Long-haul truck drivers cover extensive distances, spending countless hours on the road. Unfortunately, the nature of their work puts them at a higher risk of being in automobile accidents.
One common question that arises is whether long-haul drivers qualify for workers’ compensation if a wreck occurs. If the incident happens while they are working, they may be eligible to receive benefits.
Eligibility
Workers’ compensation insurance typically covers long-haul drivers if they sustain injuries while performing work-related duties. This includes accidents that occur while driving a company-owned vehicle on the clock. However, if they are responsible for the wreck because of intoxicated driving, purposefully causing the accident or willfully breaking traffic laws, insurers may reject their claims. If they were on break or off-route when the incident happened, this may make them ineligible for benefits.
Time
The statute of limitations for filing a workers’ compensation claim is one year from the time of the injury. Truckers may have difficulty determining the exact time they became involved in a wreck. However, it is important to report the accident to their employers as soon as possible. Not doing so can give rise to arguments by the insurer that an injury or illness did not result from a work-related incident.
According to the National Safety Council, in 2021 there were over 100,000 large truck accidents. Injuries from wrecks, especially ones involving large trucks, can be costly in terms of physical and emotional pain as well as finances. Workers’ compensation offers a way to relieve the heavy expense of a work-related accident. It covers lost wages from missed work, rehabilitation and medical bills. It is important to remember that because laws change over state lines. Truckers who are in a different state at the time of the accident may be subject to different laws than ones from the state they work in.