According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents cause 2 million accidents and 32,000 deaths in the US every year. If you run a trucking business, keeping your drivers safe from these accidents must be your highest priority.
If your drivers do get injured, they may be entitled to workers’ compensation, which is a type of transportation insurance. The federal government regulates this insurance, so knowing what your requirements are is essential for avoiding errors and omissions lawsuits. Get the answers to frequently asked questions around this topic here, and then apply them at your workplace.
Do Trucking Companies Need Workers’ Comp?
Trucking companies must have workers’ comp policies because their employees have high chances of getting injured while working. They need both lost income and medical expenses workers’ comp to fulfill the law’s requirements.
How Does Workers’ Comp Work for Truck Drivers?
When your truckers get injured on the job, they submit a report to you or your HR team, and you’re responsible for filing it with your transportation insurance provider. Once your insurance company receives the claim, they have between two and four weeks to make a decision. For approved claims, the insurance company starts dispensing payments; for denied ones, your truckers need to find another way to cover their costs.
What if Truckers Have Heart Attacks While Driving?
Your employees may struggle to prove that their jobs directly caused their heart attacks. Some states have laws that make it easier for truckers to get help after these incidents, though.
Can Truckers Choose Their Doctors While Receiving Workers’ Comp?
Most states recently revised their workers’ comp laws, removing employees’ rights to choose their own physicians. Your truckers probably have to use whichever physicians your insurance company has approved.
What About Overuse Injuries?
Most workers’ comp plans cover overuse injuries such as leg problems, carpal tunnel syndrome, and back issues. As long as your employees can prove that they have these problems because of driving for long hours, their claims should be approved.
Are Mental Health Issues Covered?
Your transportation insurance plan should include workers’ comp for mental health problems. Depending on your state, your employees may be eligible for workers’ comp after any mental health incident. Other states mandate that your employees suffer physical ailments before receiving assistance.
Does Workers’ Comp Include Retraining Benefits?
Depending on the severity of their injuries, your workers’ comp plan may assist with your employees’ rehabilitation. Some states do not include retraining or rehabilitation in their benefits, though.
How Does Workers’ Comp Affect Social Security Payments?
Your employees can receive Social Security and workers comp at the same time, but the payments for both may be lower than usual. Each state has a formula to determine their payouts.
About Provident Protection Plus
At Provident Protection Plus, we have served the businesses and residents of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania for more than 60 years. We are a wholly-owned subsidiary of SB One Bank, the region’s premier banking institution, and we are prepared to offer you personal, business, employee benefits, and risk management solutions. To learn more about our coverage options, contact our specialists today at (888) 990-0526.