How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 253 severe cases involving undercarriage components, ranging from tire explosions to track maintenance accidents. Fractures account for 43% of these incidents, often resulting from the immense force released when pressurized parts or heavy metal components fail unexpectedly.
These injuries frequently target your fingers and arms, leading to life-altering consequences like amputations. Because these incidents often involve high-pressure systems or heavy machinery, the resulting trauma to your brain and facial region can require extensive surgical intervention and long-term rehabilitation.
How these injuries happen
Injuries involving undercarriage components typically stem from the sudden release of stored energy. Explosions of pressure vessels, piping, or tires account for 37% of all reported incidents, often occurring during routine inflation or maintenance. You are also frequently struck by falling objects or caught between running equipment and stationary surfaces when components buckle or shift during repair.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explosion of pressure vessel, piping, or tire | 93 |
| 2 | Struck by falling object | 57 |
| 3 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 36 |
| 4 | Compressed between running equipment and other object(s) | 19 |
| 5 | Overexertion while materials moving by hand | 11 |
| 6 | Struck by rolling, sliding, or shifting objects—non-running | 9 |
| 7 | Caught or wedged between objects— nonrunning | 8 |
| 8 | Struck by propelled, falling, or suspended object— unspecified | 5 |
Where injuries happen most
Retail trade accounts for 28% of these severe injuries, largely due to the frequency of tire and vehicle maintenance tasks performed in retail-affiliated service centers. Other services and transportation sectors follow, where the constant demand for heavy equipment uptime often leads to rushed maintenance procedures and inadequate safety protocols around high-pressure components.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these incidents involve sudden pressure releases during tire inflation or mechanical failures while working on heavy machinery like dozers and utility trailers. These reports frequently describe situations where split rims, airbags, or track pads fail, striking you with enough force to cause multiple fractures or partial amputations. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident to determine if employer negligence played a role.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | CT | Other Services | "On July 19, 2025, an employee was filling a wheelbarrow tire with air when the tire exploded, resulting in severe injuries to their right hand including a partial amputation." | |
| 2025 | FL | Other Services | "A mechanic was replacing the airbag suspension on the front axle of a utility trailer. The airbag blew out, causing an injury to the mechanic's left foot that required hospitalization and surgery." | |
| 2025 | MT | Retail Trade | "An agricultural tire failed and struck an employee's face and left hand. The employee suffered a cut above the left eye and multiple fractures in the hand and was hospitalized for surgery." | |
| 2025 | AR | Agriculture | "On June 23, 2025, an employee was assisting with a tire replacement. As the employee was returning with tools, two co-workers were positioning the tire on the hub. The tire released pressure, causing a piece of the split rim to strike the employee. They were hospitalized with a fractured left ankle and pelvis." | |
| 2025 | MS | Other Services | "An employee was conducting repair work on a dozer. They had to remove the tracks to make the repair and were preparing to put them back together when two track pads buckled and pinched the employee's left thumb. The employee's thumb was partially amputated." | |
| 2025 | MO | Transportation & Warehousing | "During installation of one of the wheel assemblies, the injured employee was working to align the brake disc to the wheel keyways. Another mechanic was applying pressure to the wheel in the install direction. When the alignment was achieved and the wheel slid on, the injured employee's left thumb was caught between the brake disc and the wheel keyway. Approximately inch of the thumb tip was severed, without bone loss." | |
| 2025 | NY | Other Services | "Two mechanics were putting a 206-pound tire on a rim. One employee sustained a hernia." | |
| 2025 | MS | Administrative Services | "A mechanic was replacing the passenger's side airbag on the rear end of a truck when the driver's side airbag on the rear end blew and the employee sustained injury to the left hand, wrist and forearm. The employee sustained fractures that required hospitalization and surgery." | |
| 2025 | NJ | Other Services | "An employee was pumping air into a tire when it moved and struck the employee's arm and fractured it." | |
| 2025 | TX | Other Services | "On April 11, 2025, an employee was helping remove the rear axle of a wheel loader using a dolly. As the axle was being pushed out, it rolled off the dolly and landed on the employee's left little finger. The finger was amputated." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, injuries sustained from equipment failure during the course of your employment are generally covered by Workers' Compensation. Because these accidents often involve high-pressure systems, you may be entitled to coverage for medical expenses, surgery, and lost wages. An attorney can help you document the incident to ensure your claim accurately reflects the severity of your injury.
Employers have a legal duty to provide safe equipment and proper training for maintenance tasks. If a failure occurred because of improper maintenance, lack of safety guards, or faulty equipment, your employer may be liable for your injuries. An attorney can help you investigate whether your employer followed required safety protocols to help strengthen your claim.
The most frequent injuries, such as fractures and amputations, often require multiple surgeries and extensive physical therapy. You may face permanent limitations in hand or limb function, which can impact your ability to return to your previous job duties. An attorney can help you evaluate the long-term impact of these injuries when calculating the benefits you may be owed.
OSHA mandates strict safety standards for the maintenance of heavy machinery and pressurized systems to prevent accidental releases of energy. Employers must ensure that you are trained in lockout-tagout procedures and that equipment is inspected regularly for defects. If your employer failed to meet these standards, an attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence for your case.