How does workers’ compensation coverage work for independent truckers? Independent truck owner-operators are typically not covered by workers’ compensation insurance, which commonly helps cover medical expenses and lost wages for an employee in the event of a work-related injury.
Therefore, workers’ compensation coverage for truckers, which is not legally required, provides medical, disability, accident survivor, death, or dismemberment coverage to truck owner-operators.
Most importantly, some of these policies offer benefits for specific conditions or occupational diseases related to road transport, including diabetes, hypertension, bone fractures, cuts, and lacerations.
The reality is that a truck driver is often responsible for loading and unloading their vehicle or changing tires on the road, tasks that can lead to injuries such as sprains, back strains, or neck strains. That’s why many truckers suffer from herniated discs throughout their working lives.
Those who may doubt the importance of this coverage should know that truck drivers have a workplace fatality rate that exceeds seven times the average of other workers. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nonfatal injury and illness rate for truck drivers exceeds nearly three times the rate for all other occupations in the private industry.
In this context, a typical workers’ compensation policy usually has a compensation limit of up to one million dollars with a deductible ranging from zero to one thousand dollars. The death or dismemberment benefit may be limited to $250,000, while disability coverage typically covers between 60% and 70% of the driver’s primary income.
Ultimately, in addition to striving to prevent common injuries and illnesses by complying with regulated service hours, getting adequate rest to prevent fatigue, and practicing exercises to keep the body fit, it is crucial to have workers’ compensation coverage that provides financial protection in the event of an unexpected work-related illness or injury. How does workers’ compensation coverage work for independent truckers?
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