Work-Related Car Accidents

For many people who work in and around New Hampshire, traveling is part of the job. Like all drivers, motorists who are traveling as part of their job duties run the risk of being in an accident. Most accidents can be avoided, however, and would not happen unless one of the drivers in the accident was negligent. Recovering damages following a work-related car accident can be a long and involved process. If you were involved in a car accident during the performance of your job duties, you should speak with a trusted New Hampshire car accident lawyer to discuss your options for seeking compensation for any harm that you sustained in the accident. At Peter Thompson and Associates, our attorneys have more than 60 years of collective experience helping New Hampshire residents injured in work-related car accidents pursue any damages that they may be owed. We can anticipate any hurdles to your recovery and will work diligently to help you seek a favorable outcome under the circumstances.

If you were injured in a work-related car accident, you may be able to recover benefits from your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance provider. To recover under a workers’ compensation claim, you must prove that your accident was truly “work-related.” In other words, you must show that it occurred in the course of the performance of your job duties. Examples of work-related accidents include accidents that occur while a driver is making a delivery, traveling to a work site, or driving for a living. Generally speaking, accidents that occur while traveling to and from work are not considered work-related accidents. If you are entitled to recover workers’ compensation, you may receive benefits to cover the cost of medical treatment and some of the wage loss caused by the accident.

If you are involved in a work-related accident, filing a workers’ compensation claim does not preclude you from also seeking damages from the driver who caused the accident. To recover from another driver following a car accident, you must show that the driver caused the accident. Typically, an injured party pursuing compensation will allege that the defendant driver was negligent. In New Hampshire, negligence has four elements that must be proven to recover damages: a duty owed to the injured party, a breach of the duty by the defendant, an accident proximately caused by the breach, and harm caused by the accident. To show that the breach was the proximate cause of the accident, you must show that “but for” the breach, the accident would not have happened, and the breach was a substantial factor in bringing about the accident. Proving liability in a car accident case often hinges on the facts and evidence obtained via discovery, including witness statements, police reports, and deposition testimony. If you were injured in a work-related accident, a knowledgeable car accident attorney can analyze the facts of your case and help you seek compensation from anyone liable for your harm.

Work-related accidents are similar to other car accidents in terms of the harm that they cause and the damages recoverable. If you are involved in a work-related accident, you can seek compensation for the cost of repairing any damage to your vehicle from the party that caused the accident. You can also seek the cost of any medical treatment and loss of earnings if you were unable to work following the accident. You may also be able to recover damages for any pain and suffering caused by the accident. If you were married at the time of the accident, your spouse may be able to pursue damages for loss of consortium.

It is important to note, however, that if you received workers’ compensation benefits following the accident, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer may assert a lien against any damages that you recover from the negligent driver. In other words, if you received $15,000 in workers’ compensation benefits, the insurer may claim that it is entitled to the first $15,000 of damages that you recover from the negligent driver.

Many people’s jobs include traveling, and individuals injured while driving for work should be made whole for any harm that they suffered. If you sustained damages in a work-related car accident, you have a right to seek compensation from your employer and the party that caused the accident. At Peter Thompson and Associates, our attorneys will aggressively pursue any damages that you may be owed following your accident. Our skill in handling New Hampshire car accident cases has allowed us to maintain a record of favorable verdicts. Our offices are located in Bedford, Nashua, Portsmouth, and Manchester, New Hampshire. We represent clients throughout the state. You can contact us at 800.804.2004 or through our online form to schedule a meeting.