Nearly every adult in America drives, and this, unfortunately, leads to upsetting accident and injury statistics. Every year, there are millions of on-the-road injuries and tens of thousands of deaths. Even relatively minor injuries can still result in excessive medical bills and time away from work, negatively impacting the injured Floridian’s financial security. While there are ways to go after negligent drivers who cause injuries, whether or not you are on the clock as part of your job during a car accident can open even more paths toward compensation. If you’re unsure whether your accident qualifies as work-related, we want to clarify the distinction and explain your options for seeking compensation.
Why the Distinction Matters
Florida workers are protected under workers’ compensation for accidents that occur within the “scope of their employment.” Any expenses you incur due to injuries, such as medical expenses, are handled by your employer’s preexisting workers’ compensation insurance, not your personal PIP insurance. Workers’ compensation eliminates the need to prove fault or sue other parties to receive help following an accident.
However, if an accident isn’t work-related, you may need to rely on your personal insurance or pursue an injury claim against the other Florida driver or person who caused the accident. This means you should always contact workers’ compensation and personal injury attorneys following an accident to learn your options, what your accident is classified as, and which compensation plan is best for you.
Work-Related Car Accidents
Running Errands for Your Employer: Even if you are leaving the cope of your assigned duties, actions you take during the day at the direction of your employer are usually work-related. This means that bakery employees are protected while running a short delivery errand, and IT workers are protected while going on a quick shopping trip to buy office supplies.
Rideshare or Delivery Work: If you are actively transporting a passenger or delivering food and packages for platforms like Uber, DoorDash, or Amazon, this is considered work-related. Plus, platforms often provide additional insurance coverage while you’re actively completing a job.
Traveling Between Worksites or Events: Driving from one job site to another during your workday or traveling to an offsite meeting at your employer’s direction is considered work-related.
Non-Work-Related Car Accidents
Commuting to or From Work: Florida law views commuting as personal time, even if you’re driving your personal vehicle to a job site. The only real exceptions include situations where you’re paid for your commute or required by your employer to transport work-related equipment.
Personal Errands During Work Hours: Just because you’re technically on the clock does not mean all of your actions are related to the cope of your employment. If you detour from your assigned tasks to handle personal matters, such as stopping for groceries, any accidents during this time are unlikely to be considered work-related.
Off-Duty Rideshare Driving or Waiting for Jobs: Accidents that occur while you’re not actively completing a task for platforms like Uber or DoorDash—such as waiting for a ride request or driving off-duty—are not typically considered related to your gig employment. During these times, you’re not engaged in activities that directly benefit the company, and therefore, you’re likely responsible for any expenses through personal insurance.
What to Do Next
If you were injured during a task or errand and you believe it benefits your employer, that employer’s existing workers’ comp insurance should step in to help cover injury-related expenses and other financial burdens. However, if your accident doesn’t qualify as work-related, it isn’t the end of the story. Florida personal injury attorneys can help initiate personal injury claims if someone else’s negligence, regardless of your work status, caused your car accident. Contact Probinsky & Cole today to schedule a free consultation with our team and learn more about your options.
