What Happens If You Have a Car Accident While Working in Fort Lauderdale?
You are making a delivery, driving between job sites, or running a work errand when another driver runs a red light and hits you. Now you are dealing with two separate systems at once: your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer and the at-fault driver’s auto insurance carrier.
Work-related car accidents open the door to multiple avenues of recovery, but navigating both types of claims requires careful handling from the start. Our experienced Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyer explains what injured workers need to know when a car accident happens on the clock.
Fort Lauderdale Workers’ Compensation: When a Car Accident Happens on the Job
The National Safety Council (NSC) warns that motor vehicle crashes are a common cause of potentially life-threatening on-the-job injuries. In Fort Lauderdale, delivery drivers, sales representatives, home health aides, construction workers, and anyone else who drives as part of their job face this risk daily.
Under Section 440.09 of the Florida Statutes, workers’ compensation benefits help cover the cost of injuries that arise out of and in the course of employment. Work-related car accidents that may qualify for workers’ comp in Florida often involve:
- Driving between job sites, client locations, or worksites is a required part of your job duties.
- You make deliveries or pickups on behalf of your employer during your scheduled shift.
- You run work errands specifically requested by your employer or supervisor.
- You commute to a temporary or off-site work location that differs from your regular workplace.
Standard commutes from home to your regular workplace are generally not covered, but you may still be entitled to compensation in a Fort Lauderdale personal injury claim.
Filing Both a Workers’ Comp and Third-Party Liability Claim After a Fort Lauderdale Work Car Accident
When a third party is responsible for on-the-job injuries in Fort Lauderdale, you may be entitled to compensation through workers’ comp and a separate personal injury claim. This dual-track approach can significantly increase your total recovery, but it requires careful coordination. Take these steps after a car accident that happens while you are working:
- Call 911, wait at the scene, exchange info with the other driver, and get a copy of the accident report.
- Report the accident to your employer in writing on the same day it occurs.
- Seek medical treatment right away and make sure your physician documents both the accident circumstances and every injury you sustained.
- Follow all your doctor’s instructions and do not return to work until cleared to do so.
These are complicated cases that typically require professional legal help. Before giving any statements to the insurers involved, contact our experienced Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyer first.
Work-Related Car Crash? Contact Our Experienced Fort Lauderdale Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
The Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. protects injured workers in Fort Lauderdale, helping them get the compensation they need to recover when on-the-job injuries happen. If you get hurt in a work-related crash, contact our experienced Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyer. Request a consultation in our Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach office today.
Sources:
injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/overview/introduction/
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0440/Sections/0440.09.html/