It is no big secret that working in the trucking industry is dangerous. What people may not realize is that things are getting worse for these men and women, not better. Compared with workers in other industries, truck drivers suffer a significant number of fatal work injuries.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5,333 people died from work related injuries in 2019. That was not only 2% more deaths than in 2018, but also the highest number of work deaths since 2007. Out of all the fatal work injuries in 2019, 1,000 affected drivers and truckers. Tractor-trailer and heavy truck drivers were the most affected, suffering 80% of the deaths in their industry.
The vast majority of trucker deaths occurred in transportation incidents when their vehicles were on the road. However, accidents are not the only dangers that truckers face. Other causes of fatal injuries in the trucking industry include incidents such as:
- Slips, trips and falls
- Contact with equipment and objects
- Violence
- Exposure to harmful environments or substances
- Fires
- Explosions
It is not just workers in trucking and driving industries that are at risk, either. Transportation incidents increased across all industries in 2019, putting more and more workers at risk for fatal work injuries. These fatal accidents seriously impact surviving family members in North Carolina, who are left behind to pick up the pieces both financially and emotionally. These families might find it helpful to address their financial stress with temporary death benefits via the states’ workers’ compensation system.