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    injured truck driver

    Driving a large truck is a physically demanding job. Driving for many hours can be exhausting, and some drivers have to load and unload cargo. Drivers may be injured climbing in or out of a truck. Many drivers sustain musculoskeletal injuries while connecting and disconnecting trailers or lifting heavy loads. Severe strains and sprains account for half of the reported nonfatal injuries. Truck drivers may suffer injuries in a collision.

    Because of the potential for traffic accidents, 18-wheeler drivers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illness of any occupation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you are a commercial driver who has been injured on the job and you are having difficulty obtaining workers’ compensation benefits, contact an experienced worker’s compensation lawyer at Joye Law Firm for help. Our team will review your situation and help you seek the benefits you deserve.

    Call (888) 324-3100 or fill out a contact form online to schedule a free consultation with us today.

    Common Truck Driver Injury Situations

    Truck drivers may experience injuries transporting goods across the country or picking up and dropping off packages within a local region or urban area. Regardless of the size and weight of the truck, drivers can be injured in many different ways.

    Truck drivers often work in a high-stress environment. They are required to meet tight delivery schedules, stay alert for up to 14 hours a day, and often have irregular sleeping schedules. Commercial drivers often drive on nights, weekends and holidays.

    The most common injury situations include:

    • Accidents during loading or unloading cargo
    • Connecting and disconnecting tractors from trailers
    • Strains, sprains, and back injuries
    • Contact with objects or equipment
    • Slips, trips, and falls – including climbing up into tractor cabs, entering and exiting trucks, slipping/falling on or offloading onto docks
    • Being struck by improperly loaded cargo
    • Collisions with other vehicles
    • Crush injuries
    • Overexertion

    Traffic collisions pose a risk of injury for anyone who spends time driving as part of his or her job duties. According to the South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book, more than 5,000 truck drivers were involved in tractor trailer accidents in a recent year.

    Common Truck Driver Injuries

    Truck drivers may suffer bruises, fractures, cuts, and lacerations when hitching or unhitching trailers or working around loading platforms. Severe strains and sprains account for half of the nonfatal work injuries sustained by truck drivers. Strains and sprains can cause neck, back, elbow, arm, and shoulder pain.

    These types of injuries are considered musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). MSDs include conditions that affect joints, bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs, and blood vessels. These injuries can start with one awkward movement or misstep. They can be short-lived, or they can lead to long-lasting conditions associated with ongoing pain and disability.

    Truck drivers often develop tendonitis, tennis elbow, low back pain, and other disabling MSDs. Such persistent injuries reduce a trucker’s ability to work, participate in social activities, and can impact their mental health. These injuries can limit a truck driver’s mobility and dexterity and can be a cause for depression leading to reduced earning potential.

    Pursuing Full Compensation for Truck Driver Injuries

    You have a right to file a workers’ compensation claim in South Carolina if a trucking company employs you and you have been injured on the job. A workers’ compensation claim will allow you to receive paid medical care including the cost of prescriptions and partial replacement of lost wages.

    Depending on the extent of your injury, you may also qualify for long-term disability benefits for up to 500 weeks. Payment for lost wages, vocational retraining, and other expenses you experience as a result of your work-related injury are possible. Worker’s comp claims do not cover intangible damages, such as pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.

    Depending on the circumstances, you may also have a right to file a personal injury claim to cover your pain and suffering and other intangible damages. For example, if your injuries were caused by a truck accident in which another driver was at fault, you may have a right to file a claim against that driver’s insurance and sue if necessary. If you need to pursue compensation for your truck-driving injuries, it is essential to discuss all your options with a knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney.

    The relationship between workers’ comp claims for truckers and personal injury claims is complicated. You need an attorney who handles workers’ comp claims and personal injury claims to evaluate your legal options.

    How Can a Lawyer Help You With a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

    If you are a truck driver in South Carolina who has been injured on the job, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. To be sure that you receive all the available benefits, it may be helpful to have an experienced worker’s comp lawyer discuss your rights with you.

    Sometimes, employers and insurance administrators try to dispute or deny valid workers’ compensation claims to avoid paying benefits. The reasons often cited for denial of claims include not reporting the injury to the employer or submitting a claim within the time limit or issues related to employment status. Other reasons for denial involve lack of medical evidence, discrepancies between an accident report and initial medical records, and even disputes over whether the injury happened on the job.

    If your workers’ comp claim has been questioned or denied, talk to one of our experienced workers’ comp lawyers at Joye Law Firm about your rights.

    Here are some ways that the attorneys at Joye Law Firm can assist:

    • Help you provide written notification of your injury to your employer. South Carolina’s worker compensation laws require that if you’ve been injured at work, you must give written notice to your employer within a designated period. The time periods can vary depending on the date an accident happened, or the date the injury was discovered.
    • Compile medical evidence from medical records or arrange for additional treatment for you with additional medical specialists, if needed.Investigate the cause of your injury and evaluate whether third-party liability exists. You generally cannot sue your own employer as a condition of receiving workers’ compensation benefits. But others may have liability as well. For example, your injury may have been caused by another motorist who caused the crash or by a defective truck component.
    • Help resolve discrepancies between your accident or injury report and your medical records. Often differences develop between your medical caregiver(s) and an Independent Medical Examiner (IME) hired by your employer’s insurance company to provide a second opinion on your injury. Joye Law Firm attorneys can help to make sure your rights are protected during this process.
    • Communicate with your employer’s insurance company on your behalf.
    • Represent you at a workers’ compensation hearing.
    • Discuss options with you for a possible personal injury claim.
    • Seek to negotiate a fair and reasonable workers’ compensation settlement.

    The attorneys at Joye Law Firm have nearly 250 years of combined legal experience. They will work hard to seek the full compensation available to you. While every case stands on its own, our attorneys at Joye Law Firm have the results to demonstrate their passion for justice and the efforts they make to help clients.

    Contact a South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Attorney

    The Joye Law Firm has been in business for more than 50 years representing injured people in South Carolina, including those with work-related injuries. The firm has offices in North Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Summerville, and Clinton. The firm is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, and it employs several Super Lawyers and attorneys who have received the highest peer-reviewed professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards.

    You can expect Joye Law Firm lawyers to treat you with respect, compassion, and care. For a free, confidential initial case evaluation, call the Joye Law Firm today at (888) 324-3100“>(888) 324-3100.

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