A work-related car accident can happen for many reasons, from a reckless driver crashing into you to your boss failing to properly maintain a work vehicle. Regardless of the cause of your crash, you may be entitled to financial compensation through one or more insurance policies as an injured victim. To request a free case review with a work-related car accident attorney in Lakewood, Colorado, contact Flesch Law. We answer calls 24 hours a day.
A Lakewood work related car accident lawyer can lead to a confusing enough claims process as it is; if you get into a collision while driving a work vehicle, it is even more difficult to understand your rights. A Lakewood car accident lawyer has the knowledge and resources to help you work through a claim.
Your lawyer can answer your questions and make the situation easier for you while you focus on healing from your injuries. Meanwhile, your lawyer and his or her legal team can fight for the best possible case outcome from an insurance company on your behalf.
The main question after a work-related car accident is whether you should file a workers’ compensation claim, a personal injury lawsuit or both. Workers’ compensation in Colorado is a no-fault system, where you do not have to prove anyone else was at fault or negligent to receive monetary benefits for your medical expenses and lost wages. You can recover financial compensation from your employer’s insurance company, regardless of fault.
A personal injury lawsuit, on the other hand, requires you or your Lakewood personal injury attorney to prove fault and negligence. Negligence is the failure to act in a reasonable manner or use the right amount of care, resulting in injury or harm to another person. Although this makes a personal injury lawsuit more difficult to win than a workers’ compensation claim, you could recover greater compensation. You can recover 100 percent of your lost wages, for example, while workers’ comp will only reimburse you for about two-thirds.
If you accept a workers’ compensation settlement in Colorado, you will automatically give up the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against your employer. This is the tradeoff that comes with the no-fault system. If someone other than your employer caused your car accident, however, you can pursue recovery through both workers’ comp and a personal injury lawsuit. A Lakewood work related car accident lawyer can help you decide the right legal option for you.
Call the police immediately to report a car accident that takes place while you are driving a work vehicle or performing other work-related tasks. Do not admit any fault for the car accident, even if you think you might have contributed to the crash. Exchange information with the other driver involved in the car accident. If you can, take photographs of the crash scene before you leave.
Go to a hospital in Lakewood without delay. Request copies of your medical records and follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations. Report the crash to your employer within at least 30 days. Before you accept a settlement from your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company, however, consult with an attorney. An attorney can provide a comprehensive overview of all of your legal options.
At Flesch Law, we care about workers’ rights in Colorado. We work diligently to protect workers with personalized, high-quality legal care. We can immediately go to work on your work-related car accident case, doing everything we can to ensure a positive case outcome for you and your family.
Learn more about how we can help you today. Request a free consultation at (303) 980-5511 or by contacting us online anytime.