Does Workers’ Comp Cover Car Accidents?

If you drive frequently for work, whether you deliver packages and goods daily or you just run errands to take care of office-related needs, you may wonder if workers’ compensation insurance will cover any injuries you receive if you’re in a car accident.

Like many workers’ comp injury cases, whether or not your injuries are covered depends on the circumstances of the accident.

Accidents During Your Commute

If you are injured in an accident commuting to and from work, outside of your regular paid work hours, you will not be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits.

However, some commute-related accidents may qualify.

For remote workers who are paid for travel time to and from their homes, they may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits for their accident. Accidents while traveling from one jobsite to another also qualifies for benefits, as does commuting to and from a location for a work-related purpose, such as meeting with a client or attending a mandatory conference.

Daily Driving Accidents

For those employees for whom driving is a regular condition of their employment, such as delivery drivers, taxi drivers, and truck drivers, accidents that occur while they are making deliveries or transporting people qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.

Even if you are at fault for the accident, you are entitled to benefits that include medical care and lost wages as you recover from your injuries.

Running Errands

If your boss asks you to run an errand related to work, such as picking up food for an all-hands lunch meeting or running to the bank, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if an accident occurs during those errands.

Even if you are only occasionally asked to run errands, and even if you use your personal vehicle for this travel, you still qualify for workers’ compensation.

Additionally, if you are injured by a motor vehicle while running errands, such as you are hit by a car while crossing the street on a work-related errand, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

What Workers’ Comp Benefits Are Available for Car Accidents?

If you are injured in a car accident and your case is determined to qualify for workers’ compensation, you may be entitled to a variety of different benefits. Some of these benefits include:

• Medical care: Medical care deemed to be directly related to your injuries will be paid by workers’ compensation. This can include hospitalizations, surgery, physical and occupational therapy, skilled nursing care, prescription medications, imaging services, and doctor visits, among other treatments.
• Lost wages: If you have to take time off from work to recover from your injuries, you will be paid a portion of your normal wages.
• Permanent and temporary disability: Some injuries, such as those to your back or your limbs, entitle you to permanent disability or temporary disability payments. These are determined on a schedule based on what body part is injured and how severe the injury.

An experienced, knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney can help you get the compensation you’re entitled to in your work-related car accident.

Workers’ Comp Attorney for Car Accidents in Washington, DC

If you’ve been injured at work, you’re no doubt facing some uncertainty and stress. At Lopez Law Offices, we work hard to get you the compensation you deserve for your work-related injuries, whether they’re from a car accident or overuse. Schedule your consultation today!