• Slip-and-falls or trip-and falls while going to or from the truck’s cab.
• Slip-and-falls or trip-and-falls inside of the truck’s trailer.
• Back and shoulder injuries from heavy lifting.
• Injuries from falling cargo.
• Repetitive motion and vibration disorders.
• Accidents involving fork lifts

Typical Benefits
When a truck driver is injured in the course and scope of his job by an anticipated and foreseeable risk of that job, California’s workers’ compensation laws are triggered, and strict liability applies. The foundation of those benefits stands like a tripod. Workers’ are typically entitled to the following three benefits:

• Payment of all reasonably necessary medical bills in connection with the driver’s injuries.
• Temporary total disability benefits in a sum equal to two-thirds of the driver’s average weekly wages.
• In the event of a permanent partial disability, a lump sum payment as compensation for that permanent partial disability.

Defenses
What often comes to issue in these types of cases is that disputes arise between the worker, the employer and the workers’ compensation insurer. The insurer might argue that the injured driver suffered from a preexisting condition or injured himself someplace other than the workplace. The employer might argue that it didn’t get timely notice of the accident and injury. If it did get timely notice, it’s not unusual for the insurer to pressure a driver to return to work too soon. Especially in the context of truck drivers, it might even be argued that the driver wasn’t an actual employee of the purported employer.

As soon as you notice that you’ve been injured as a result of a work-related accident, notify your employer and make sure that a report of injury form is completed and submitted.