While most of us drive to work, many people also drive for work, including sales consultants, real estate agents, delivery drivers, taxi drivers and truck drivers. What happens when they get in a vehicle accident while driving for their job?
This can be a complex issue, so you will likely want to speak with an experienced attorney to learn your right to workers’ compensation and third-party lawsuits.
Workers’ compensation
If you drive as all or part of your job, you may have multiple sources of compensation available to you. First, there is workers’ compensation. Like most any accident you have on the job, Connecticut workers’ compensation will cover some of your losses such as:
- Medical bills
- A portion of your lost wages
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Job retraining if you cannot return to your present occupation
While these benefits may be enough for minor injuries, workers’ compensation is often not sufficient for more serious accidents.
Third-party compensation
Depending on the details of your accident, you may also be entitled to compensation from a negligent third party. For example, if the driver of another vehicle caused your accident, you can file a personal injury suit. This is separate from your workers’ compensation case. And like any personal injury suit, you can seek damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Any damages you recover from the personal injury suit are in addition to your workers’ comp benefits.
If your injury was catastrophic, you will most likely need more financial compensation than workers’ compensation benefits provide. People with injuries such as spinal cord injuries, brain injuries or amputations may never be able to return to work and may need expensive long-term care. In these cases, it is imperative that you recover all the compensation available to you.
If you were injured in a work vehicle accident that included a third party, speak to a lawyer to ensure you recover the maximum compensation allowed under the law.
