Hit By a Truck at Work in Kentucky

As a truck driver, you know how demanding your job can be. Long hours on the road, heavy loads to transport, and operating a large vehicle alongside inattentive or careless drivers can take a toll. Despite the care and caution, you take while doing your job, you are at risk of an accident because of the amount of time spent behind the wheel. You may sustain serious injuries in a truck accident.

If you suffer a work-related injury in a truck crash, you may be eligible for paid medical care and other benefits through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation pays for your medical treatment and replaces a portion of your lost wages if you are unable to work for a period of time.

However, the workers’ comp claims process can be complicated. Insurance companies often offer less than the fair value of a claim, especially if the medical expenses are significant. At Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, our injury attorneys are known for the Kentucky Courage they bring to fighting for clients. We have extensive experience guiding injured workers through the Kentucky workers’ compensation system. Let us provide the experience and courage your case demands.

Our team has helped numerous Kentuckians get the full compensation available by law. Whether you need to pursue a workers’ compensation claim or build a personal injury case against an at-fault driver who caused your injuries, our attorneys are ready to help. In certain situations, you may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits and pursue a personal injury claim against an at-fault motorist. We offer a free consultation to review your case and help you understand your legal options.

To talk to a knowledgeable Kentucky workers’ compensation lawyer, call Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer today. Give us a call at (877) 809-5352 or reach out to us online. We’re available 24/7 to discuss your next steps. The consultation is free.

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Common Truck Driver Injuries

Driving a truck is a demanding job that could leave you with serious injuries when things go wrong. From navigating a large truck on congested highways to loading or unloading vehicles, the job comes with many activities that could hurt you. Serious injuries are common.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), truckers are at risk of many types of injuries, including:

Strains and sprains – Strains and sprains are among the most common injuries that truck drivers sustain on the job. They account for approximately 50 percent of the injuries that truck drivers suffer. These injuries can put you out of work. When the injuries are severe, they can keep you from working in the future.
Contusions – Truck drivers can sustain deep bruises from handling equipment, cargo, and tools. Some bruises may take months to heal and may indicate a more serious condition, such as a hematoma.
Fractures – Broken bones occur frequently in trucking accidents. Bone fractures can limit your ability to work and cause long-term pain. Workers’ compensation benefits may be available to help if you sustained a bone fracture on the job.
Cuts and lacerations – Serious cuts can lead to scarring and even life-threatening blood loss. If you suffer cuts on the job, seek medical attention promptly. Notify your employer of the injury and find out if a workers’ compensation claim could help you.
Soreness and pain – Driving a truck is a physically demanding job. Truck drivers have to handle heavy equipment and, in some cases, may need to manage cargo. That can lead to muscle strains, soreness, nerve pain, and other deep, long-lasting problems.
Traumatic injuries – Traffic accidents can cause traumatic injuries. Serious injuries can put you in the hospital and leave you unable to return to work for an extended period. You will need to take advantage of all the financial resources available to you. An experienced personal injury attorney at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer can help.

Occupational Injuries or Illnesses From Trucking

While injuries like strains and sprains are common, there are other more serious injuries that truckers could suffer.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, common types of occupational injuries or illnesses experienced by truck drivers include:

Overexertion – Truckers work hard. But that can lead to undue stress on joints, bones, and muscles. That can translate into painful occupational injuries for even the most seasoned truck driver.
Slip and fall or trip and fall injuries – Truck drivers encounter all types of surfaces at loading docks and in parking lots. Uneven road surfaces, slick pavement, and slippery steps can cause slip and fall accidents.
Impacts from equipment – Cargo, trailers, vehicles, and other heavy items can impact truckers and cause major injuries. If you’ve suffered an injury due to an equipment impact, you may be able to pursue a workers’ compensation claim.
Traffic accident injuries – Trucker drivers spend many hours behind the wheel each week. That provides a lot of opportunity for accidents caused by motorists who are driving carelessly or with disregard for the safety of others.

As an injured truck driver, you may be covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. If you’ve been injured or suffered an illness on the job, workers’ compensation could help you through this challenging time.

When to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim

The time to notify your employer and file a workers’ compensation claim is as soon as possible after you’ve suffered a work-related injury or illness. First, you’ll need to report the injury to your employer right away. Failing to report your injury in a timely manner can hurt your right to claim benefits.

You’ll need to file your claim with the Kentucky Department of Workers’ Claims within two years of suffering the injury or discovering the occupational illness. You should file a claim as soon as possible. Keep in mind that it can take time to resolve a claim.

Benefits You Can Receive

Many people have asked the question: Does workers’ compensation cover injured truck drivers? The answer, in many cases, is yes. Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that employers are required to carry to protect full and part-time employees who are injured while performing job duties. It provides many significant benefits including:

Coverage of medical costs related to your work injury – Workers’ compensation pays for all reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to the treatment of a work-related injury.
Compensation for your lost wages – In Kentucky, if you’re out of work because of a work-related injury, you may receive weekly checks to cover a portion of your weekly wages. This could help you pay your bills and cover your expenses while you are unable to work.
Modification of your job, including light-duty – In some cases, workers may be able to return to work with modifications of their job duties.
Retraining – If your injury prevents you from doing your job in the future, there may be retraining resources to help you find other employment.
Stipends for permanent injuries – If you have reached maximum medical improvement but still have an impairment as a result of the workplace injury, you may qualify for permanent partial disability or permanent total disability benefits.

Workers’ compensation claims for truckers can provide a wide range of benefits after an injury. To learn more about what benefits are available to you based on the specifics of your on-the-job injury, get in touch with a Kentucky workers’ compensation attorney today.

Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim for a Trucking-Related Injury

The process of filing for workers comp for a truck accident involves many rules you’ll need to follow, and deadlines you’ll need to meet. The Kentucky Labor Cabinet states that because workers’ comp claims can be complex, most injured workers choose to hire an attorney to guide them through the claim process.

When you decide to file a claim, you’ll need to:

File an Application for Resolution of a Claim
Ensure that you file within two years of the injury
Receive an acknowledgment letter
Wait for the Claims Assignment section to review your application

Depending on the outcome of the application and whether it is approved, your claim may move on to a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge.

Throughout the application process, claims reviewers evaluating your claim may need additional information or have questions about the information you provided. A lawyer at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer who regularly handles workers’ compensation claims can walk you through the process. In many cases, our attorneys can help with negotiating a workers’ comp settlement for truck accident injuries.

Speak with a Kentucky Workers’ Comp Lawyer Today

Personal Injury Lawyers in Kentucky: Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident while working and your employer is disputing your workers’ compensation claim, get in touch with Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer now. We know how stressful it can be when you’ve suffered a debilitating work injury. The medical bills pile up, the mortgage or rent still comes due, and the stress of the situation can feel overwhelming. You don’t have to handle these challenges on your own.