People in different professions have different job responsibilities. Quite a few different careers require workers to occasionally operate a motor vehicle. Other professions may require daily driving in some cases.
Being on the road for work is a serious source of injury risk and workplace fatalities. It only takes a moment of distraction or an encounter with the wrong person to leave someone with serious injuries. A crash that occurs while someone is technically at work could render someone incapable of continuing their employment until they heal. In some cases, they may require long-term treatment and may have persistent symptoms that linger for years. Those symptoms may affect their functional abilities and their earning potential.
How can workers cover the costs generated by collisions while they are on the clock?
Workers’ compensation may be of use
Those expecting to use their basic health insurance after a car crash often receive a surprising reaction from the medical facility or insurance company. Specifically, they learn that health insurance does not apply if there could be available liability insurance to pay their medical bills instead.
In a car crash scenario, motor vehicle coverage usually pays for medical expenses instead of health insurance. When someone gets hurt on the job, workers’ compensation coverage might pay for medical care. Although people may feel confused about benefit eligibility if a car crash occurs while they are on the clock, they typically have the option of pursuing workers’ compensation coverage.
Any injury that occurs while working is potentially eligible for workers’ compensation coverage, even if the incident occurred off-site. Employees can receive full medical benefits for their necessary treatment and also disability benefits if they require leave because of their injuries.
Sometimes, people supplement that coverage by also holding the driver at fault for the crash accountable. However, even if the employee was the one technically at fault for a crash, workers’ compensation could still help them afford treatment and reduce the impact of their lost wages.
Those who are familiar with their rights under workers’ compensation rules may have an easier time than the average person seeking the support they require following a collision. Connecting injuries to an incident at work can potentially pave the way to benefits for injured employees.