4 Common Non-Collision Work Injuries For Truck Drivers

If you’ve never done it professionally, driving for a living may not seem like an overly physical career, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Many truck drivers help load and unload the heavy cargo they deliver, and remaining in a seated position for hours on end can certainly cause problems for different areas of your body. There’s also the possibility of being injured in a crash.

We’ve covered injuries stemming from automobile accidents on the blog in the past, but we want to take a closer look at some of the more common non-collision injuries that can affect truck drivers. Below, we explore four common injuries that can plague truck drivers that aren’t the result of a traffic accident.

Common Injuries That Affect Truckers

If you drive for a living and are experiencing any of these conditions or you have symptoms that could be the result of one of these issues, reach out to an injury firm to see if you may have a valid compensation claim:

1. Back Problems – Sitting for an extended period of time day in and day out will take a significant toll on your spine. Your lumbar spine has to bear excessive pressure when you’re in a prolonged sitting position, and this can lead to problems like spinal stenosis, herniated discs or degenerative disc disease. Moreover, the repetitive bumping and jostling they experience driving at high speeds and on uneven surfaces ends up being displaced on their lower spine, which can also contribute to back problems.

2. Soft Tissue Injuries In The Foot And Ankle – Prolonged tension on an area of your body part can also impact your foot. Truck drivers regularly push down the gas pedal and flex their foot as they are navigating the open road. Over the years, this can lead to repetitive stress injuries to some of the soft tissues in your foot. Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis are two conditions that can set in due to chronic repetitive strain on soft tissues in your feet.

3. Lifting/Loading Injuries – As we mentioned in the introduction, many drivers also help load and unload cargo from their trucks, and oftentimes these pieces of equipment are quite heavy. Muscle strains or tears can happen easily if they attempt to lift something that is too heavy or without proper form. There’s also the possibility of hand and foot crush injuries if cargo ends up being set down somewhere it shouldn’t during the loading or unloading process. Practice proper lifting techniques when moving cargo.

4. Fall Injuries – Finally, while they don’t work from heights in a traditional sense, fall injuries also send countless truck drivers to the emergency room every year. A misstep getting in or out of their truck can lead to a fall and an injured ankle, or a fall off a loading bay can lead to significant injuries. If you’ve suffered a fall injury during the course of your driving duties, know that you have legal options available.

If you have been injured during the course of your career as a driver, or you’re retired but you’re wondering if new injuries were originally caused by your employment, reach out to a workers’ compensation lawyer. You may be eligible to collect compensation, even if you’re no longer with that company. For more information, or for help with your injury claim, give Dean and the team at Margolis Law Firm a call today at (952) 230-2700.