November 29, 2023

Employee recovery stories: Lonnie's journey

Lonnie Williams knew he’d face a learning curve when he landed a job as a truck driver in Texas’ oil and gas industry. Still, he never imagined he would nearly die on his first day at work.

In 2008, Lonnie and a co-worker were hauling salt water when they rolled their tanker truck on a curve. Lonnie's co-worker was ejected, but Lonnie was trapped inside. He remembers thinking he was going to die and would never see his son again.

Lonnie suffered a severe spinal cord injury that left him unable to move his hands and legs. Doctors told his mother he’d never walk again.

What the doctors didn’t anticipate was a healthy dose of optimism that would carry Lonnie through a grueling recovery process. With support from his family, his employer and Texas Mutual, Lonnie relearned everyday tasks like eating and tying his shoes.

And ultimately, he would walk again. Take a look at Lonnie’s story to see how his dedication and hard work helped him recover and find new opportunities.

Lonnie’s story is a case study in the benefits of a return-to-work program. Employers who invest in a return-to-work program can minimize lost productivity and other costs associated with workplace accidents. Meanwhile, injured employees who get back to productive employment maintain their financial health and are often able to avoid the stress, depression and other symptoms of being isolated from peers. Texas Mutual is your workplace safety and return-to-work partner and we’re here to help you every step of the way.

See more employee recovery stories.