Commercial truck drivers form the backbone of America’s supply chain, but they face significant occupational hazards daily, with vehicle crashes being the leading cause of serious injury and death in the industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, truck transportation recorded 66,850 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2023, with an incident rate of 4.1 cases per 100 full-time workers – significantly higher than the national average across all industries.
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers face a fatality rate nearly seven times higher than the average worker, making it one of America’s most dangerous occupations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that large truck crashes continue to be the most severe risk, with factors such as other drivers’ negligence, adverse weather conditions, and mechanical failures contributing to these incidents.
Whether hauling LTL (Less Than Truckload) freight, driving over-the-road routes, delivering concrete, or operating garbage trucks, these essential workers encounter unique risks that can lead to serious injuries.
Common Hazards in the Trucking Industry
Vehicle Crashes and Collision Risks
- Head-on collisions with negligent drivers
- Rear-end impacts at loading docks and in traffic
- Rollovers due to adverse conditions or evasive maneuvers
- Multi-vehicle accidents in poor weather
- Jackknife incidents on slippery roads
- Side-impact collisions at intersections
LTL and Over-the-Road Drivers
- Loading dock accidents and landing gear injuries
- Repetitive strain from cargo handling
- Injuries from jammed doors or defective equipment
- Slips, trips, and falls on customer properties
- Weather-related hazards
- Defective seat injuries
- Dolly-related accidents
Concrete Truck Operators
- Chemical burns from cement exposure
- Equipment malfunctions with mixing drums
- Stability issues and rollovers
- Injuries during chute handling
- Construction site accidents
Garbage Truck Drivers
- Automated lift mechanism injuries
- Exposure to hazardous materials
- Early morning visibility challenges
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Container handling accidents
Understanding Your Legal Rights
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Illinois law requires employers to provide workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. For intermodal workers, these benefits include:
- Medical Care Coverage: All reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to the work injury
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): Two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage while unable to work
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): Compensation for lasting impairments
- Vocational Rehabilitation: Support for workers who need to transition to different roles
- Death Benefits: Protection for surviving family members in fatal accident cases
Third-Party Claims
Additional compensation may be available from:
- Equipment manufacturers
- Other motorists
- Property owners
- Construction site operators
- Maintenance companies
Our Track Record of Success
Major Crash and Third-Party Settlements
- $4,795,000 settlement for a truck driver who had a partial leg amputation arising out of a wreck in central Illinois, including waiver of a $1.1 million workers’ compensation lien and $500,000 for future medical expenses
- $1,875,000 third-party settlement for Joliet Teamster Waste Management truck driver who suffered back injuries requiring surgery when he rolled his garbage truck to avoid a head-on collision
- $950,000 third-party settlement for a Teamster YRC driver who injured his shoulder in a truck wreck requiring surgery
- $885,000 third-party settlement for a Teamster Lakeshore Recycling Systems driver T-boned by a semi-truck
Significant Workers’ Compensation Victories
- $725,000 for a Teamster Waste Management driver who suffered a back injury from repetitive job duties (won after trial and multiple appeals including Illinois Appellate Court)
- $562,500 for a Teamster UPS driver struck by a package from an overhead belt conveyor at CACH, suffering head, neck, and elbow injuries
- $475,000 for a Teamster Waste Management driver (hip and back injuries from slipping on ice)
- $470,000 for a Teamster construction driver (bilateral shoulder and knee injuries from avoiding accident)
- $462,000 for a Teamster UPS driver (back injury from pulling fifth wheel pin)
- $455,000 for a Teamster YRC driver (shoulder injury at work, neck injury in physical therapy – won at trial)
- $450,000 for a Teamster Waste Management driver (neck, shoulder, elbow injuries from pulling water-filled tote – won at trial)
- $450,000 for a Teamster Lakeshore Recycling driver (knee and back injuries from slip on grease – won at trial)
- $440,000 for a Teamster USF Holland driver (back injury from jammed roll-up door)
- $400,000 for a Teamster YRC driver (shoulder injury from truck wreck)
- $400,000 for a Teamster Republic Services driver (shoulder and neck injuries from throwing toilet into hopper – won at trial and appeal)
- $350,000 for a Teamster driver (aggravated pre-existing shoulder injuries from falling freight)
- $350,000 for a Teamster YRC driver (shoulder injury and aggravated back condition from tractor fall)
- $350,000 for a Teamster YRC driver (shoulder and back injuries from pulling jammed chain in snowstorm)
- $350,000 for a Teamster Republic Services driver (knee injury from stepping down from truck)
- $315,000 for a Teamster Waste Management driver (hand injury from throwing water softener into hopper)
- $250,000 for a Teamster YRC driver (pinched nerve causing drop foot)
- $250,000 for a 62-year-old Teamster Republic Services driver (knee injury requiring total replacement)
- $250,000 for a Teamster USF Holland driver (torn rotator cuff from jammed roll-up door)
- $225,000 for a Teamster USF Holland driver (neck injury from landing gear malfunction)
- $212,500 for Teamster ABF driver (foot injury)
- $200,000 for a Teamster USF Holland driver (back injury from jammed roll-up door – won after IME cross-examination)
Experience Across the Industry
- We represent drivers from major companies including:
- YRC and USF Holland
- UPS and TForce
- ABF and XPO
- Standard Forwarding
- Jewel and Sysco
- Albertsons and Mondelez
- QCD and DCP
- Dr. Pepper and Coca-Cola
- Prairie Farms
- Waste Management and Republic Services
- Lakeshore Recycling and Groot
- Waste Connections
- Ozinga and Prairie Materials
- D Construction and PT Ferro
Take Action to Protect Your Rights
- If you’ve been injured:
- Seek immediate medical attention
- Report the injury to your employer
- Document everything thoroughly
- Avoid signing insurance documents without legal review
- Contact an experienced attorney promptly
Contact Coleman Lynch & Partners, PLLC.
If you’re a truck driver injured in Chicago, Joliet, or Rockford, contact us for a free consultation. Our experienced team has secured millions in compensation for injured drivers through both workers’ compensation and third-party claims.
Call us at 312-239-8298 or contact us through our online form. We understand the unique challenges faced by truck drivers and have the proven experience to help you secure the compensation you deserve.