Offering Personal Service And Aggressive Representation

Victims of work-related car accidents may need extra help

| May 17, 2021 | Motor Vehicle Accidents |

Many people who live in San Bernardino work hard for their living.

Part of this work frequently involves driving while on the clock. Just about anybody who works in the transportation sector drives for a living, but many others do as well.  Likewise, public safety officials, like firefighters, paramedics and police officers, drive as part of their jobs, often at high speeds and in dangerous conditions.

For example, traveling salespeople will likely drive from place to place, as do people who work in many other businesses and professions.

Those in construction, landscaping and the like also have to haul themselves and their equipment to job sites. Many others who work in construction, particularly on highways and roads, also are around traffic even if they don’t drive on the job themselves.

An injured worker may not be able to receive full compensation from her employer

The fact that people drive so often while at work means that a fair portion of car accidents are going to happen while an employee is driving for her occupation. Thankfully, California, like other states, has a workers’ compensation system.

Work comp is a very helpful program than can cover medical bills and other expenses as well as some of an employee’s lost wages. However, this program does not pay for all of an employee’s losses.

In particular, there are non-economic damages associated with accidents. These damages, including pain and suffering and emotional distress, impose  a very real hardship on victims and their families, even though it is difficult to put a precise dollar figure on these.

Someone other than the employer may be responsible for a car accident

On-the-job car accidents happen for a number of reasons. For instance, distracted driving plays a role in many if not most work-related vehicle accidents. Speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can also contribute to these accidents.

While an employer’s responsibility will usually be limited to providing for work comp benefits, others may be responsible for a worker’s injury as well.

For example, a distracted driver who hits an employee while he is working may also be responsible to pay compensation. Pursuing all responsible parties can help a worker get the full compensation he deserves for his loss.