There are many ways for workers to end up injured on the job. People who operate heavy machinery are often a single mistake away from a potentially debilitating injury. Health care workers can slip while administering medication and accidentally stick themselves with contaminated needles.
Such incidents occur at a place of employment and have a direct correlation to a professional’s job functions. After these common types of on-the-job injuries, workers tend to understand that they are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if they need medical care or cannot work.
However, there are many other hazards that may not seem as black-and-white to professionals. Car crashes can sometimes occur because of an individual’s employment. Can workers’ compensation provide support for professionals injured in work-related collisions?
Timing determines eligibility
Workers’ compensation protects professionals for on-the-job injuries even when they get hurt off-site. An on-the-clock professional who falls off of a ladder while working on a client’s gutters is eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Similar rules apply to car crash incidents.
Collisions are one of the leading causes of major workplace injuries. If they occur while an employee is on the clock, then the professional involved may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Collisions during a commute do not qualify. They are related to employment, but they are not on-the-job accidents.
However, if driving is part of an employee’s job functions and they are on the job when the crash occurs, workers’ compensation can help them. A professional who drives every day or occasionally as part of their position could be eligible for benefits if a crash occurs while they work.
No-fault benefits available through workers’ compensation protect professionals even if they are the party at fault for the collision. They can still qualify for medical benefits and possibly even disability pay while they recover from their injuries. Workers’ compensation can provide support for injured professionals even if they are not eligible to file a standard car insurance claim.
Pursuing workers’ compensation benefits can be a challenge, especially for people dealing with major injuries. Professionals may need assistance as they seek benefits to cover their lost wages and pay for their treatment after a job-related motor vehicle collision.