Workers’ Compensation and Car Accidents

When one typically thinks of receiving workers’ compensation, it is because they were injured on a job site through something like heavy machinery or a slip and fall. In fact, one of the biggest questions you may have if you have been injured in a car accident while on-the-job is whether or not you can receive workers’ compensation benefits for your injuries. A lawyer believes that if you were working and you were injured, you should receive workers’ compensation benefits to cover your medical bills. While this can be confusing, we are here to help answer your questions, represent you, and help you with any workers’ compensation paperwork. 

When might workers’ compensation not cover these injuries?

You will likely know if you were injured while working or if you were injured outside of work. So, if you were driving on your way to work or if you took a break during your workday to drive to a local cafe for some coffee, you should not expect to receive workers’ compensation if you were in a car accident during this time. Because you were not driving specifically for work-related purposes, you should not expect your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance to cover this. 

When would workers’ compensation cover car accident injuries?

The next logical question you may be asking yourself is when your work would cover injuries from a car accident. There are different scenarios when you would be driving for your work, including:

  • You are a delivery person for your work
  • Your work required you to travel
  • You were asked to drive a colleague to a work-related site
  • You had errands you needed to run for work

There are other gray areas when it comes to “work-related” tasks. While you taking a work break to go get coffee would not be considered part of your job, if your supervisor asked you to get the office coffee, this could be considered a work-related task. 

What kind of damages will this cover?

When you are injured in a car accident, workers’ compensation can cover certain costs like your medical bills, disability, lost wages, and time missed at work. Even if you are unsure of whether you were at fault or not or if you were technically “on the clock,” it is best to speak with a work injury lawyer from our friends at Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt quickly to see if you have a valid claim. The sooner you submit a claim, the sooner workers’ compensation can pay your medical bills.