HAVE YOU SUFFERED A NECK OR BACK INJURY?
Truck driving has become one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States, and that is not only because of truck accidents. Truck drivers often face many occupational injuries, such as persistent pain in the back, neck, shoulders, and knees.
In fact, neck and back injuries are among the most common injuries suffered by professional truck drivers. Truckers often lose wages until they recover when injured or suffer chronic pain. Often, drivers are paid based on the number of miles they drive or deliveries they have made, which means if a truck driver is not on the road, they are not earning money.
It’s not rare that insurance companies deny claims due to doubting the severity of the back and neck pain a driver may be feeling. Don’t leave your livelihood in their hands! Reach out to an injury attorney for truckers as soon as possible.
CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS OF BACK AND NECK PAIN AND INJURIES
Approximately 500,000 highway accidents happen each year involving a tractor-trailer and nearly 75% of these accidents are caused by the driver of the passenger vehicle – not the trucker. Truckers commonly sustain back and neck injuries as a result of these accidents. Truck drivers can also suffer painful neck or back injuries from lifting cargo or equipment, as well as less strenuous activities such as climbing into your cab or simply bending over to tie your shoe.
Vibration, repetitive motion, as well as long hours, spent sitting in a driving position can also be the causes of these types of injuries. These prolonged periods of sitting put a large amount of pressure on the spinal discs and back muscles. Additionally, sitting with poor postures, like the one a driver may have while operating a vehicle, can lead to the stretching of the spine, which can result in additional pain in the future.
Typical neck pain or injury symptoms can include stiffness anywhere along the person’s spine or consistent pain in the back, especially after sitting for an extended period. Also, symptoms associated with back pain may include severe shooting pain that spreads from the back down your legs and leg numbness.
Symptoms associated with neck pain can include headaches, numbness of an arm, and sharp shooting pains in a person’s neck. Bear in mind that injuries to the back or neck area can sometimes result in a spinal cord injury that can cause a permanent disability.
Also, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), fatal occupational injuries to truck drivers have constantly been on the rise for years. One thing is clear – professional truck drivers are more likely to suffer neck and back injuries than the average person due to job requirements and the lifestyle associated with professional trucking.
CAN BACK AND NECK PAIN BE EASILY DIAGNOSED AND TREATED?
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The lifestyle of professional truckers is very demanding and typically involves driving 5 to 7 days a week, for 8 to 10 hours a day (or more), and traveling tens of thousands of miles a year with very few breaks. These extended periods of sitting are followed by bursts of strenuous activity such as lifting and bending, which naturally leaves truckers susceptible to neck and back injuries. The truck’s vibration and the seat bouncing are also considered contributing factors to the fact that back or neck pain occurs often in trucker drivers. This combination is a recipe for painful back and neck injuries.
The cause of neck and back pain is not always apparent from X-Rays, MRIs, and other diagnostic testing. That can result in the inability to have back and neck pain diagnosed properly. Because of that, truck drivers often express frustration that doctors and other health care workers are not able to provide them to have their back or neck pain treated, and, in some cases, refuse to recognize that the trucker is even injured. The pain from the injury combined with the lack of respect shown by health care providers can be disheartening. We can help.
REPRESENTING TRUCKERS WITH BACK & NECK INJURIES
Hurt Trucker Attorneys have a team of healthcare professionals who are used to caring for injured truckers and have the expertise to determine the cause of your back or neck injury, even when the cause of the injury is not obvious from diagnostic tests. If your back or neck injury resulted from a work-related accident or was caused by the negligence of a third party, we will help you recover the compensation you are owed.
YOU WILL BE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE YOU RECEIVE THE MEDICAL TREATMENT YOU NEED.
Contact Hurt Trucker Attorneys today at 417-323-2488 (417-323-2488) or email us at attorneys@hurttrucker.com for more information on how we can help you pursue injury claims and receive the compensation you deserve.