What if You Were Driving a Company Car During the Accident?

Access to a company car allows you to drive long distances, avoiding wear and tear on your vehicle. While an incredible perk, you may be unsure how an insurance claim is handled if you get into an accident while driving a company vehicle. Under Kentucky law, your employer’s personal injury protection (PIP) coverage will pay for your lost wages and medical costs if you were performing job-related tasks. In this blog, our car accident lawyers in Lexington, KY, will discuss measures to recoup for your injuries when driving a company vehicle.

Kentucky No-Fault Insurance

Kentucky is a no-fault state, so motorists will recoup injury losses through their insurance carriers. Suppose you were deemed at fault while driving a company car. In that case, you will file a bodily injury claim through your employer’s insurance company (if your employer carries insurance on the vehicle). Kentucky personal injury protection (PIP) insurance will cover lost wages, medical expenses, and similar costs up to $10,000 for each person per accident. PIP coverage will apply, regardless of whether you are at fault. A property damage claim will also be filed through your employer’s insurance company if there is vehicle damage.

Alternatively, a property damage claim will be filed with their respective insurance carrier if the other driver is deemed at fault. However, you will still file your bodily injury claim through your employer’s insurance. Depending on your employer’s coverage limits, you may be able to recoup more than $10,000 in PIP.

Can You File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

If you were driving a company car under the scope of your employment, you could file a workers’ compensation claim. Kentucky workers’ compensation is employer-provided insurance covering all reasonable and necessary medical costs and roughly 66 2/3% of lost income. However, benefits will not kick in until you have missed at least seven consecutive workdays.

Vicarious Liability for Lexington Company Car Accidents

An employer assumes financial and legal responsibility if you are found liable for an accident while driving a company vehicle. Known as vicarious liability, this will only apply if you worked during your job when the accident occurred. However, your employer will not be held vicariously liable if you ran personal errands during the accident, even if you were using a company car.

What if the Other Driver Was at Fault?

If you meet certain thresholds, you may be able to exit the no-fault system and file a personal injury suit against the other driver. KRS 304.39-060 allows drivers who have at least $1,000 in medical expenses or have suffered broken bones, disfigurement, or permanent injury to sue the at-fault driver. By taking legal action, your chance of a substantially higher award increases, although it will be offset by the severity of your injuries and any associated costs.

Accident Attorneys Offering Determined Representation

At Wilt Injury Lawyers, we understand how stressful a car accident can be, especially if you are driving a company vehicle. While getting the keys to a company car may be thrilling, the blame will fall on your boss’s shoulders if you cause an accident while running work errands. 

If you believe that you have mistakenly been assigned fault for an accident in a company vehicle or would like to recover workers’ compensation, do not hesitate to contact our Lexington car accident lawyers. To schedule your free case review, contact us online or call (859) 263-8818 at your earliest convenience.