Every job comes with unique hazards, but some safety concerns are more universal than others. For example, slip-and-fall injuries are an issue in almost any profession. Workers in a broad range of professions are also vulnerable to repetitive strain injuries if they work in the same career for years.
Employees in many different sectors could be at risk of getting into a crash while on the clock. Some professionals have to drive regularly or daily for their jobs. Others may occasionally need to drive at the request of their employers. They could then end up involved in collisions while on the job.
Does workers’ compensation cover crash-related injuries, or do workers have to rely on outside insurance after a wreck occurs while they are on the clock?
Workers’ compensation can help after a crash
The timing of an incident that leaves a worker hurt is the main consideration when determining what benefits they can request. A worker hurt during their daily commute to the office is not eligible for workers’ compensation benefits because the crash occurred before they started their shift. They have to file an insurance claim against the driver at fault or look at their options for personal injury lawsuits.
A worker hurt while taking a deposit to the bank, making deliveries for an employer or performing a service call could be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. In fact, such situations are relatively common. Motor vehicle collisions are a top cause of catastrophic workplace injuries and worker fatalities in multiple different industries.
Workers’ compensation can pay for the full cost of their medical treatment. The program can also provide disability benefits until they recover enough to return to work full-time. Particularly in cases where injuries require expensive treatments and may persist for years, workers’ compensation coverage can be better for the injured employee than a basic car insurance claim.
It is worth noting that those hurt in on-the-clock crashes can be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits even if the crash is technically their fault. Fault usually does not factor into eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits.
That being said, if the worker is not at fault, they may be eligible for multiple forms of compensation including car insurance, workers’ compensation coverage and possibly even a personal injury lawsuit against the driver at fault or a third party.
Learning more about the rules that govern workers’ compensation benefits is helpful for those injured in unusual employment scenarios. On-the-clock crashes are relatively common, but workers need to know their rights if they hope to secure appropriate compensation for their injuries.