Getting into a vehicle accident often means going through confusing insurance claims processes while also trying to recover from injuries. Vehicle accidents that occur while performing job-related duties add an extra layer of complexity to the claim. Here, we want to discuss what you need to do after a vehicle accident that occurs while on the job.
Seek Medical Care
The first priority after a vehicle accident that occurs on the job is to seek medical treatment. Even if you are in the middle of your work-related duties, your health and well-being are the priority. After the accident, either take an ambulance to the hospital if the injuries are severe enough or go to an emergency clinic as soon as you leave the scene of the incident.
Contact Authorities
Law enforcement officials must come to the scene of the vehicle accident. Just about every vehicle accident that occurs in Arizona must be reported to the police, and officers will conduct a preliminary investigation in order to fill out their accident report. This accident report is going to be crucial, not only for the insurance carriers involved in the auto accident but also for workers’ comp injury claims.
Tell Your Employer
Your employer will likely know the vehicle accident has occurred relatively soon after the incident. However, you still need to go through the official injury notification process set forth by state law in order to recover your workers’ compensation benefits. Individuals who sustain injuries in a vehicle accident while performing job-related duties will almost certainly qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, but the employer must know about the incident, and the claim should be filed on time.
The overall work injury statute of limitations for a workers’ compensation claim is one year from the date an injury occurs. However, the employer does need to know about the injury much sooner than this overall one-year filing limitation.
Call an Attorney
We encourage you to speak to a skilled car accident lawyer in Phoenix who has experience handling these claims. There may be multiple routes available to crash victims for recovering compensation. This includes not only workers’ comp benefits but possibly also a third-party personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. Your lawyer will examine the facts of the case and help you determine the best steps moving forward for recovering the compensation needed to get through this.
Workers’ Compensation or Personal Injury?
Workers’ compensation benefits in Arizona are typically available to any individual who sustains an on-the-job injury. Workers’ compensation insurance is a no-fault insurance system where individuals who sustain injuries will recover benefits regardless of who caused the injury. If a person is eligible for workers’ compensation, they can typically recover coverage of all medical bills associated with the injury as well as a major portion of any lost wages. Pain and suffering damages are not available through workers’ compensation in Arizona.
Vehicle accident victims may be able to work with a personal injury lawyer in Phoenix to file a third-party personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party as well. They may be able to pursue this claim in addition to the workers’ compensation benefits received, and a personal injury lawsuit in civil court could open up an individual to recover more compensation, including complete coverage of lost wages, property damage expenses, various types of out-of-pocket expenses, rental vehicle expenses, as well as coverage of physical and emotional pain and suffering damages.