$170,000 Workers’ Compensation Settlement for Fall from a Truck
Settlement for a Worker Injured After Falling from a Truck
In this case, our client was working near the back of a truck when the truck driver began to pull away. The worker fell from the truck and landed on top of a concrete barrier. As a result, he suffered wrist fractures, rib fractures, and chest trauma. Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC negotiated a $170,000 settlement on behalf of this injured worker.
Truck-Related Work Injuries
Truck-related work injuries can happen in many ways. Some workers are hurt in roadway collisions, while others are injured during loading, unloading, deliveries, yard work, or jobsite operations. A truck does not need to be traveling at highway speed to cause serious harm. Even a low-speed movement can create a dangerous situation when a worker is standing near the vehicle, handling cargo, or working around loading areas.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported that, in 2022, approximately 503,000 police-reported crashes involved large trucks, including 5,279 fatal crashes and 114,000 injury crashes. Those roadway numbers do not include every workplace loading or unloading injury, but they help show why trucks and commercial vehicles require careful attention to safety.
Common Injuries in Truck-Related Work Accidents
Workers who load, unload, inspect, guide, drive, or work around trucks may suffer serious injuries when a vehicle moves unexpectedly, cargo shifts, equipment fails, or safety procedures are not followed. Common injuries may include:
- Fractures: Falls from trucks, trailers, liftgates, loading docks, or nearby work areas may cause broken wrists, ribs, arms, legs, ankles, or other bones.
- Chest trauma: A fall onto a barrier, vehicle part, loading dock, or hard surface may cause rib fractures, bruising, breathing difficulty, or other chest injuries.
- Head injuries: A worker who falls or is struck by equipment may suffer a concussion, skull injury, or more serious traumatic brain injury.
- Back and spinal injuries: Falls, impact trauma, and heavy lifting may damage discs, nerves, muscles, ligaments, or the spinal cord.
- Crush injuries: Workers may suffer severe injuries when they are pinned between a truck and another object, caught by moving equipment, or struck by shifting cargo.
- Wrongful death: When a truck or heavy commercial vehicle is involved, the potential for fatal injury may be present even during worksite or loading-area operations.
Workers’ Compensation After a Truck-Related Job Injury
If a worker is injured while performing job duties, the case may qualify as a workers’ compensation claim under Illinois law. Benefits may include medical treatment, payment for time missed from work, and compensation for lasting injury or disability, depending on the facts and medical evidence.
Some truck-related injuries may also involve a separate truck accident claim if another company, driver, contractor, property owner, or equipment provider contributed to the accident. Because these cases can involve both work-injury rules and third-party liability issues, it is important to review the facts carefully before accepting a settlement.
Legal Help After a Truck-Related Workplace Accident
Since 1990, Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC has represented injured workers and accident victims in Chicago and throughout Illinois. If you were hurt while working around a truck, call 312-243-9922 or contact us for a free case evaluation.
