JENKINTOWN PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS

When most people think of dangerous workplaces, they picture a coal mine or a fishing boat or perhaps a construction site or factory. But, the most dangerous workplace in America may be your own vehicle.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, roadway accidents account for as many as 35 percent of workplace deaths. This makes motor vehicle crashes the leading cause of occupational fatalities in the United States.

Whether you drive a big rig truck, a company vehicle, or your own car, you put your life at risk every time you get behind the wheel. This isn’t because you are an unsafe driver, but the road is an unsafe place. You are sharing the road with inexperienced drivers, distracted drivers, and drivers who are under the influence. More than half of workplace car crashes involve multiple vehicles.

The U.S. car accident fatality rate is 1.16 deaths per 100 million miles. The average American driver travels 13,476 miles per year, about 37 miles per day. If your job involves commercial driving, you drive far more than 37 miles per day. With every mile, your accident risk increases.

Here is a list of occupations with the greatest risk of death from on-the-job traffic accidents:

1. Long distance truck driver
2. Garbage collector
3. Sheriff
4. Farm worker
5. Mapping technician or surveyor
6. Police officer
7. Taxi  driver
8. Logger or logging truck driver
9. Construction worker
10. Operating engineer

There are a variety of reasons why workplace accidents happen. Sometimes the driver is tired and drifts out of his lane. Sometimes he is travelling too fast or is distracted. In some cases, there is a problem with the vehicle. If you are injured in an on-the-job motor vehicle accident, you have a right to apply for Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation benefits regardless of the cause of the crash. You are eligible for these benefits even if the accident was your own fault. If the accident was not your fault, you may also be eligible for damages from the negligent driver.

Mednick, Mezyk & Kredo, P.C., represents victims of on-the-job injury in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania. To learn more about your rights as an injured worker, contact our office at 888-807-WORK (9675) or request a free copy of our book, Your Guide To PA Workers’ Compensation.