Car accidents happen all the time, but tragedy struck the Palisades Parkway when a van carrying temporary workers was involved in a fatal accident that killed four temporary employees who were heading back from a factory in Orange County.
According to the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police, the van was a shuttle that was chartered to transport employees to and from the workplace, and was carrying twelve people in total. Eight of the people involved in the accident were taken to a nearby hospital, while the other four were pronounced dead at the site of the crash.
Tragedy happens, and it always happens when we least expect. While we offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims involved in the accident, we also hope nobody else has to experience such a disaster when they’re coming to (or going home from) their place of employment.
The Coming and Going Rule
Unfortunately, workers’ compensation doesn’t extend to when you’re commuting to and from the workplace. The “coming and going” rule means that while an employer is responsible for your health and safety when you’re on the clock, their responsibilities – and therefore your workers’ compensation coverage – ends the minute you clock out and leave the workplace.
As a New Jersey workers’ compensation attorney like our friends at Rispoli & Borneo P.C. can explain, there are some exceptions to the coming and going rule. For example, if you also work remotely but had to commute to and from the office for work related reasons, your home could count as a secondary workplace. If you experienced a car accident and injuries when going from the office (the primary workplace) to your home (the secondary workplace) and you were instructed to do so by your employer, you could have grounds for a workers’ compensation claim.
The Price of a Workplace Injury
No matter the type of workplace, work injuries have the potential to turn your life upside down. Even the most minor slip and fall can lead to serious medical bills, and time spent recuperating at home instead of clocking in and collecting a paycheck. Fortunately, with the help of a workers’ compensation attorney, you can fight for the compensation you’re owed so you’re not left out in the cold after your accident.
How Can a Workers’ Comp Lawyer Help Me?
Workers’ compensation is far from the “free money” everyone thinks it is. Firstly, there’s a mountain of paperwork to process, and you’ll have to act as a go-between for your doctors and employers. Secondly, the amount you’re offered may be too little to adequately cover your medical care and day-to-day cost of living. It’s a delicate situation, and you need to be sure you have a lawyer on your side who you can trust.
The right workers’ compensation lawyer can fight on your behalf to ensure you’re getting the money you need, when you need it. He or she can also help you navigate that paperwork so you can focus on getting better, instead of tracking down which page needs what signature, and who needs what document.
Don’t hesitate if you’ve been hurt on the job. Get in touch with a workers’ compensation attorney today.