From the outside, being a delivery driver can look easy since it appears at first glance that driving around to deliver packages is relatively safe. Yet, the reality is that delivery drivers are just as susceptible to workplace injuries as those who work in other professions. And these injuries can take quite a toll, too, leaving injured individuals unable to work and earn a wage while facing enormous medical and rehabilitative costs. These losses can quickly eat away at savings and create insecurity.
Fortunately, if you’re a delivery driver who has been injured on the job, you may be able to recover benefits from the workers’ compensation system. To do so, though, you have to understand how to navigate the workers’ compensation system. The first step in doing that is understanding the injuries that can be suffered on the job and that may be compensable through a workers’ compensation claim.
Common injuries suffered by delivery drivers
As with any other profession, there’s a wide variety of injuries that can be suffered when working as a delivery driver. Here are some of the most common that may qualify you for workers’ compensation benefits:
- Slip and fall injuries: Delivery drivers have to climb in and out of their vehicles on a regular basis, and oftentimes in bad weather. They sometimes also have to traverse uneven sidewalks and slick surfaces that can increase the risk of a slip and fall or trip and fall accident. The injuries suffered in one of these incidences can be severe, too, including broken bones, torn tendons and ligaments, and even head and neck injuries.
- Back injuries: Heavy lifting is part of a delivery driver’s job. Overexertion caused by continuous heavy lifting can cause strain on the back, though, leading to wear and tear that can cause serious injuries. Some delivery drivers end up suffering from a herniated disc, while others develop sprains, strains, or even fractured vertebrae.
- Accident injuries: Delivery drivers spend a lot of time on the road. The more miles they drive, the more likely they are to be involved in a serious car accident. One of these wrecks can cause multiple injuries, including severe lacerations, broken bones, and brain and neck injuries. These injuries can knock you out of work for a significant period of time, and your recovery can be painful and costly.
What to do after being injured on the job
If you’ve been injured at work, then you should start gathering evidence to demonstrate the nature and extent of your injury so that you’re positioned to file a workers’ compensation claim. Anticipate that your employer and their insurance company will argue that your condition is attributable to a pre-existing condition or that it was caused by your own negligence. Once you have evidence showing how your injuries were suffered and your need for medical care, you’ll hopefully be in a strong position to recover the workers’ compensation benefits you need.
Are you ready to build your workers’ compensation claim?
If so, then you might find it beneficial to continue reading about the workers’ compensation system and how to appropriately navigate it. After all, there are oftentimes nuances and unexpected challenges that threaten to thwart even the most well-developed claim. So, before diving head-first into your case, make sure you have the understanding, strategy, and determination necessary to properly advocate for the outcome that you want.