How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 738 severe cases involving passenger vehicles over the last decade. Fractures account for 47% of these incidents, often resulting in complex surgeries and extended periods away from work.
These injuries frequently involve traumatic damage. The physical toll often requires long-term rehabilitation and can permanently impact your ability to perform your job duties.
How these injuries happen
Most injuries occur when you are struck by a vehicle in a non-roadway area, which accounts for 26% of all reported incidents. These accidents often happen in parking lots, loading zones, or construction sites where vehicle paths and foot traffic intersect without proper separation. You are frequently struck while directing traffic, exiting your vehicle, or performing site visits, leading to severe crushing injuries or falls.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area | 185 |
| 2 | Struck by rolling powered vehicle or machinery | 101 |
| 3 | Other fall to lower level | 84 |
| 4 | Pedestrian struck by vehicle in road work zone | 74 |
| 5 | Pedestrian struck by vehicle in roadway | 65 |
| 6 | Nonroadway noncollision incident | 25 |
| 7 | Caught, entangled in running powered equipment— normal operation | 24 |
| 8 | Pedestrian incidents involving motorized land vehicles— unspecified | 21 |
Where injuries happen most
Retail trade accounts for 19% of these injuries, largely due to the high volume of vehicle and pedestrian traffic in parking lots and loading areas. Transportation and warehousing follow closely, as you are constantly exposed to moving vehicles during loading, unloading, and site management tasks.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns include you being struck while on foot in parking areas, crushed between vehicles and stationary objects, or injured while exiting your own car during work tasks. These incidents often stem from poor site design, lack of designated pedestrian walkways, or driver negligence. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | NJ | Accommodation & Food Services | "A chauffeur exited their vehicle. The vehicle (an SUV) ran over the chauffeur and crushed their pelvis resulting in hospitalization." | |
| 2025 | MD | Professional Services | "An employee was performing a routine site visit when he was struck by a car while on the shoulder of a road. The employee was hospitalized with two fractures to his leg." | |
| 2025 | NY | Arts & Entertainment | "An employee was at a guard shack checking in and directing guests. After motioning a camper forward, he turned to head back to the guard shack and the first rear tire of the camper struck his left foot and he fell to the ground. The second rear wheel went over his right leg, resulting in a fractured femur. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | CT | Other Services | "An employee was inspecting a vehicle at an automobile body shop. He leaned down and a sharp piece of metal that was sticking out from a damaged door on the car severely lacerated his lower right leg. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | PA | Administrative Services | "An employee was in their personal vehicle awaiting instructions from the construction contractor on posting traffic cones. The driver of a motor vehicle swerved to avoid a steel plate in the roadway and struck the employee's car. The employee was hospitalized with four fractured ribs." | |
| 2025 | NH | Wholesale Trade | "Two employees were moving cars on the lot when a car ran over the injured employee's foot. The employee was hospitalized. " | |
| 2025 | PA | Administrative Services | "An employee was flagging traffic on a public road near a tree trimming operation. A car stopped next to him as he stood on the shoulder. A second car, approaching at high speed and about to strike the first car, veered onto the shoulder and struck the employee instead. He suffered a broken tooth, a laceration on his tongue, a laceration and bruise on his head, several broken bones, and a hematoma on his left thigh. He was hospitalized." | |
| 2025 | FL | Real Estate | "An employee was getting into a van when he lost his grip and fell backward, striking his head on the asphalt. The employee was hospitalized with a brain bleed." | |
| 2025 | FL | Other Services | "A car was traveling on the highway when it crossed the median and drove into the property, striking a customer's car and two employees that were cleaning it in the carwash area. One employee was injured but not hospitalized. The other employee was hospitalized with a fractured left foot." | |
| 2025 | GA | Arts & Entertainment | "On May 16, 2025, a parking attendant was directing traffic at a parking lot exit after a concert. A taxi ran over her right foot, which caused her to fall onto her left side. She was hospitalized with fractures to her right foot, left hip, and left arm." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, if you were performing work-related duties at the time of the accident, you are generally eligible for Workers' Compensation regardless of who was at fault. This includes injuries sustained in parking lots or on company premises. An attorney can help you navigate the claims process to ensure your medical bills and lost wages are covered.
Employers are responsible for maintaining a safe work environment, which includes implementing traffic control measures and clearly marked pedestrian zones. Even if you were not in a marked area, your employer may still be liable if they failed to provide adequate safety protocols. An attorney can help you investigate the site conditions to determine if employer negligence contributed to your injury.
Fractures are among the most common and serious injuries reported in these cases, often requiring surgery, hardware implantation, and months of physical therapy. Because these injuries frequently involve heavy machinery or vehicles, the force of impact can cause long-term complications. An attorney can help you document the full extent of your medical needs to ensure your settlement reflects your recovery requirements.
OSHA mandates that employers provide a safe workplace, which includes protecting you from known hazards like moving vehicles. This involves enforcing speed limits, using high-visibility clothing, and establishing physical barriers between traffic and pedestrians. If your employer failed to follow these safety standards, an attorney can help you hold them accountable for your injuries.