Professionals hurt at work are sometimes eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. They do not necessarily have to be on-site at the time of their injury to qualify for medical coverage and disability benefits.
Any major medical issues caused by employment, including on-the-clock incidents that occur at other locations, can make an employee eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. A car crash could potentially leave a worker unable to return to their job for weeks and in need of benefits to pay their bills and cover their medical expenses.
When do car crashes make professionals eligible for workers’ compensation?
Commute collisions generally do not qualify
Some professionals commute an hour or longer to get to work every day. The time that they spend on the road puts them at risk. However, if crashes occur during a commute, they technically happen before the worker is on the clock or after they end their shift. As such, commute collisions generally do not qualify for workers’ compensation coverage.
On the other hand, professionals who are on the clock and en route to a client’s house or business facilities might be eligible for workers’ compensation after a crash. Many different types of professionals have to drive as part of their job. Collisions are a leading cause of work injuries in many different sectors.
The worker could be in a company fleet vehicle or their own personal vehicle when the crash occurs. They could even be at fault for the wreck and still be eligible. So long as the crash occurs during a shift, workers’ compensation coverage may be available. Professionals can seek reimbursement for lost wages and medical expenses.
Showing that a collision occurred while working could help a professional qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Those hurt in on-the-clock collisions may require assistance getting the benefits they deserve.