Utility workers rely on bucket trucks to access overhead wires and workplaces. As the name implies, this truck has a container or bucket where workers can climb in with their tools and equipment so they can be lifted up to an otherwise inaccessible area.
The challenge is that bucket trucks are top-heavy and accidents involving these trucks can cause injuries not only to workers, but also to passersby below. If you’ve been injured by a bucket truck used by a utility company or any other business, contact Flaxman Law Group for a free consultation with a Hollywood truck accident lawyer. We can review whether you might have a claim—and how much your potential claim may be worth.
Causes of Utility Bucket Truck Accidents
Utility bucket trucks tend to be used by utility workers and other employees who may already face dangers on the job. These trucks then pose additional hazards, especially in these conditions:
- Weather conditions. In poor weather conditions, employees should not be in bucket trucks. Employers should not be putting employee lives at risk and sending workers to heights in dangerous conditions.
- Lack of training. Workers who use utility bucket trucks need to be trained to ensure they can operate the equipment safely. Less experienced employees may be more at risk if they’re unfamiliar or not confident with these trucks.
- Inadequate assessment. If a bucket truck is needed for a job, a trained professional should assess the work site for hazards and create a safety plan that is then implemented to keep workers and those in the community safe.
- Lack of personal protection equipment. Workers should always wear personal fall protection equipment when they’re working at heights in a bucket truck. This can help prevent falls and injuries.
- Electrical injuries. When workers are not properly trained, they can easily sustain electrocution injuries, burns, and other electrical injuries.
- Unsecured trucks. Bucket truck tip-overs are a risk with these vehicles. It’s important that trucks be on even ground and be secured. Adequate signage should be placed around the truck to ensure that pedestrians steer clear while work is being done in the truck.
Ultimately, the employer and the employee work together to make sure that all jobs requiring a utility bucket truck are completed safely. There’s a lot at stake. These truck injuries can lead to head injuries, fractures, spinal cord injuries, and even fatalities because of the risk of falls and electrocution.
If you are injured in a utility truck accident as a worker, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits that are designed to help you pay for medical care, lost wages, and other costs of your injury. In these cases, it’s also worthwhile to find out whether mechanical issues with the truck or other parties’ negligence contributed to your injuries. In some cases, you may have a personal injury claim as well, which can help you pursue fair financial recovery.
If you’re a passerby or pedestrian injured by a utility truck, chances are that your injuries are serious or life changing. In this situation, you may have a personal injury claim under Florida law if someone’s negligence led to your injuries. For example, if proper safety policies weren’t followed at a work site, you may have a claim.
In any case, if you’re injured at a worksite or in a truck accident, reach out to Flaxman Law Group. You can reach our boutique law firm at 866-352-9626 and we can schedule a free consultation with a Hollywood truck accident attorney.