage of car accidents throughout the United States are the direct result of reckless actions or negligence.

The most common and easily proven form of negligence in the United States remains drinking and driving. Despite the positive work of initiatives to discourage inebriation behind the wheel, drunk driving kills more than 10,000 Americans each and every year. Fortunately for families impacted by the negligence of a drunk driver, the legal process can be fairly straightforward. After law enforcement officials respond to the collision, the negligent party will likely be breathalyzed if they are displaying signs of inebriation. Through police testimony, securing significant injury or wrongful death compensation should not be overly challenging.

In a national job market, some occupations will come with more inherent risks than others. Today, the construction industry is known as one of the most dangerous industries throughout the United States. Despite stringent regulations established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), designed to keep employees safe, workplace injuries and fatalities are more common in the construction industry than many would like to assume. According to statistics compiled by OSHA, construction industry fatalities account for upwards of 20% of annual private sector fatalities. If you or a loved one have been injured while working construction, you may be entitled to significant compensation.

Common Forms of Construction Injuries

According to OSHA, the leading cause of injury in the construction industry is falling. Construction workers are asked to work on multiple story buildings, roof builds, and other tasks that put them at risk of falls. Throughout 2018 alone, over 300 construction workers were fatally injured after falling on a job site. Other common causes of injuries and fatalities include being struck by objects and electrocutions. In many injury instances, employers fail to apply proper protective measures throughout the site or equip their employees with necessary protective equipment.

Filing a Claim in Illinois

When you or a family member suffer an injury while at work, filing a claim can come with some complications. According to Illinois state law, an employee that suffers an injury at work can only file a workers’ compensation claim against their employer. While an employee cannot file a personal injury claim against an employer, they can file a claim against other contractors or parties responsible for injuries suffered. If a contractor used the employee to complete a task that resulted in injury, you may be able to pursue a personal injury claim. If a driver crashes into a construction site resulting in injury, you can file a claim against the driver. For more information on the steps you should take after a construction site injury, speak with a knowledgeable attorney.

Every single day thousands of Americans suffer serious injuries in motor vehicle collisions. While many people involved in car accidents will willingly share insurance information and handle the situation with professionalism, others will attempt to flee the scene. Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents occur daily throughout the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 737,100 hit-and-run accidents occurred throughout 2015 alone. If you or a loved one have been injured in a hit-and-run collision, it is important to know how to react.

What You Should Do After a Hit-and-Run

After ensuring that all passengers are safe after the initial collision, it is important to react quickly in a hit-and-run situation. First and foremost, contact law enforcement officials. The quicker that police can arrive on the scene, the more likely they are to apprehend the other party. If you believe the other vehicle is attempting to flee, you should attempt to document the license plate number, color, or make of the fleeing vehicle. While pictures of the vehicle can be incredibly beneficial to a police investigation, a written description and potential license plate number can also lead to an arrest. Regardless of whether you are able to document the aforementioned information, it is crucial that you speak with any witnesses of the accident.

Witnesses can not only help you gather information regarding the driver’s appearance and details of the vehicle, but also any forms of negligence that may have played a role in the collision.

When a worker is injured on the job, the impact of their injury can have a serious impact on the financial well-being of their family. Not only can a work injury result in significant medical expenses, but also potentially long-term income loss. Recognizing this, securing workers’ compensation can be incredibly important to the injured party and their family. Commercial trucking is an inherently dangerous profession and employee injuries are more common than most would assume. If you have been injured while working as a commercial trucker, you may be entitled to significant workers’ compensation payments.

Commercial Trucking Injuries

Due to the dangerous nature of commercial truck driving, workers’ compensation claims are common throughout the industry. Long driving hours and inconsistent exercise patterns can lead to an increased likelihood of injuries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 60,000 commercial truck drivers suffer non-fatal injuries each year. The most common causes of injuries within the industry include motor vehicle collisions, accidents while loading or unloading cargo, and long-term overexertion.

Securing Compensation

It is important to understand that employer negligence does not have to play a role in a workplace injury, in order for a worker to be entitled to workers’ compensation payments. After suffering an injury, the first step you can take is speaking to an attorney that you can trust. Ensure that your attorney is knowledgeable regarding the extent of medical expenses, and loss of income that resulted due to the injury. Do not settle for an injury settlement that does not cover all of your expenses. In many instances, companies will attempt to have an employee agree to a minimal compensation package, as a means of saving money.