Protecting Your Rights After a Work-Related Car Accident

Safety should always come first during a car accident. Look around you to see what’s happening in your immediate surroundings; if there’s an engine fire, debris in the road, or other hazards, do your best to get to safety. When accidents happen on crowded roadways, you may be at risk of another vehicle hitting yours or the other driver involved in your accident. If your vehicle is functional, you may slowly and carefully move it off the roadway onto the shoulder.

Before you do anything else, make your injuries your top priority. Even if you feel fine following a car accident, serious injuries, like head injuries and internal bleeding, may not be immediately apparent. It’s best to be evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible, whether that’s by emergency medical personnel on the scene or medical providers at a local emergency room.

When you seek medical attention, you start formal documentation of your injuries, which is crucial if you eventually work with a personal injury attorney.

Anytime you’re in a car accident, no matter how minor or severe, call the police department immediately. The law enforcement officer who comes to the scene will write a police report that can be used by your attorney. This report may include descriptions of the scene, witness statements, and a preliminary determination of fault.

If the other driver tries to convince you not to call the police, do not let them sway you; the only way to protect your rights is to start a paper trail so your accident does not become a matter of your word against the other driver’s.  Assess if there are any witnesses and obtain name and telephone numbers.  Not every witness stays until the police arrive.

You must also report the accident immediately to your employer. It doesn’t matter who is at fault; if you delay reporting your accident, it can also delay when you receive compensation or if you receive it at all. The accident report will serve as evidence to the insurance company that you were injured on the job.

Seeking medical attention should be your first step after an accident, but as long as you’re medically stable, you want to document your accident as much as you can in the event a claim is made. Use your phone camera to:

• Take pictures of the vehicles involved and any visible damage.
• Photograph any injuries sustained.
• Capture the surrounding area.
• Note any property damage.
• Detail any vehicle damage.

Taking photos is a smart thing to do. You can also protect your rights by writing down any pertinent details from the incident: what you were doing and what the other car did. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other people involved.

Your evidence may play a crucial role in any legal proceedings. As you recover and begin the legal process, start a file for all your documents, including police reports, medical records, repair estimates, and correspondence with insurance companies. These documents will help your work injury lawyer build the strongest case possible.

While it can be tempting to talk to others about your experience or share what happened to you on social media, avoid doing this.  It is not uncommon for people to think they may be at fault for an accident but later learn they may not be responsible, depending on what the evidence shows.   As a result, it is always best if you do not talk fault with anyone.  Any admission could be used against you at a later point in time.  Should the other driver be at fault, let your legal counsel prove it through a work injury claim.

After a work-related auto accident, you may have to take time off work until you recover from your injuries. In the meantime, you may see medical bills piling up while you’re not able to perform work-related duties as usual.

Coulter Harsh Law and associated attorneys are ready to guide you through the legal aspects of your recovery. Without a team like ours by your side, your chances of receiving fair compensation for your injuries and any lost wages are typically greatly lessened. These cases involve a lot of coordination between insurance companies—yours, the other parties, and your employers’—so let us do it for you

After a car accident, you are responsible for reporting it, compiling documentation, filing your claim, and pursuing compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and any changes to your physical abilities—some workers may have decreased capacity for earnings after an accident.

As mentioned above, the state laws that dictate your rights after a work-related injury can vary and include complex details that an average citizen would not know. There are a lot of moving pieces that a lawyer can put together for you while you focus on your medical treatment and recover.

Once you hire Coulter Harsh Law, our lawyers will thoroughly investigate your accident. We’ll gather all relevant documentation, including medical records, the police report, insurance policies, photographic evidence, witness statements, and estimated damages from vehicle repair shops. We know exactly what evidence is needed to ensure you receive the legal compensation that you are entitled to.

After your car accident, any claim you file will likely be with your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Insurance companies can be difficult to deal with. Insurance companies can deny your claim or delay the payout of your benefits. At times, you are at the mercy of insurance adjusters, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Coulter Harsh Law’s attorneys have decades of experience communicating with insurance companies to make sure you receive the treatment and legal compensation the law requires.

Most workers’ compensation claims are settled out of court. Should your claim be disputed by your employer and the insurance company, it’s still rare for it to go to a hearing. Most end with a compromise agreement or settlement. Coulter Harsh Law will protect your rights whether your claim results in a hearing in front of a judge or not. The process can be confusing, but it can be surprisingly stress-free with an experienced attorney in your corner.