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Is truck driving the most dangerous industry in America?

On Behalf of | Jan 12, 2017 | Workers' Compensation

When thinking about dangerous occupations, most of us would likely assume construction work, roofing or logging as the most dangerous.

However, it looks like trucking might be the most dangerous job in this country, at least in terms of work-related fatalities. More than any other job, truck drivers need to be the most careful to avoid serious, life-threatening injuries.

More Fatal Injuries for Truckers

According to a recent report from overdrive.com, “Heavy truck and tractor-trailer drivers accounted for the most workplace fatalities of all occupations in 2015, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ annual Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.”

Trucking accounted for 745 total fatalities in 2015, more than any other occupation. While construction work comes in a close second with 694 work-related deaths, trucking still topped the list.

Obviously, this frequency of fatalities is alarming for those in the industry, and it puts a serious toll on the resources available for workers’ compensation insurance carriers, for truck drivers and other industries.

A More Dangerous Workplace

The Bureau of Labor Statistics claims that the “[a]nnual total of 4,836 fatal workplace injuries in 2015 was the highest since 5,214 fatal injuries in 2008.” Although the reasons are unclear, the workplace is becoming increasingly dangerous for people of all occupations. Roadway occupations took one of the biggest hits in 2015, as roadway incident fatalities “were up 9 percent from 2014 totals, accounting for over one-quarter of the fatal occupational injuries in 2015.”

Getting the Compensation You Need

The rise of fatalities in the workplace will hit the workers’ compensation insurance industry hard. As a result, it is of critical importance to work with a skilled, experienced attorney if you or a loved one has been hurt or killed on the job.

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