Slips, Trips, and Falls Are Common Truck Driver Injuries

If you were asked what are the most common injuries that truck drivers experience, you would probably say injuries from truck accidents. Surprisingly, they’re not. It’s actually slips, trips and falls that are the most common injuries for truck drivers.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, slips, trips, and falls were the leading cause of injuries to truck drivers from 2016 to 2020. As simple as these accidents are to prevent, it seems that they are on the rise, especially in the trucking industry.

Why slip and fall accidents are rising

Just like other industries, the trucking industry is experiencing a shortage of workers. This has led to an increase in delivery deadlines and a lack of safety measures. Truck drivers are focused on meeting deadlines and delivering goods on time that they may forget to check their surroundings. Trucking companies may also fail to make sure that the loading docks are safe for truck drivers to walk through. This lack of safety procedures has caused more harm to truck drivers than traveling on the roads.

Common causes of slip and fall accidents for truck drivers

One of the common causes of slip and fall accidents with truckers are slick floors. Floors can become slick because of inclement weather conditions, oil spills, and clean-ups. It’s hard for truck drivers to notice that the floors are wet as they are loading or unloading cargo in a rush.

Another common cause is climbing in and out of the truck. Truck drivers can get seriously hurt when they move too quickly while entering or leaving the cab of the truck. If the truck drivers fail to use the proper technique or don’t have the proper safety equipment, they can easily twist their ankle or hurt their back.

Truck drivers use certain tools like dollies, forklifts, and pallets. When this equipment is left unattended or not properly stored away, they can cause truckers to slip and fall. Poor lighting can also contribute to slip and fall accidents, as truckers deliver shipments at all times of the day or night.

Just like slip and fall accidents themselves, the injuries from these accidents are underestimated. Truck drivers can suffer the same kind of catastrophic injuries that they could face from truck accidents. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and fractured bones can stem from slip and fall accidents. These injuries will cost truck drivers so much in workers’ compensation insurance.

Workers’ compensation for slip and fall accidents in Kansas City

If an injured driver is employed by a trucking company, they can file for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation provides benefits for employees injured on the job.

These benefits are only for truckers who are employed with the trucking company. Some truckers are independent contractors and work for themselves. When these truckers have been hurt in a slip and fall accident, the trucking companies are not responsible for their injuries. They would have to cover their own expenses.

Workers’ compensation benefits help cover the costs of a worker’s medical expenses and lost income. These are the most expensive damages that come from a worker’s accident. Depending on how serious your injuries are, the lost income benefits that you get through your claim can be temporary or permanent. If your injuries are permanent, you can receive permanent benefits.

How Kansas City truckers can prevent slips, trips, and falls

Fortunately, there are ways that trucking companies can prevent slip and fall accidents from happening. Most of the safety procedures for truckers are designed to prevent them from slipping and falling.

One of the safety procedures for truckers involves wearing the right footwear. Truckers can wear non-slip shoes while working that help maximize the traction. Another is immediately cleaning any spills around walking surfaces. As soon as there is an oil spill or wet floor, it must be cleaned immediately. Wet floor signs should be used as well.

Another safety procedure truckers should use is the three-point system. The three-point system is the method that truckers use when entering and exiting the cab of the truck. For the method to be effective, three out of four limbs must be in secure contact with the truck. If the truck driver has one hand gripping the truck, both legs must be making contact with the truck as well. If one foot is making contact with the truck, both hands must be making contact with the truck and so on.

Trucking companies should also make sure that all areas have proper lighting. At the very least, truckers should be supplied with flashlights to help them light up their environment. All of these safety procedures will be for nothing if truckers can’t see what is in front of them. Adequate lighting should be provided to help truckers avoid any potential hazards.

When you have been hurt at the workplace, you deserve to be represented by the most experienced workers’ compensation attorneys in Kansas City. Our lawyers at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys are ready and willing to represent injured workers throughout the entire region. Call or text us today at 816-471-5111, or submit our contact form for a free consultation. We have locations in Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, St. Joseph, and Olathe, MO, as well as Overland Park, Parkville, and Kansas City KS.