Workers Comp Benefits Following a Car Accident
Being involved in a car accident can be an overwhelming and disorienting experience. You will of course be tending to any medical needs. And an emergency supersedes any other concerns. Then there’s property damage concerns, missed work, etc. It can be easy to lose sight of the legal matters that may need to be sorted out.
It’s important to remember that if you are involved in a car accident that happened for work-related reasons – even if it happened while you were driving your personal vehicle – you may be entitled to file for workers compensation benefits. This could be true regardless of whether or not you were at fault in the accident in question.
To best understand your rights following a work-related car accident, contact The Gorny Law Firm. We’ve helped countless accident victims collect the damages they are owed. We might be able to help you.
The Basics of Workers Compensation for Car Accident Victims
Workers compensation is a no-fault system. That’s important to understand. It means that if you’re eligible to file for workers compensation benefits and you were engaged in a work-related activity while you were in a car accident, you should be awarded benefits relative to the damage you’ve suffered. You do not have to prove that someone else caused the crash. This is true whether you drive professionally or not so long as you were driving for a work-related reason. And this is true even if you were at fault in the accident.
Exceptions would apply, of course, if you were intoxicated or otherwise impaired at the time of the accident or if you were found to have engineered the accident with the motivation of collecting benefits.
If you were not working, or were off the clock, or if you were working as an independent contractor, you’ll likely need to pursue any compensation through a personal injury claim rather than a workers compensation claim. The Gorny Law Firm can assist you in either scenario.
It’s also possible that you may be entitled to pursue both a workers compensation claim and a personal injury claim concurrently. If, for example, you were injured while working but also as the result of another driver or an improperly maintained road. Eligibility for workers compensation benefits may limit your ability to sue your employer, but it does not preclude you from pursuing damages from a third party.
Seek Expert Representation
Any claim – whether it’s workers compensation or personal injury – can be complex. It’s critically important that you get the very best legal representation that you can to fully protect your rights and rightful claim.
The Gorny Law Firm has been serving clients in Missouri, Kansas and nationwide for more than 20 years. We have the experience and expertise to help you realize your best outcome.
Contact Gorny Dandurand law firm if you believe you have a workers compensation claim as a result of a car accident. Your initial consultation won’t cost you anything.
