Most people know that wearing a seat belt is the law, but what they might not realize is that there is a chance that this life-saving feature could cause injuries. The seat belt stops your body from flying around the vehicle, and possibly out of it, if there is a crash.

Occupants of vehicles have to realize that the benefits of wearing a seat belt far outweigh the hazards of not wearing one. The risk of having it on comes from the impact of your body pushing against it when the vehicle comes to an abrupt stop.

Some of the more common injuries that can come from a seat belt include things like whiplash, bruising, chest injuries, abdominal injuries and internal bleeding. The higher impact the crash, the more likely the occupants are going to suffer injuries related to the seat belt.

One factor that can also impact the severity of the injury is how the seat belt is worn. If it isn’t put in the correct position, internal injuries might occur. For example, pregnant women should wear the lap belt over the hips. If she is in an accident and it is over the abdomen, the force can lead to a placental abruption, which is life-threatening to her and the baby.

If you are injured in an accident, you might choose to seek compensation. If the injury is from a seat belt, determining what happened is a priority. You can seek compensation from the party who struck you, but you might also be able to launch a product liability claim if the seat belt was defective.

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Manual labor takes a toll on the body. Workers in the construction industry, those who have a warehouse position, and individuals in similar positions are at risk of a back injury. Around 30% of construction workers suffer from an injury to the back or spine that requires them to miss work.

To minimize the chance of construction workers and other laborers suffering from these injuries, employers and employees need at least a basic understanding of what can lead to them. Setting protocol to keep the risks minimal is imperative for all companies that have workers who might suffer injuries.

Why are these workers at an increased risk of back injuries?

Physical laborers are often responsible for heavy lifting. This sometimes involves having to twist, bend or reach when they have those objects in their arms. This can lead to a strain on the back. There is also the possibility of having to wear a heavy tool belt that puts pressure on the lower back.

Many of these jobs require the worker to move in unnatural positions, such as a plumber who has to stoop down to reach lower pipes and overstretching the back to reach overhead pipes. Many of these motions are repetitive, which puts even more strain on the back.

What can they do to reduce these risks?

One of the most important ways that these workers can minimize the chance of suffering a back injury is to wear an appropriate brace. Workers should also stretch before starting work so that the back is ready to handle the day’s tasks. There should also be protocol in place that establishes limits for solo lifts. When items are heavy or bulky, the worker should get help from another worker or from an assistive lifting device.

What happens when workers experience back pain?

Some back pain might seem minor. However, repetitive motion injuries often start out this way. You have to be sure to report any back pain to your employer so you can get medical care. No worker should try to continue with a shift if they are experiencing back pain. It is especially important to get care if you fell or had another accident that contributed to the problem.

Workers’ compensation coverage does apply to workers who suffer from a back injury. This enables them to get medical care and to receive partial wage replacement benefits if they are off work for a while, ensuring that you get the benefits you are entitled to receive. This can sometimes take appeals, so be prepared to fight for what you’re due.

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The logging industry comes with several hazards for workers, but these can usually be minimized by the employers if they establish proper safety protocols. The rate of fatalities in this industry is 23 times higher than the rate for all workers in this country.

The greatest hazards for them are falling objects and being caught in or between objects. These accounted for around 59% of all fatalities. In 90% of those cases, the falling object was a limb, log, tree or snag. These are also the factors that can lead to catastrophic injuries on the job site.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has standards in place to help keep workers safe. The employers must ensure that they have everything in order for compliance. Some of the most recent changes to these standards include:

• Establishing felling procedures for various situations.
• Setting the standards for protective equipment.
• Requiring first aid training and other job training for employees.
• Outlining requirements for protective structures and rollovers.

While employees must follow the proper procedures exactly, it is up to the employer to get them established and ensure compliance. One way to do this is to have inspections throughout the job site. This gives supervisors a chance to make changes to the day’s duties and methods based on any unsafe situations that are present.

Workers who suffer injuries in this industry might have extensive medical care needs, which come at a considerable cost. Seeking compensation can help them receive the care they need. They may also access other benefits like partial wage replacement that can assist them during this time.

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There are many hazards that construction workers face on a daily basis, including electrocution, which is one of the four most fatal types of accidents. People who work in the construction industry are approximately four times more likely to suffer an electrocution than those in other industries.

While the percentage of workers who die from electrocutions is relatively low, there are still too many workers dying from this often-preventable cause. Employers must have a clear plan to help prevent electrocutions from occurring on job sites.

Temporary power is a big problem

Many construction sites don’t have permanent power. The use of temporary power comes with an increased risk of electrocution. Whether the job relies on temporary lines from the main power line or generators, anyone who is working at the site must know where these live sources of electricity are located and how to avoid them. All live sources should have marking to alert everyone of that status so nobody assumes they aren’t connected to a power source.

When temporary lines are necessary, they must be secured in a way that won’t allow them to come into contact with water. This might be a challenge on some job sites, but the contractor must find a suitable method to make this happen. Another way to improve safety is to de-energize any unused electrical circuits so they aren’t the cause of an electrocution.

Improper lockout/tagout is unacceptable

Failing to use appropriate lockout/tagout procedures is another issue that can lead to electrocution. When any equipment isn’t functioning properly or requires maintenance, remove the power source from the item. Take the proper steps to verify that there isn’t any power to it. Once you verify this, use a tagout or lockout device to ensure that nobody will accidentally reconnect to it. After the maintenance or repair is complete, take the proper steps to reconnect the equipment and get it back online.

Multiple contractors increase the risk

When contractors and subcontractors are all working on the same project, the risk of deaths and accidents go up. The issue here is that the subcontractors might not practice the same safety standards as the general contractors. These individuals must be trained on proper work practices around electricity so they can reduce the risk of being electrocuted.

If a worker is shocked by a high voltage current, they can suffer from catastrophic injuries. Some may pass away from the injury. Workers who survive and the family members of ones who perish will likely qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. It is imperative to handle this as quickly as possible after the incident because there are time limits in place.

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Car wrecks lead to many types of injuries, including fractures. These occur when one of the bones in the body is broken or cracked as a result of pressure put on them. This is an injury that is usually noticed at the accident site because it causes intense pain in the area of the break. You might also notice discoloration, and the bone might poke through the skin in more serious breaks.

The violent force of a crash can break even the largest bones in the body. Broken legs, including the femur, are common in car wrecks. It is also possible to break the neck or spinal cord, the pelvis, the arms and the clavicle.

The breastbone might also fracture, which can put some of your internal organs at risk of damage. This type of break is usually due to the body flinging forward and being stopped by the seat belt.

Skull fractures are also possible, and these are usually very serious. There is a good chance that the brain might have suffered damage in the crash. These fractures aren’t always easily noticed because there may not be any visible signs and a headache could be the only symptom.

A victim of a car wreck who has severe pain in an area might undergo a medical evaluation to determine what’s going on. This can include imaging scans, such as an x-ray or a CT scan. You may see an orthopedic doctor or surgeon who can evaluate the injury to let you know what needs to be done. This might involve surgery and wearing a cast.

The cost of medical care and the time you take off work might be costly. Seeking compensation for these could help you to recoup those damages, as well as others you might face.

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Whenever you’re driving a semitruck, it is important to think about how the truck differs from a passenger vehicle and what that can mean for you.

One of the biggest differences, of course, is weight. Your standard car likely runs between 3,000 pounds and 4,000 pounds. Some SUVs and pickup trucks weigh a bit more.

While two tons may sound like a lot, a semi weighs far more. The maximum weight allowed by law is 80,000 pounds. It does vary depending on fuel and the weight of the load itself, but it’s significantly more than a car.

One way that this impacts driving is in terms of stopping distances. If you drove at 65 miles per hour in your car and then hit the brakes, you would need over 300 feet to stop. Your car would cover an entire football field.

If a truck driver tried to stop from 65 mph, though, a truck that weighed in at 80,000 pounds would need more like 525 feet before it came to a stop. That’s almost twice as far as your car. Even with many wheels providing braking power, a heavy truck just cannot stop quickly.

In some cases, this leads to rear-end accidents when truck drivers do not leave enough space between the truck and the next car or when they do not hit the brakes in time. You may stop quickly and then get hit from behind by an out-of-control semi.

An accident like this is difficult to avoid and can lead to serious injuries, so you need to know what legal options you have.

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Trucker fatigue is a significant problem on the highways and city streets around the country. These individuals often work long hours to ensure that their cargo makes it from the starting point to the final destination. Some of these loads are time sensitive, so they can’t be delayed. This often results in many miles traversed each shift.

Many individuals don’t realize that truckers who are fatigued aren’t always running on lack of sleep. There are many other causes that can lead to this issue. For example, having to drive in a hot and stuffy truck can do it, so truckers who don’t have suitable climate control systems in their rigs are at risk of this.

Monotonous driving, wet weather and driving on roads that are familiar can also lead to trucker fatigue. Highway hypnosis is also possible. This usually occurs when they are driving during the overnight hours when most humans are sleeping because it impacts the circadian rhythm.

Some truckers have to do other physical labor, which can also lead to fatigue. If they are forced to load and unload the truck before they drive, the exertion they face could negatively impact their ability to drive safely. This is one reason why nondriving hours are addressed in regulations that outline how long these truckers can drive.

Individuals who are struck by a trucker who was suffering from fatigue might need to determine the underlying cause of the fatigue. This could help them in their claim for compensation since it enables them to show negligence. These claims seek to recover damages for medical bills and other expenses that are directly related to the injuries caused by the crash.

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Motor vehicle collisions on TV and in the movies tend to be loud and dramatic experiences, where the vehicle always winds up catching fire and the people escape near-certain death only through the intervention of a stranger or first responder. The reality of car crashes can be much banaler.

Many times, there is only twisted metal and shattered glass instead of the dramatic flames or explosions people expect after a collision. Just like the media strives to dramatize what a car crash looks like, so too do they make the injuries people suffer after a crash seem more visually obvious. After all, a grotesquely broken arm is going to have more of an impact on a movie audience than invisible internal injuries.

Broken bones and traumatic injuries like a spinal cord injury that prevents you from getting out of your vehicle are always possible in a motor vehicle collision. However, you should also be aware that some of the most serious injuries people can suffer in a crash will not be visible to the naked eye.

Brain injuries sometimes don’t produce symptoms for days

Your skull does an incredible job of keeping your brain safe from blunt-force trauma and random accidents. However, if you do get hit in the head or experience violent shaking, the bruising, bleeding or swelling of your brain that results could put increasing levels of pressure on your brain long after the accident happened. You may not have any external signs of your injuries at all.

Brain injuries can get worse with time without proper treatment. In many cases, people don’t display symptoms right after a crash. It can take time for the bleeding or bruising to impact the brain’s functions. Anyone in a crash where they were thrown around, lost consciousness or suffered a blow to the head should stay on high alert for the symptoms of brain injuries in the days after the crash.

Internal bleeding is a serious condition that can prove fatal

Trauma to the soft tissues of your body may seem like the lowest concern after a crash. If you don’t have broken bones or any other obvious visible injuries, you may feel quite grateful. However, it is possible for the seatbelts, airbag or steering wheel to cause trauma to your abdomen.

The soft center of your body houses the majority of your organs, many of which are vulnerable to damage in a crash. There are also countless blood vessels that help support the muscles and organs in your abdominal cavity. Damage to the organs or bruising inside your abdominal cavity can lead to major loss of blood.

Internal bleeding after a crash could be enough to result in someone’s death. Any sort of traumatic injury to the abdomen or sides typically requires a careful medical examination to rule out internal bleeding or to treat it if it is present.

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Sometimes, external factors contribute to major motor vehicle collisions. For example, inclement weather conditions like icy roads or high winds can make it much harder to control vehicles, especially larger, heavier vehicles like commercial trucks. However, in most collisions, behaviors on the part of one or more of the drivers involved play more of a role than outside factors do in the collision.

You might imagine that with all the extra training and regulations that truck drivers have to deal with that they wouldn’t make mistakes at the wheel that could endanger them and others. Still, truckers are human and prone to the same kinds of mistakes as everyone else. Three behavioral issues in particular can create risk for everyone else on the road.

Long days on the road can drive someone to distraction

Think about how bored you get during your commute to work each day. Now imagine that instead of 30 to 60 minutes, you were driving for eight or even 12 hours at a time. Many commercial truck drivers follow the same route day after day or week after week. Much like your route to work which has become monotonous and dull, so, too, can their work and routes become mind-numbing.

To push back against that boredom or combat the strain that long hours can place on a relationship, commercial truck drivers may choose to make unsafe decisions, such as texting or even using social media while driving.

Distraction in commercial truck drivers is particularly dangerous, as it increases their reaction time while in control of a vehicle that already takes longer than others to stop or turn. Additionally, the massive size of commercial vehicles creates the risk of catastrophic damage to the smaller passenger vehicle involved in a crash.

Commercial truck drivers often work too many hours

Commercial truck drivers have to deliver the loads assigned to them on a very tight schedule. On top of needing to earn enough money to support themselves and their families, they have to fulfill their obligations to their employer, who may need to have a lot of driving done in any given week.

The Hours of Service rules set by the federal government limit truck drivers to no more than 11 active driving hours in a single shift with a mandated 10-hour break afterward. However, those rules don’t consider the commute at the beginning or the end of the shift.

Drivers may have to spend quite a bit of their 10-hour break doing chores or self-care instead of sleeping. The less sleep a trucker gets, the more likely they are to experience fatigue or exhaustion, which can impair their driving ability much like alcohol.

Intoxicating substances are particularly dangerous for commercial drivers

It is both illegal and dangerous for anyone to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after having consumed too much alcohol, used recreational drugs or taken many different kinds of prescription medications.

Unfortunately, people can and do still drive when they know that chemical impairment could affect their abilities. Truck drivers could choose to drive while under the influence of powerful cold medication, for example, if they feel like they can’t call in sick to work. Someone else might get called into a shift they don’t want to turn down after having spent the afternoon drinking with their friends.

Regardless of the circumstances, impairment on the part of commercial drivers is dangerous for them and for the people who share the road with them.

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Drivers can’t let anything distract them from the road. One thing that pulls a lot of drivers away from their duties is a cellphone. Texting while driving is a huge issue that can easily claim lives because reading and writing messages takes time.

Safety on the road is everyone’s business, so any driver should be aware of the dangers of texting and driving. It takes an average of 5 seconds to read or respond to a text. A driver who is traveling 55 miles per hour, which is slower than most interstate speeds, will go at least the distance equivalent to the length of a football field during that short 5-second period. You can imagine how many crashes can occur during that time.

You must remember that cellphones aren’t the only distraction that drivers face. Other distractions that can impact drivers include billboards, food, beverages, other passengers, GPS devices and similar things. Even being deep in thought can distract drivers enough to where they don’t make the best decisions when they are driving. All drivers must avoid becoming so enthralled with things other than driving.

Parents might not realize this, but what they are doing while they drive is what their teens are going to model when they start to drive. For this reason, all parents must set the proper example for their children.

People who suffer injuries at the hands of a distracted driver might opt to seek compensation for the financial impacts of the crash. This can include money for medical bills, lost wages and other types of damages that might also be possible depending on the circumstances.

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