Car crash injuries can very easily undermine a professional’s earning potential. Broken bones, brain injuries and other medical consequences of a collision can leave someone incapable of fulfilling job responsibilities and in need of medical intervention.
They may lose out on wages until they recover. If they sustain lasting injuries, they may have to move to a lower-paid profession. The collision that negatively affects a professional’s career may not happen on their own time. Many people end up injured in crashes while on the clock for work. Those injured may worry about covering their expenses and reducing their lost income. Workers’ compensation may help those dealing with on-the-job injuries that could reduce their income.
On-the-clock crashes are a common issue
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), quite a few workplace injuries involve motor vehicles. Workers in many different professions may have to drive occasionally to fulfill job responsibilities.
Whether someone drives every day as a delivery professional or only occasionally, being in traffic while on the job increases the likelihood of a worker sustaining significant injuries. The good news for employees injured in job-related car wrecks is that they may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
Workers’ compensation coverage is often available to anyone who sustains an injury or gets diagnosed with a job-acquired medical condition. Workers’ compensation can provide medical benefits that cover all necessary treatments for crash injuries.
Workers’ compensation can also help with wage replacement. Temporary disability benefits can replace a portion of a worker’s lost income until they recover enough to return to work.
In scenarios where employees may never be able to work again, workers’ compensation can provide them with permanent disability benefits. There are even permanent partial disability benefits that can cover some of the difference between what a worker earned before they got hurt and their earning potential after their job-related car crash.
Unlike standard car insurance claims, which prioritize fault, workers’ compensation benefits can be available even if the employee is the one who accidentally caused the collision. No-fault workers’ compensation benefits can prove invaluable to those who may not be eligible for other forms of compensation after a crash.
Learning more about workers’ compensation and common sources of workplace injuries can be beneficial for those in dangerous professions, as well as those who regularly perform dangerous job tasks, like driving. Medical and disability benefits can go a long way toward offsetting the expenses generated by an on-the-clock car wreck.