Truck Accidents and Workers’ Compensation

Being the victim in a truck accident can be terrifying. Especially if you were on your way to or from a work function or making a delivery of some kind, you may even be confused about whether or not you can file for workers’ compensation benefits or if you should file a personal injury lawsuit. Truck accidents can cause serious personal damage to you and your vehicle and it is important to report the accident to your supervisor and go see a doctor as quickly as possible. If you have been in an accident with a truck while you were on the job, you should speak to a lawyer. They can help clear up any questions you may have and make sure you get the help you need. For more information about workers’ compensation benefits and truck accidents, contact a law firm now. 

Defining Work-Related Tasks

When a person is driving and they are injured, one of the most common causes for confusion is whether or not they can consider their driving to be a work-related task. Most often, a lawyer will tell their clients that “this depends.” Each state will have its own rules regarding workers’ compensation and what qualifies, but the injuries you sustained from the accident must directly be work-related. So, if you were driving and a truck hit you, workers’ compensation should cover your injuries if:

• You are a delivery driver
• You were tasked with driving another employee or colleague
• You do not work from an office but must travel for work
• Your employer has certain rules where they pay you for traveling 
• Your supervisor asks you to run an errand

These are all good examples of when a person may be considered on the job while they are driving. If, on the other hand, you decide you want to grab a coffee during working hours, clock out, and drive to a local cafe, it is unlikely that your employer would give you workers’ compensation benefits if you were hit by a truck during this time. That said, if you can show that your supervisor asked you to run out and get coffee for the office, this could be considered a job-related task.

Truck Accident Injuries

Truck accident injuries are incredibly severe and could leave you with internal bleeding, head injuries, and broken or fractured bones, among other injuries. Because of how severe most injuries are after a truck accident, you should seek medical care as soon as possible and report your injuries to your supervisor. For more help on filing for workers’ compensation benefits after a truck accident, contact a workers comp attorney, like from Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen P.C.