The number of people who work remotely has risen in recent years, but many people continue to commute for work. Whether its walking, biking, or "car commuting"—that is, travelling to and from work by car, truck, or van as a driver or passenger—the more time you spend on the road, the greater the odds of being involved in a motor vehicle accident.
It’s very common for Oshawa and Lindsay area residents to make the long commute to and from Toronto for work. Others commute for work within Durham, Victoria, and neighbouring counties. Regardless of the length of your commute, a crash could happen that permanently changes your life.
Read on for information about what to do if you’ve been injured in an accident while commuting. If you have questions or want to explore your legal options for securing compensation for your injuries, we welcome you to reach out to our car accident lawyers.
What to do if you’ve been in a car accident commuting to work
There are steps you can take to protect yourself and your legal rights if you’re involved in a car accident during your work commute. Here is what to do:
Move to a place of safety. If the collision is more minor, slow down and find a safe place to stop. If your vehicle is no longer operational or you have been seriously injured, stay where you are and turn on your vehicle’s hazard lights. Rush hour traffic can be particularly hectic, so it’s important to get to safe place to avoid a second crash.
Call for help. Assess the situation and contact the police to report the accident. Call 911 to request an ambulance if there are any serious injuries, broken bones, immobility, or loss of consciousness.
Gather information. Getting medical attention for any injuries is the no. 1 priority. After that has occurred, and assuming you are physically able to do so, gather and record as much information as possible, including:
Name, contact information, licence plate number, and insurance information of the other driver.
Names and contact information for any eyewitnesses.
Photographs or videos of the scene of the accident, your vehicle, the other vehicle, and any visible injuries.
A copy of the police and/or ambulance report.
Seek medical attention. Get checked over by first responders if the ambulance is called to the scene of the accident. If not, go to the emergency room, your doctor’s office, or a walk-in clinic as soon as possible after leaving the accident scene. Failing to do so can create problems in your injury claim. The cause of your injuries may be disputed, or your claim may be outright denied on the basis that you weren’t hurt in the accident if you didn’t bother with medical care.
You should seek medical attention even if you don’t think you were hurt or you feel that your injuries are minor. It’s often the case that serious injuries go unnoticed until adrenaline wears off and pain sets in. It’s also common for people injured on their way to work to continue on to work even though they don’t feel well. Your health and well-being should be your top priority, even if it means missing work.
Document your wage loss. It’s very likely that you’ll miss work following a car accident, especially if you suffer severe injuries. Keep track of the days/hours you miss as a result of the accident and reach out to one of our car accident lawyers ASAP for help bringing a no-fault accident benefits claim to recover wage loss benefits.
What to do if you are injured in a car accident while working
Generally speaking, commuting to and from work is not considered part of a person’s job. though there are exceptions that may apply. Connect with one of our car accident lawyers to discuss your work situation/whether the accident occurred during the scope of your employment.
Why does that matter? It matters because there are some additional legal considerations to bear in mind if you are injured in a motor vehicle accident during the course of your employment. First, you should notify your employer of the accident and your injuries as soon as possible.
Next, if someone else’s fault or negligence caused the car accident, you’ll need to choose how you want to proceed to obtain compensation for your injuries and losses: by way of a workers compensation claim to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (“WSIB”) or by way of a lawsuit against the other driver for damages resulting from your injuries. Note that if the at-fault driver was also in the course of their employment when the crash occurred, you don’t get to choose; you must proceed through WSIB to get financial compensation.
Contact our experienced car accident lawyers in Lindsay and Oshawa
If you've been injured in a motor vehicle accident on your daily commute to work, the car accident lawyers at Kelly Greenway Bruce can help you navigate your legal options. We understand recovering from a car accident injury is fraught with physical, emotional, and financial challenges.
Our lawyers are committed to providing personalized support to get you the compensation you deserve. We specialize in personal injury law and will evaluate every angle of your case. We don’t request retainers and won’t charge you any fees until we win your case.
Contact us today at our Oshawa or Lindsay location for a free case evaluation.
If you've been in an accident during your commute in the Lindsay area, it's important to first ensure your safety and report the incident to local authorities. After addressing immediate concerns, seek legal advice to understand your rights and any potential claims for compensation. I recommend contacting a car crash injury lawyer.