Training for a new job is an exciting time but the excitement goes away when you get into a car accident while driving the company vehicle. At first, you feel fine after the accident but after a few days, you start to notice that your neck and back are hurting. The main question that must be on your mind is what to do at this point?
Getting injured on the job is considered a claim under Worker’s Compensation. Every accident that you encounter while on the job should be reported, doing so will protect your rights as a worker. Worker’s Compensation comes in when a worker is injured while doing the job or while on company time. It protects both the workers and employers by acting as a third party.
Regardless of whether you felt fine after the accident, you should always report it as soon as it happens. If you feel aches and pains after the accident, you should tell your employer so that they can advise on filing a worker’s compensation claim.
Read along as we take a deep dive into what to do when you get rear-ended in a company vehicle while training and you feel back and neck pain afterward.
Who is at fault when you get into a car accident while driving a company car?
The employer is ultimately responsible if their employee gets into a car accident while driving a company car regardless if they were still training or not. This is true especially if the employee was not at fault. The company’s auto insurance will take over in cases like these. This is the main reason why employers always require a clean driving record when they let their employees drive company cars.
Worker’s Compensation and car accidents while driving the company car
It is very unfortunate if you get into a car accident while driving the company car but if you are injured, then it might get more complicated because Worker’s Compensation will factor in. This is especially important if the other driver was at fault and caused the accident such as rear-ending your car.
If the at-fault driver doesn’t have adequate insurance, then Worker’s Compensation will be able to pay for your medical treatments or lost wages if you have to miss work. This can get complicated so it is advisable to entail the services of a personal injury lawyer.
Keeping documentation of everything that happened is important especially if you are driving a company car. Getting the other party’s insurance and contact information is crucial as well as taking pictures of the car after the accident. Gathering appropriate documentation will protect you in the long run in case the other driver decides to twist the story around.
Is there a timeframe for reporting injuries for Worker’s Compensation?
It is very common to feel fine after a car accident because your adrenaline takes over. But once the adrenaline wears out and your body adjusts after the accident, aches, and pains might develop within the next few days. You might think that it’s too late to file a Worker’s Compensation claim if you felt fine in the beginning but the reporting time can be up to 30 days or more depending on what state you are in. Consulting with a personal injury lawyer in the Orlando area can help you in determining the best course of action to take in this situation.
The main thing here is to immediately tell your employer that you are not feeling well so that they can document this and then you can start your worker’s compensation claim. The second thing that you should do is to go to a doctor so that your injuries can be documented. This is also a crucial part of your claim with Worker’s Compensation.
If you need a personal injury lawyer – Contact Jordan Law in Orlando today!
There is nothing worse than getting into a car accident as you are training for your new job in a company vehicle. But accidents like this happen more often than you think. If you start feeling back and neck pain after the accident, you should contact a personal injury lawyer.
Navigating this specific situation can be a confusing time and we are here to help you. By contacting Jordan Law in Orlando, you will have a chance to be represented by experts in this field. What sets us apart is that we care about our clients and have their best interests at heart. This is why most of our new clients are referrals from our existing client base. This is a testament to the outstanding service we provide to every one of our clients.
