The most persistent hazards that drivers face during their shifts are motor vehicle accidents. These accidents can result in severe or fatal injuries.
Drivers often make frequent stops, going in and out of their vehicles to drop off packages. This also places them in danger of being struck by another car or truck.
However, motor vehicle collisions are only one of the dangers that delivery drivers experience.
Some of the other types of accidents experienced by delivery drivers are described in detail below:
Dog Bites
When a negligent pet owner does not properly restrain their animal, delivery drivers may suffer attacks. Dog attacks can result in serious and lifelong medical complications.
How much can delivery drivers get compensated in dog bite lawsuits? It will depend on the severity of physical damage they sustain. If you have been bitten by someone’s dog, speak with a personal injury attorney immediately.
Slip and Trip Injuries
Delivery drivers are usually required to leave packages on residential doorsteps or inside businesses. If a property owner has not maintained their premises, delivery drivers may trip or slip.
Some of the typical causes of slip and trip injuries include the following:
- Broken sidewalks or curbs
- Uneven pavement
- Debris or objects in walkways
- Drastic changes in floor elevation
- Spills or leaks in front of a property
- Icy sidewalks
Falling accidents can cause significant injuries. When victims fall, they may sustain broken bones, head injuries, or spinal damage.
Whiplash
This type of neck injury occurs as the result of a rapid back-and-forth motion. Whiplash is a common injury in rear-end motor vehicle collisions but can also result from other types of accidents.
Most whiplash victims recover with proper medication and treatments. However, the symptoms of this type of injury can be painful and disabling:
- Stiffness and pain in the neck
- Pain when moving the neck
- Inability to adjust or move neck muscles
- Inability to sleep
- Irritability and mood shifts
- Pain or tenderness in shoulders, upper back, and arms
- Numbness and tenderness in the arms
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Tinnitus (persistent ringing in the ears)
- Persistent headaches
If you have experienced any of these signs or symptoms, it is important to seek medical care. It is also critical to speak with an attorney and ask this question: “How much can delivery drivers get compensated for a whiplash injury?”
Repetitive Motion Injuries
Delivery drivers are required to engage in many repetitive motions throughout the course of their workdays. They often need to lift and move packages when making deliveries.
Over time, these movements can cause drivers to sustain physical damage and injuries. One of the most common repetitive motion injuries is carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve experiences continual pressure. Some of the typical symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include the following:
- Tingling and numbness in the hands
- Decreased range of motion in the wrists
- Weakness in the hands
- Pain in the wrists, fingers, and palms
When delivery drivers experience these symptoms, they may be able to recover financially through a workers’ compensation claim. The accomplished Morgan and Morgan legal team will oversee your workers’ comp claim or appeal and help you secure the benefits you have earned.