Workers’ Compensation
The workers’ compensation system is usually the first place we will look to obtain compensation for our clients who have been injured in work-related car accidents. This is because employers are obligated to pay for the medical care immediately needed in the aftermath of an auto accident, and to replace the lost wages incurred due to time missed from work. In order to get these benefits, it is essential to establish that the injured driver was, in fact, providing a benefit to his or her employer at the time of the accident. Some of the considerations include:
- Whether the injured driver was actually working at the time of the accident
- Whether the task that the driver was performing as required by someone in a position of authority at the company
- Whether the car was a company vehicle or privately owned
- Whether travel is a necessary part of the injured worker’s performance of his or her job responsibilities
We have the experience to explore the facts of your case to determine whether the court will conclude that you were working. If so, we will help you obtain the best workers’ compensation resolution available for your case.
Personal Injury/Third-Party Liability
Although workers’ compensation is a great benefit to many people, it often does not adequately cover the true costs of the lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and the long-term consequences of injury. Workers’ compensation generally prevents you from suing your employer or a co-employee for work-related accidents, but if there was someone else involved who was responsible to some degree for the accident — which is often the case in workers’ compensation car accident claims — we can bring a separate personal injury claim against that responsible person. This separate personal injury claim can help you more fully recover the true costs of your injury.
Coordinating Two Claims
It is essential to coordinate the car accident personal injury and the workers compensation claims. In some cases, clients who settle or receive a judgment in third-party liability lawsuits end up having to reimburse the workers’ compensation program a great deal of that money. With more than 40 combined years of experience, we can help make sure you maximize all of your possible benefits while minimizing the amount paid back to the workers’ compensation carrier.
Gastonia Workplace Auto Accident Attorneys
If you have lost a loved one to a fatal car accident or fatal workplace accident, or if you have suffered serious injuries in a workplace car wreck, you can talk with one of our experienced talk lawyers, free of charge. Call 704-335-1500 or 800-948-0577 toll-free, or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation.
