Workplace Dangers for Delivery Drivers in California
Delivery drivers keep California running. From pizzas and catering orders to package deliveries and constant e-commerce orders, drivers are in higher demand than ever before. But driving is an inherently dangerous activity, and in fact, delivery drivers face a greater risk of injury than many other professions. While the average rate of injury across all private industries is 2.7 per 100 full-time workers, the injury rate for couriers and delivery workers is 9.7 per 100. If you’ve been injured while working as a delivery driver, talking to a California workers’ compensation lawyer should be your next step.
Moga Law Firm was founded by attorney Scot Thomas Moga, who has spent decades fighting aggressively for injured workers and demanding the compensation they are legally entitled to. Whether you’ve been hit by a car while on a delivery or suffered an injury on a negligent homeowner’s slick walkway, he’s here to help. Call our workers’ compensation law firm at 909-931-2444 now to set up a consultation.
Common Workplace Hazards
Delivery drivers face a wide range of dangers in the workplace, including:
- Traffic accidents: Driving is already dangerous, and when it makes up a significant chunk of your workday, your risk of being involved in a crash goes up. You may spend much of your workday navigating neighborhoods with narrow roads, congested freeways full of aggravated drivers, and traffic patterns that make it hard to stay on schedule. If you’re under pressure from your employer to complete trips in a certain timeframe, that can also make you more prone to a crash.
- Lifting and repetitive motion injuries: If you deliver heavy items, you’re at major risk of back injuries, shoulder strains, knee problems, and other repetitive strain injuries. Drivers often don’t even think about this possibility, which means they don’t take steps to protect themselves.
- Slip and fall accidents: If property owners do not keep their property safe for visitors, you could slip on poorly maintained walkways, uneven stairs, or other obstacles. Warehouses are also rife with dangers like loose mats, spills, and malfunctioning equipment.
- Dog bites: Homeowners are expected to keep their dogs under their control at all times. When they don’t, they risk drivers’ safety. Dog bites are among the worst injuries you can experience as a delivery driver, because you may have to undergo painful vaccinations and testing protocols. Furthermore, victims often suffer permanent scarring and skin tightness.
- Weather risks: While California’s weather isn’t as volatile as some other parts of the country, we still have our share of dangers. Extreme heat, heavy rain, and fog can all increase the likelihood of an injury. This is particularly true if you are forced to drive in a vehicle without air conditioning.
- Assault: Delivery drivers may be targeted by criminals if they are delivering packages. The increase in online shopping has also made porch pirates very brave, with some going straight to the source and attacking delivery drivers for their packages.
If you’ve suffered any of these injuries in the course of your work, it may be time to talk to a workers’ compensation attorney.
Employer and Company Responsibilities
Employers are required to provide proper training, safe vehicles (if drivers do not use their own vehicles), safe lifting equipment, and safety procedures to all workers. Employers who send employees out on their own without training or safety equipment set them up for failure.
Companies must also provide workers’ compensation benefits to injured employees, typically through a workers’ compensation insurance provider. This benefit offers compensation for medical care, wage replacement, and potentially disability benefits after an injury.
The Role of Third-Party Claims
If the party who caused your injury is someone other than your employer or someone employed by your employer, you may be able to seek compensation with a personal injury claim. Your workers’ compensation lawyer will look at your case and tell you if a personal injury claim is a suitable option for you. This allows you to recover more compensation than you would with just a workers’ comp claim.
You may have a third-party claim if you were hit by a negligent driver, were injured on someone else’s property, were attacked by someone’s dog, or were injured in an unsafe vehicle.
Discuss Your Case With a Workers’ Compensation Attorney Now
Our workers’ compensation law firm is here to help you explore your legal options. Call us at 909-931-2444 or send us a message online to schedule a consultation now.
Scot Thomas Moga, a dedicated attorney in San Bernardino & Riverside Counties who represents clients in the many types of personal injury, workers’ compensation and estate planning cases.
