Now that the school year is well under way, it’s important that we understand that some of the people who support students are in a situation where they may be injured at work. It may not be one of the professions that we often think about when we think about those who might get hurt while performing the duties of their job, but bus drivers, who transport our kids to and from school each day, are in a situation that may lead to a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim.
While accidents involving bus drivers are not generally as common as those that involve construction workers or other professions that are often seen as dangerous and likely to lead to an injury, it can be a job that has issues that require medical attention and time away from the job. It is for this reason that we acknowledge that there are some injuries that can occur while someone is driving a bus that could affect her/his ability to perform the duties of their job.
The most obvious type of workplace injury that could affect a bus driver arises from an accident involving the bus and other vehicles on the road. With these types of accidents there is a wide variety of injuries that can occur and affect a bus driver’s ability to perform the duties of her/his job. If an injury from an accident while driving a bus affects the driver’s ability to remain at work, there may be a claim to be filed and the bus driver should notify her/his supervisor immediately.
While this may be the most obvious type of injury that a bus driver may face, it is not the only injury that could arise while driving a bus. There are a variety of injuries that bus drivers could face when performing their role which may include some of the following;
-
Back, neck and shoulder pain are very common injuries that occur when bus drivers are on the job regularly. While these may not be injuries that pop up right at the start of a school year they can certainly develop over time to the point where a bus driver may not be able to perform the duties of her/his job to the best of their ability. In the event that an injury like this were to occur, it may cause a driver to have to take time away from their route until the pain subsides.
-
Injuries that arise from a slip and fall accident are common among bus drivers. Bus drivers, of course, do more than just drive the bus; they also are required in many cases to maintain the bus. In the process of maintaining the bus they may find themselves in a situation which would make them uneasy on their feet and fall. A fall could lead to any number of injuries that could keep them out of the driver’s seat for days, weeks or even months. This type of injury is common on many worksites, including the bus yard where these vehicles are parked.
-
Occupational stress. If you haven’t been on a school bus in a while, you may not remember the amount of noise and stress that an adult who is wrangling a bunch of young kids may find themselves dealing with. This type of occupational stress can be exasperated by long hours and hot vehicles. Occupational stress alone could lead to missed time away from work, but it can also lead to physical injuries that could result in even more time out of work. These types of stresses can cause serious mental and physical health issues.
Being a bus driver is a very important job that requires an experienced and caring adult to handle the transportation of kids from their homes to the school for the day. It can be a thankless job and when it results in an injury it can require that a bus driver file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim. In the event that this were to happen, it is important that a supervisor is notified immediately and the claims process is undertaken in a timely manner.
Whether you were injured on the job as a bus driver or in any other line of work, you may need to speak with an attorney who has experience with your type of situation. Contact our office and one of our board certified workers’ compensation attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.
