Car accidents are one of the most common ways that people get injured in the United States. They happen every single day, and they can lead to serious complications like traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries. All it takes is one split second for life to change forever.
If this happens to you, you may wonder if you’re eligible for workers’ comp benefits. Do these apply to your car accident or not?
Were you acting as an employee at the time?
It depends on when the car accident took place and what you were doing at the time. If you were acting as an employee and you were on the clock, then you certainly may deserve workers’ comp benefits.
For example, delivery drivers often suffer injuries in car accidents. The same is true for road construction teams. Cab drivers, bus drivers and many others also face a constant threat of injury from car accidents, which are perhaps the most dangerous part of their job.
But if you’re just driving during your commute, then you probably do not qualify for workers’ comp benefits. You’re not acting as an employee while you drive to work or drive home from work at the end of the day. Many workers feel that they should be covered because they wouldn’t be commuting if they didn’t have to go to work, but the law is set up so that the business’s obligation ends when someone clocks out. There are limited exceptions, such as if that employee has been given a work-related task during their commute.
Seeking compensation
If you believe that your injuries do qualify, then it’s time to consider how to seek proper workers’ comp benefits. Your situation may be complex, so you need to know what steps to take.