Auto Accidents While Working

Does Workers’ Compensation Cover Employees’ Car Accidents?

It can be tricky to determine what is considered a work-related injury, especially when the injury occurred from a motor vehicle accident. Under Ohio law, if you are injured in an auto accident while in the course of and arising out of your employment you can file a workers’ compensation claim. So what happens if an employee is running personal errands in a company car? Or what about if they are completing job-related duties in their own personal vehicle? 

Once again, an employee’s accident is only covered by workers’ comp when the employee was performing relevant tasks for their job when the accident occurred. So, if you are on a personal errand in a company vehicle you are not entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, but you may be entitled to worker’s comp benefits if you are running a work-related errand in your own vehicle.

More specifically, car or truck accidents that fall in the realm of “work-related” may occur during job duties such as:

• A business trip
• Making a delivery
• Traveling from one job site to another
• Running a work-related errand
• Picking up supplies for work
• Driving a coworker or other employee for business reasons
• Driving or riding to a meeting

Injuries that occur in auto accidents while driving to or coming home from work, fall under the Coming and Going Rule in Ohio and are not covered under the Ohio workers’ compensation system. 

If you are still confused about whether your traffic accident will be covered by workers’ compensation insurance, call workers’ comp car accident attorney Mark L. Newman for a consultation regarding your case today.

Work-Related Car Accidents: Who is Responsible?

Unlike personal injury claims, you may be able to file a workers’ comp claim even if the auto accident was your fault.  Some workers’ comp cases also involve a personal injury claim. For example, if the accident happened as a result of another driver’s negligence, the injured worker may also have a valid personal injury claim as well as a workers’ comp claim. In this civil claim, injured workers and their attorney must be able to prove that the negligent actions of the other driver directly resulted in their injury. 

Workers’ Comp Benefits for Work-Related Car Accidents

Workers’ compensation benefits for a work-related car accident are the same as they are for other work-related accidents. As such, the benefits you are able to receive ultimately depend on the severity of your injury and the extent to which it affects your ability to work. The different types of workers’ comp benefits in Ohio include:

• Temporary Total Disability
• Permanent Total Disability
• Permanent Partial Disability
• Wage Loss Compensation
• Scheduled Loss Award
• Vocational Rehabilitation and Living Maintenance
• Lump-Sum Settlement

If a third party’s negligence caused your injuries you may also be entitled to additional benefits including pain and suffering. However, the Ohio BWC or your employer will have a right of subrogation which requires you to reimburse them the amount of workers’ comp benefits they paid you out of your personal injury settlement. Negotiating the subrogation claim can be very complex.

Mark L. Newman is an experienced attorney with the ability and skill to calculate a valid value for both workers’ compensation claims and personal injury claims in Cincinnati and the surrounding areas. He will work hard to make sure injured victims receive the legal help, medical treatment, benefits, and compensation they deserve following an accident.  

Why You Need a Workers’ Compensation Attorney After an Auto Accident While Working

If you’ve received injuries in a car accident while performing job-related activities, you need the assistance of a workers’ comp car accident lawyer like Mark L. Newman. As a top Cincinnati workers’ compensation attorney, Mr. Newman has served injured employees in the Cincinnati area for over three decades now. Once an attorney-client relationship is established, he will use his vast knowledge and experience to help you pursue the benefits and compensation you need, all while protecting your legal rights. To schedule a consultation, please call our law firm at (513) 533-2009 today.