In the State of Indiana, workers that are hurt while on the job will have their damages covered by Indiana Workers’ Compensation coverage. This is a specific form of insurance that the Indiana Legislature passed which requires Indiana employers to pay for insurance policies that will cover their workers and employees should they be injured while at work. This is overseen by the Indiana Workers’ Compensation Board.
What is Covered by Indiana Workers’ Compensation?
Indiana Workers’ Compensation will help those Indiana workers who are hurt on the job or suffer some kind of disease or illness as a result of their work environment. This includes covering any injuries that are incurred while driving a vehicle on the job.
Car Accidents on the Job
All kinds of accidents are covered by Workers’ Compensation. Construction site injuries are covered. Mill workers hurt by machinery are covered.
And those who drive trucks or cars or other motorized vehicles as part of their job are likewise covered. A commercial delivery truck driver hurt in an accident on the job here in Indiana can look to Indiana workers’ compensation coverage to help him.
However, there are times when car accidents on the job are not clear in coverage. Workers’ Compensation claims may not be immediately available to a driver who was on the job at the time of the accident but does not drive a motor vehicle as part of their daily duties.
For example:
- A secretary who is running an errand for her boss and is hurt in a car crash;
- A worker who is carpooling with another employee to an afternoon work seminar and is hit in a crash;
- An executive who is driving a client to a meeting and is involved in a traffic accident;
- An employee who is driving on a business trip and is in an accident.
Personal Injury Lawsuit Against the Driver Who Caused the Crash
Here, there may be a need to have a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer to advocate for these claims to be covered by Workers’ Compensation by proving up that the situation did indeed occur “on the job.” This may be necessary in dealing both with the employer as well as their insurance company.
Note: if the accident was caused by a third party, then the injury victim can still sue for personal injury damages by filing a claim against the driver who caused the crash. This lawsuit can be filed and can proceed while the Workers’ Compensation negotiations continue. When the injury victim gets paid from the claims made against the driver who caused the crash, then the Workers’ Compensation carrier may ask for reimbursement for monies paid under the workers’ compensation policy. We serve clients in Fort Wayne, Merrillville, Chesterton, Lafayette, South Bend and throughout Indiana and Illinois.
