Injuries Sustained in Work Vehicle Accidents

If you have been injured in an automobile accident while performing your job, you could be entitled to monetary compensation for your damages through a work vehicle injury claim. However, you can only file this type of claim if your injury occurred while you were doing work-related driving – if you are injured in an accident while driving your personal vehicle to or from your job, you can not seek damages through a workplace injury claim. If you are unsure about whether your claim falls into the realm of workplace injury or personal injury, contact an experienced workplace injury attorney to discuss it in detail.

Depending on your circumstances, you could be entitled to multiple claims for your work vehicle injury. If another driver was at fault for a collision, you can file a third party personal injury claim. If you were driving a work vehicle, performing work-related tasks when your accident occurred, you can file a workplace injury claim. If both of these statements are true about your accident, you could potentially file both.

Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you are entitled to a workplace accident claim:

• Were you driving a work vehicle when the accident occurred?
• Were you doing work in the vehicle? In other words, were you driving it to see a client, transporting work materials, or driving between branches of your company or were you simply driving to or from work?

If the accident occurred while you were on your lunch break or taking a side trip during the workday that was not related to your job, you could be denied a workplace injury claim.

The injuries that stem from vehicle collisions can be expensive. Through your claim, you can seek compensation for the following needs:

• Medical bills;
• Lost wages due to time spent out of work;
• The need for physical therapy or rehabilitation;
• The need for job training after your recovery; and
• Pain and suffering. This could help cover your intangible needs following an accident, such as the need for psychological counseling to work through your emotional and mental stress.

Driving on a busy roadway puts you at risk for a variety of injuries and accident types. Many of these accidents are completely preventable and can be attributed to a driver's negligence. If you have been injured in an accident while driving a work vehicle, contact our team of experienced San Jose workplace injury attorneys at Corsiglia, McMahon, & Allard, L.L.P. today to schedule your free legal consultation with our firm. We are available for clients in the Bay Area, and the counties of San Mateo, Alameda, San Benito, Monterey, and Santa Clara.

• Guidelines for Employers to Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes