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Workplace Safe Driving Programs Can Help Save Lives and Prevent Costly Auto Accidents

Jan 20, 2015 Brown Moore Workers' Compensation

People who drive on the job can take comfort that any motor vehicle accident injuries they sustain while on the job are generally covered under workers’ compensation. However, employees who drive need to recognize that more driving puts them at greater risk for injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle-related incidents consistently represent the primary cause of U.S. work-related incidents, citing the following statistics based on 2003 to 2010 data:

  • Crashes on public highways killed an average of 1,275 workers each year.
  • Crashes off highways or on industrial premises caused 311 worker fatalities each year.
  • Pedestrian workers were not immune from injury, with 338 dying each year after being struck by a motor vehicle.

Our workers’ compensation attorneys have seen too many potentially debilitating injuries to North Carolina workers. We believe that all workers who have to leave the workplace during the day would benefit from employer-sponsored driver safety programs.

A Single Online Resource Can Convince Employers to Start a Driver Safety Program

Naturally, employers care about their workers, but they may have concerns about how the costs of implementing a driver safety program would affect their bottom lines. Workers can relieve these concerns by pointing their employers to an informative white paper funded by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

This document points out the economics behind on-the-job vehicle accidents and provides case studies of employers that have reduced accidents and saved money by implementing driver safety programs. In fact, even non-work-related crashes can be expensive to employers in terms of health insurance and disability costs, as well as lost time and productivity. This is why employers may consider training all their workers, including those who do not typically leave the workplace to do their jobs.

Employees can Benefit Directly Just by Reading About the Program

The white paper is much more than a guide to employers for starting a driver training program. Even if an employer does not implement a program, the document provides workers with countless tips to make them safer on the roads. In a few minutes of reading, workers gain insight into how to secure materials, the dangers of aggressive driving, and much more. At the end of the document, “Safety Facts for the Road” provides sobering statistics and advice that can help ensure that on-the-job drivers take driving seriously at all times.

Work-Related Motor Vehicle Accidents Often Require Legal Assistance

Any auto accident can create a complex legal situation. However, when people become involved in accidents while on the job, the issues become further complicated. To begin with, employees need to determine if workers’ compensation is the only avenue to pursue compensation for their injuries. Plus, even when other drivers are fully liable for a collision, they may attempt to go after the perceived deep pockets of drivers behind the wheels of vehicles displaying company logos.

In general, the rules for any accident apply to work-related drivers. After addressing any injuries, it is still important to obtain a police report, preserve evidence and avoid admitting fault. However, to help protect all legal rights, it makes sense to get in touch with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. To schedule a free initial consultation with one of our experienced lawyers, call us at 800-948-0577, or use our convenient online contact form.