It’s as easy to get into a car accident while driving for work as at any other time. Your injuries from a car accident while working will be just as severe, and your losses will be just as expensive. However, how you seek compensation for your losses after a work-related car accident could be different. If you don’t understand your legal rights, it could cost you.
If you have suffered significant injuries in a car accident that occurred while you were on the job, you can likely file a workers’ compensation claim even if you were to blame for the accident. You might also be able to file a personal injury claim if someone else was at fault for the crash. You may have solid reasons to pursue both.
A Kentucky car accident attorney from Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer is ready to help you seek the maximum compensation available from every source after you have been injured in a car accident while working. We will examine your case from all angles and explore every avenue of compensation for you.
At Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, we bring the Kentucky Courage you need to go after all available compensation for your injuries. Contact us today for a free consultation.
When Is a Car Accident Considered Work-Related in Kentucky?
Employees are typically eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in Kentucky if they have suffered an injury arising out of and in the course of employment. Workers’ comp covers motor vehicle accidents away from the workplace if the employee is on the clock and engaged in work-related activity.
You could qualify for workers’ compensation after a car accident that occurred while:
- Driving on a worksite, such as on the premises of a manufacturing plant or a construction site
- Traveling between work sites, such as among your employer’s facilities, going to a customer’s property for a service call, or traveling to a meeting at a client’s location
- Running work-related errands, such as purchasing supplies for a meeting or delivering files for your company
- Working as a trucker or a delivery driver
- Traveling to or from work-related or work-sponsored events outside of the office, such as travel to a work-related convention or to meet with a customer
An employee’s daily commute is usually not considered part of the job, and an accident on the way to work or home after work would likely not be covered by workers’ compensation. A car accident injury might be covered if you are on your employer’s property while heading into work or leaving. In some situations, a crash on a worker’s commute could be covered if, for example, the worker was driving to visit the first client of the day.
The fine points of workers’ compensation case law are reasons to discuss the circumstances of your accident with our attorneys before giving up on seeking workers’ comp benefits.
Kentucky Workers’ Comp Benefits After a Work-Related Car Accident
The key benefits available through the workers’ compensation system in Kentucky include:
- Medical benefits – Payment of all medical expenses related to injuries suffered in a work-related accident, including reimbursement of costs for travel to appointments, medications, and medical devices
- Temporary disability benefits – Replacement of a portion of wages lost while recovering from the accident (usually two-thirds of the beneficiary’s average weekly wage up to a cap)
- Permanent disability benefits – Ongoing financial support for long-term disabilities
See a doctor as soon as possible after a work-related car crash, and be sure to tell them you were injured while at work. Follow all your doctor’s orders for treatment and care.
Inform your employer about the accident and your injuries as soon as possible, preferably within a week. When you realize your injury will keep you out of work for more than seven days, notify your employer in writing about your condition.
Filing for workers’ compensation in Kentucky can be complicated. We urge you to contact our attorneys for assistance. The system’s complexity makes it easy to file a valid workplace injury claim only to have it disputed. If your claim is unfairly denied or undervalued, our attorneys are prepared to fight for what you deserve under the law.
How Can You Recover Compensation Beyond Workers’ Comp for a Work-Related Crash?
If someone other than you, your employer, or a co-worker caused the car accident that injured you, you may be able to pursue a third-party personal injury claim against the at-fault party, just like in a car accident unrelated to work. Our lawyers will explore the potential for a third-party personal injury claim because there are limits to the types and amounts of benefits you can recover in a Kentucky workers’ compensation claim. Those limits don’t apply to a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
A personal injury claim may seek compensation for medical expenses, all your lost wages (not just the two-thirds available from workers’ compensation), pain, suffering, and emotional distress.
The Kentucky car accident lawyers at our firm will analyze your car accident, injuries, and medical and financial circumstances to determine the most beneficial legal action. Numerous factors can affect the benefits awarded in a workers’ compensation settlement. What you may recover in a car accident claim depends, in part, on the at-fault party’s insurance coverage. A large personal injury claim may be subrogated, requiring a portion of it to pay back the workers’ comp insurer for benefits paid to you. We will examine all possibilities and run the numbers to determine the best way to maximize your compensation.
Contact an Experienced KY Car Accident Attorney for Help
Being injured in a car accident creates a stressful, confusing time. When an accident occurs at work, the complexities of a workers’ compensation claim add to the distress. Our Kentucky car accident lawyers at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer want to help you. We’ll determine the best approach for seeking maximum compensation for you and work toward that goal while you focus on your recovery.
Contact us online today or at (877) 809-5352 for a free consultation. We are ready to put our experience to work for you.
