If your job responsibilities involve operating a vehicle, you need to realize the various risks you face each day and the prevalence of work-related traffic collisions. In fact, many traffic crashes affect those working in fields that do not involve the regular use of a vehicle at work. For example, some people have to run errands or head to a different location at work.
Work-related traffic collisions cause a host of challenges, such as debilitating injuries, high levels of pain, medical costs and the inability to work. In some instances, they also result in the loss of life.
How many people die in work-related traffic accidents?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that during 2018, 1,276 workers lost their lives in traffic accidents that occurred on public roads. These deaths accounted for 24% of job-related fatalities in 2018. Moreover, workers involved in crashes off of public roads and pedestrians accounted for 11% of job-related fatalities, or 550 deaths.
Between 2003 and 2018, over 29,000 workers lost their lives in job-related motor vehicle collisions.
What are the consequences of work-related traffic crashes?
Even for victims who survive on-the-job traffic collisions, a myriad of hardships often arise. These accidents are often financially devastating. In fact, job-related traffic accidents that result in a nonfatal injury cost employers roughly $65,000. Some injured workers cannot return to their previous position due to immobility or another hardship. Mental trauma, anxiety and depression affect many victims as well.
If you recently suffered an injury in a motor vehicle collision, take a look into resources that could help you recover.