If you were injured in a work-related car accident, an experienced attorney can help you seek fair financial compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. Depending on your situation, you could be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, compensation through a personal injury claim, or both.
At the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C., our injury attorneys have earned a reputation for fighting for those who’ve been hurt in personal and company vehicle accidents while on the job. We know what it takes to get answers and justice after a serious car accident at work.
Call us or reach out to us online for a free consultation with one of our experienced car accident lawyers.
What Qualifies as a Car Accident While Working?
A car accident may be considered work-related if the crash happened while you were performing duties for your employer. Typically, driving to your place of work at the beginning of the day or home from work at the end of the day does not fall within the scope of your employment. However, other situations where a car accident may occur can qualify as being within the course and scope of employment, such as:
- A car accident that occurs while you are traveling in between your employer’s facilities
- A car accident that occurs while you are traveling to or from a client’s location, except if you are traveling from your home to the client’s location at the beginning of the day or if you are traveling home from the client’s location at the end of the day
- A car accident that occurs while you are traveling out of town for a work-related function
You should not hesitate to seek legal advice if you have been hurt in a car accident. Our trusted team will review your case for free and explain your legal rights.
Are Car Accidents Covered by Workers’ Compensation?
If you suffer injuries in a car accident that happens in the course and scope of your employment, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, as the accident and your resulting injuries may be deemed “work-related.” Workers’ compensation benefits for a car accident may include:
- Payment of all reasonable and necessary medical expenses to treat the injuries you suffered in the crash
- Partial wage replacement if you miss time from work due to your injuries
- Disability benefit payments if you sustain a partial or total disability that impacts your ability to return to work
Your Rights Beyond Workers’ Compensation Benefits
If you were involved in a car accident in the course of your employment that was caused by another driver’s negligence or by some other party’s legal fault, you may also be entitled to pursue a personal injury claim. This would be in addition to filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits with your employer.
Filing a personal injury claim in addition to a workers’ compensation claim can allow you to recover payment for losses not covered by workers’ comp. In addition to payment of your medical expenses, a personal injury claim may allow you to recover compensation for:
- Long-term care expenses, such as home maintenance or home healthcare services, necessitated by permanent disabilities resulting from your injuries
- Full amount of your lost wages or income from the time you spend off work while recovering
- Lost future earnings and employment benefits if you cannot return to your job or to full-time work
- Physical pain and suffering and emotional distress triggered by the accident and your injuries
- Loss of quality of life caused by scarring or disfigurement or by the inability to participate in activities or to perform tasks of daily living due to disabilities
What to Do If You’ve Been Hurt in a Car Accident at Work
If you were injured in a car crash at work, there are steps you can take to preserve your rights to financial recovery, including:
- Reporting your accident to law enforcement. Be sure to save a copy of the crash report.
- Obtaining the contact and insurance information from other motorists involved in the accident. Also get the names and contact information for any witnesses.
- Taking photos or video at the accident scene, including details such as vehicle damage, marks in the road, traffic controls at the scene, visual obstructions, lighting and weather conditions, and any visible injuries you sustained.
- Seeking medical attention as soon as possible to get examined for injuries the crash may have caused you. You may seek emergency care from any medical provider you wish. However, if you wish to have non-emergency care covered by workers’ compensation, you may be required to obtain treatment from a provider on a list approved by your employer or its workers’ compensation insurer. Make sure to inform any medical providers who see you that your injuries occurred in a car accident at work.
- Reporting the accident to your employer as soon as possible.
- Avoiding discussing or posting about the accident or your injuries on social media until you have finished treatment and resolved your legal claim.
Finally, you should speak to an Albany car accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal options for pursuing compensation through a worker’s compensation claim and/or a personal injury claim.
Time Limit for Taking Action After a Workplace Car Accident
If you were injured in a workplace car accident, you should report the crash and your injuries as quickly as possible to your employer to begin promptly pursuing workers’ compensation benefits. You have a maximum of 30 days to report the accident to your employer. Then, you will have one year from the date of the accident to file a formal workers’ compensation claim with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation.
If another party caused your accident, the Georgia statute of limitations gives you only two years from the date of the wreck to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party or parties.
If you fail to timely file a workers’ comp claim or personal injury lawsuit, you run the risk of permanently losing your right to seek financial compensation for the injuries and losses you suffered.
Talk to a Dedicated Albany Car Accident Lawyer Now
If you were injured in a collision that occurred while on the job, contact a knowledgeable Albany car accident lawyer from the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C., today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We do not charge any fees upfront to begin work on your case, and you do not pay us a penny unless we win compensation for you.
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