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Hurt At Work In A Motor Vehicle Accident In Charlotte, NC?
December 28, 2018Every year, thousands of workers get injured in the workplace. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2016, more than two million workplace injuries and illnesses were reported by workers in the United States. With so many injuries happening in the workplace, you may wonder what kind of help you can obtain if you are ever injured at work due to the negligence of a third party, such as being injured in a job-related car accident. The Charlotte personal injury lawyers at Dewey, Ramsay, & Hunt explain more about the interaction between personal injury and workman’s comp in North Carolina, and what to expect after a work-related auto accident.
How Do I Obtain Compensation for a Car Accident at Work?
Employees who are hurt while performing their job duties can obtain benefits from a system known as workers’ compensation. Most employers are required by law to provide workers’ compensation for their employees. Worker’s comp coverage will begin the moment you start working as an employee. If you were hurt while performing your duties in or out of the workplace, you may be entitled to obtain workers’ compensation benefits. To qualify, your work-related car accident, bus accident, or truck accident must be linked to your job duties. This means you cannot file a workman’s comp claim if you were in a car wreck on your way to work.You don’t necessarily have to be the driver in a work-related car crash to be eligible for compensation. For instance, if you are a passenger in a company car on its way to a job meeting, and the vehicle is involved in an accident, you can potentially receive compensation.
Can I File a Personal Injury Claim for a Work-Related Car Accident?
Depending on the situation, if you were injured in a car accident while performing your job duties, you cannot file a personal injury claim against your employer. Instead, you would generally file a worker’s compensation claim to obtain compensation for your injuries. However, there are exceptions to this general rule. For example, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.In a personal injury lawsuit, you will need to establish the following elements to prove your case:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care.
- The defendant breached that duty.
- The breach of duty caused you harm.
- You suffered damages (such as medical expenses).
A skilled and experienced Charlotte injury lawyer can help you navigate through the entire process of filing a lawsuit or workers’ comp claim.
Charlotte Worker’s Comp and Personal Injury Attorneys
Suffering a severe injury at the workplace can have devastating consequences for you and your family. You can feel anxious and overwhelmed because you may not be able to return to work. However, you don’t have to go through this moment alone. Our knowledgeable personal injury attorneys at Dewey, Ramsay, & Hunt may be able to help. We dedicate our practice to fighting for your rights as an injured worker. To learn more about your potential claim or lawsuit, call our law offices today at (704) 377-3737, or contact us online for a free consultation.