FAQ: When Employers are Liable for Work-Related Accidents

When Can an Employer Be Held Liable?

• An employer is legally responsible if an employee causes a motor vehicle collision while acting within the course and scope of employment. Commuting to and from work will not make an employer responsible; key evidence that may trigger employer liability includes:
• Attending or traveling to or from an out-of-town work-related meeting or event
• Transporting coworkers at a supervisor’s request
• Performing work tasks outside normal business hours

The key question is whether the activity was connected to the employee’s job at the time of the crash.

What If the Employee Says the Workday Was Over?

This is a common defense, but it is not always decisive.

An employee’s workday does not automatically end when a meeting concludes or they leave a work site. Emails, travel records, trip agendas, hotel reimbursement, supervisor instructions, and post-event tasks can show that work responsibilities continued.

In one recent case handled by our firm, the employer claimed the employee was no longer working at the time of the crash. Discovery told a different story. Evidence showed he had just performed a task at a supervisor’s request and continued working later that night while in a hotel room paid for by the employer. Those facts supported employer liability.

Why Does Employer Liability Matter in Serious Injury Cases?

Employer liability can make a critical difference in serious car accident cases. When a driver was acting within the scope of their job, additional insurance coverage may be available beyond the individual driver’s policy — which can be essential in cases involving catastrophic injuries, permanent disability, long-term medical care, or lost earning capacity.

These cases are evidence-driven and rarely turn on a single fact. Even when an employee or employer claims the workday was over, liability is often established by looking at the full context of the employee driver’s activities before and after the crash. That may include communications, travel and expense records, supervisor instructions, witness testimony, and expert analysis. Identifying all responsible parties helps ensure injured individuals can pursue full and fair compensation.

Key Takeaway

Employer liability in work-related car crashes is not always obvious at first. It often becomes clear only after careful investigation and discovery.

If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident involving someone traveling for work, understanding whether employer liability applies can make a significant difference in the outcome of the case.