Got in Car Accident With Company Car

Car accidents can be complicated in general, but when someone gets into an accident with a company vehicle in North Carolina, even more complex issues arise. The auto accident lawyers in Raleigh with Owens & Miller handle simple accident cases when clear liability is defined, to complex cases when multiple parties are involved.

When an employee is hurt in a car accident that involves a company car, several questions are common:

• Is my employer responsible for healthcare necessary to treat my injuries?
• Will I be able to receive North Carolina workers’ compensation?
• Will I need to make a claim on my own car or health insurance?

Workplace accidents—whether on company property or off-site—must meet certain requirements in order to qualify for different coverage. If you were using the company vehicle to make a sales call, visit a client, deliver work-related packages, or travel to a business meeting – you were injured during the course and scope of your work. This is important to identify when navigating workers’ comp law in North Carolina. When you are injured in the course and scope of your work, you may be eligible for NC workers’ comp benefits, regardless of whether the accident was your fault or not. You will need to notify your employer in writing within 30 days of the car accident, then a Form 19 needs to be filed with the North Carolina Industrial Commission.

When it comes to fault and insurance:

If the car accident was not your fault and the at-fault driver was not insured or underinsured, in addition to potential workers’ comp benefits, you may be eligible for additional medical payment coverage (Med-Pay) and other health benefits under your own insurance policies. Our auto accident attorneys can explain how primary policy coverage works when multiple policies are involved.

If the car accident was your fault and you were injured during the course and scope of your work, your employer should have auto insurance to cover injuries and damages suffered by you and any other accident victims.

If there is no insurance. If your employer negligently allowed you to use an uninsured company vehicle, you may be able to tap into your own personal auto insurance policy (if you have one) and our auto accident attorneys can help you pursue an injury case against your employer.

As you see above, accidents with company vehicles can become complicated. Check with our Raleigh injury law office to learn about North Carolina workers’ comp, state injury laws, and your rights after a car accident.