Work-Related Car Accident Attorneys

Driving For Work Can Mean Catastrophic Traffic Accidents On the Job

Work-related car accidents in New York happen all the time. But it's something most transit workers, delivery van drivers, truck drivers, and cab drivers don't think about when they leave for work in the morning-that their job, in and of itself, is risky at every moment due to other drivers' negligence or recklessness.

For the thousands of New Yorkers whose job includes driving a company car or commercial vehicle, job-related traffic accidents are all too common. Though by law, job-related car accident victims are covered by workers' compensation in New York, it can be very hard to collect benefits when it's your word against the workers' comp insurance companies and sometimes even your boss. If someone else caused the accident—a pedestrian, another driver or the manufacturer of a defective vehicle you were driving—you could end up having to fight a denied workers' compensation claim.

This is why you need legal representation if you got hurt in a work-related car accident in New York. Our workers’ comp lawyers understand how the legal system works when it comes to injuries in a work vehicle or company car. Our legal team can demand the money you deserve while you focus on what matters most – your recovery.

NYC Transit Workers and Delivery Drivers Risk Their Lives Every Day

If you drive a subway line for the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), the Staten Island Ferry for the NYC Department of Transportation, or a New York City cab, you could suffer severe accident injuries on the job at any moment. Accidents can happen for any transit operator on public transportation or cops or firefighters who drive city or state law enforcement vehicles for a living. NYC work-related auto accidents take many forms:

Who pays for a car accident while driving for work?

Like any other work accident, if you were on the job when you were involved in a work-related car accident, you can get workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation should pay for the full cost of reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to the crash, as well as two-thirds of your lost wages and certain other benefits for injuries to the extremities.

In addition, if your car accident was caused by someone other than your employer – such as a driver of another vehicle – you can file a third-party personal injury claim against that responsible party. This can potentially pay for losses that workers’ comp doesn’t cover, such as pain and suffering. As your attorney, we can handle both aspects of your case, including reaching a settlement or filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver to pursue full compensation.

Does an accident in a work vehicle affect personal insurance?

Sadly, in many cases, a work-related car accident could affect someone’s personal car insurance policy. However, it’s also important to understand that every accident is different. If you were not clearly at fault – or there are questions about who caused the accident – this should be taken into consideration.

In such situations, you need to talk to a lawyer. We can help you better understand your rights and the legal options available to you.

Who is liable for an accident in a company vehicle?

In a work-related car accident, liability (legal responsibility for damages) depends on the circumstances. First, like any other work injury, a car accident while on the job is covered by workers’ compensation. Workers’ comp covers your reasonable and necessary medical expenses, partial replacement of your lost income, and certain other benefits for permanent, disabling injuries. You can get those benefits regardless of fault for the accident. However, the insurance company may question whether you were injured “in the course and scope of your employment,” depending on the situation.

New York also has a no-fault insurance system for car accidents. That means there are certain benefits you can get through your employer’s car insurance regardless of fault. And, as with any other car accident, if another driver or other negligent party caused your accident, then you may be able to take legal action. You can’t sue your employer for a work accident, but you can sue a negligent third party – and doing so may allow you to get compensation for costs not covered by workers’ comp, such as pain and suffering.

In short, it’s complicated. The sooner you talk to an experienced work injury attorney, the sooner you will have answers about your legal rights and options.

No Matter Who Caused Your On-the-Job Traffic Crash, Call a Tough NYC Workman's Comp Lawyer

For over 90 years, we've been helping work-related traffic accident victims from Westchester to Long Island to Queens County. Whether it's filing a workers' compensation claim or handling workers' compensation hearings on our clients' behalf, we understand what it takes to get results in New York. Don't wait—we're here to help. If you are a member of the Transport Workers Union (TWU), the NY Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA), or the Teamsters, you’ll also be in skilled hands—we've been representing union members for decades.

Call tough NYC workers' comp attorneys Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP toll-free at (800) 692-3717 or contact us online for a free evaluation. Every discussion is confidential, and there is no obligation, just answers.