While many vehicle accidents involve collisions with another car or truck, some of these accidents are single-vehicle crashes that involve the collision of a vehicle with another object. This was the case recently at Port Newark when a truck driver was injured when a shipping container fell on top of a truck, crushing the cab. The unidentified 43-year-old driver was transported to University Hospital’s trauma center in unknown condition, although he was said to be conscious.
Work-Related Accidents—Vehicles Top The List
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2,083 workplace fatalities in 2012 related to vehicles. This means that vehicles accounted for nearly half of the 4,628 workplace fatalities of that year. While these totals include fatalities in all types of vehicles, including airplanes and trains, the largest number of fatalities occurred in cars at 359 and trucks at 859. Further, the majority of these fatalities occurred while the vehicle was in motion on a road rather than at a plant site or other location.
However, this accident highlights the fact that vehicle-related accidents can and do also occur on job sites. When a worker is injured in a vehicular accident of any type, it is very important for that person to protect his or her rights with either a worker’s compensation claim or a personal injury lawsuit. However, choosing which type of case is appropriate may be difficult for the average worker, and many victims do not file the right type of claim.
Worker’s Compensation vs. Personal Injury
There are certain cases in which a worker’s compensation case may be sufficient to protect a worker’s rights, provide for medical care and reimburse the worker for his or her lost wages and other costs. However, in some cases a personal injury lawsuit may be the best way to recover these expenses. This is a very complicated question and should be addressed by a professional attorney who has experience handling these types of cases.
The personal injury attorneys at the Fitzgerald Law Firm in New York are here to help you with your work-related and vehicle-related injury cases. With help from Fitzgerald attorneys, you may be able to recover payment for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and other costs related to any type of accident. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn more about how we can help you with your injury case.