Americans travel for work all the time. Many Americans operate vehicles as part of their work duties. Others travel for reasons related to their jobs. Unfortunately, the commonness of traveling for work means that auto crashes related to work are not uncommon. It is important for the victims of work crashes to understand that if they have sustained an injury as a result of a crash that occurred while they were engaging in work activities of one kind or another, they are likely entitled to at least one kind of compensation as a result of their harm.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
As an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can explain in detail, injured workers are generally entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits as a result of work-related auto crashes, provided that a few conditions are met. First, the worker in question must be eligible for workers’ compensation coverage. Most workers in America – both documented and undocumented – are eligible for this coverage provided that they are classified as full-time or part-time employees. Additionally, independent contractors who do the work of employees may also be entitled to this coverage.
Second, employees must be engaged in work-related activities at the time that they sustain an injury in order to receive benefits. Work-related activity doesn’t have to mean driving for a living – although it certainly can. Work-related activity can mean engaging in any duties required or requested by one’s employer. For example, an ordinary commute to or from work isn’t ordinarily considered a work-related activity, as it isn’t undertaken for the direct benefit of one’s employer. However, if one crashes while going to pick up donuts for a meeting as requested by one’s boss, that particular commute could be considered work-related.
Personal Injury Damage Awards
Both workers who are and who are not eligible for workers’ compensation awards may also be in a strong position to file a personal injury lawsuit in the wake of their crash. To be successful in a personal injury scenario, you must generally prove that the defendant named in your case owed a duty of care under the law, violated that duty by engaging in negligent, reckless, or intentionally harmful behavior, and caused your injuries as a result of that violation of duty. If your case is successful, you could be awarded substantial personal injury damages to compensate you for the losses you have suffered.