When you’re driving for work, something you have to think about is what will happen if you get into an auto accident. Depending on who is at fault, you might think that you’ll have to cover your own expenses, but the truth is that you may have the option of seeking workers’ compensation.
If you are an employee who is able to collect workers’ compensation for workplace injuries, it’s possible for you to make a claim for a crash so long as you crashed while on the clock or doing work for your employer. For example, if you were driving to a client’s site to do work and were on the clock at that time, your crash should be covered by workers’ compensation.
Does it matter who was at fault in the car accident?
Not really. If you were at fault, your employer may be liable for any damages to the other vehicle or the cost of covering personal injuries. In some cases, you may be held liable directly, too. At the same time, since you were on the clock, you should still be able to seek workers’ compensation for your own injuries and lost wages.
When won’t your crash be covered by workers’ compensation?
A crash is unlikely to be covered by workers’ compensation when you are:
- Not on the clock
- Driving to work
- Going home after work
In those cases, you’re not technically working or doing a task for your employer, so it will be more difficult to prove that workers’ compensation is applicable. The exception may be if you’re on salary and using a work vehicle, are on-call, or are in another unique situation.
You deserve support after a crash, and workers’ compensation may be available
After a serious collision, you deserve to have all the support you need to get better. Workers’ compensation may be the appropriate option for you if you were injured in an auto crash while doing your job. If not, you may still have other options to help you seek compensation, like making a personal injury claim against an at-fault driver.