Being T-boned — hit in the side at an intersection — while running a work errand, driving to a job site, or making a delivery often causes serious injuries, because the door and side of a vehicle offer far less protection than the front or rear. Broken bones, shoulder and hip injuries, internal injuries, and head trauma are common. If you were on the clock, Pennsylvania law likely gives you more than one path to recovery.
You May Have Two Separate Claims
When someone else causes a crash while you are working, you can often pursue two separate claims at the same time, and they cover different things:
- Workers' compensation — a no-fault claim through your employer's insurance. It covers your medical treatment and about two-thirds of your lost wages, no matter who caused the crash. It does not pay for pain and suffering.
- A third-party personal injury claim — a fault-based claim against the at-fault driver. This is where you can recover pain and suffering, your full wage loss, and other damages the comp system does not pay.
Handled correctly and together, these two claims add up to far more than either one alone. Attorney Michael Cardamone — a Certified Workers' Compensation Specialist — handles the workers' comp claim directly, and coordinates the third-party case with our heavyweight Personal Injury colleagues so one claim never undercuts the other. See how dual claims work →
Intersection Crashes and Proving Fault
T-bone crashes usually come down to who had the right of way — who ran the red light or stop sign. That can require traffic-camera footage, witness statements, and sometimes an accident reconstruction. This is exactly the kind of evidence a third-party claim depends on, and why acting quickly (before evidence disappears) matters. Your workers' comp claim, however, does not depend on proving fault at all.
What To Do If You Were T-Boned At Work
- Report the crash to your employer as a work injury as soon as you can.
- Seek immediate medical care — side-impact injuries are often more serious than they first feel.
- Preserve evidence — photos, witnesses, the police report, and note any nearby cameras.
- Don't accept a quick settlement from the other driver's insurer.
- Call us to review your comp and third-party options for free.
Hurt in a Side-Impact Crash at Work?
Talk with Attorney Michael Cardamone, a Certified Workers' Compensation Specialist with 27 years of experience. Free, confidential consultation. No fee unless we win.
(215) 206-9068Frequently Asked Questions
I was T-boned while running an errand for my boss. Is that covered by workers' comp?
Generally yes. Running an errand at your employer's direction is part of your job, so a crash during that errand is usually work-related and covered by Pennsylvania workers' compensation — even if you were partly at fault.
What if it's not clear who caused the intersection crash?
Fault can be disputed in T-bone crashes, which is why evidence like camera footage and witnesses matters for the third-party claim. Importantly, your workers' comp benefits do not depend on proving the other driver was at fault.