Palm Beach Work Related Car Accident Lawyer

The Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt has been fighting for injured Florida workers since 2006. Our attorneys have a combined 200 years of experience handling work injury cases throughout Palm Beach County, and we don’t get paid unless we recover for you. If you were driving for work and got hurt, talk to us about your legal options and the full benefits available under Florida law. 

Why Choose Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt for Car Accidents at Work in Palm Beach, FL?

Deep Knowledge of Palm Beach Workers’ Comp Law

Handling a work-related car accident in Florida isn’t like filing a standard auto claim. These cases sit at the intersection of workers’ compensation law and, in some situations, involve third-party liability. Partner Eli A. Franks has represented injured workers exclusively since 2002, after spending the early part of his career on the other side, working for insurance companies. He left because what he saw conflicted with his core values. Licensed in Florida, New York, Illinois, and Georgia, and holding an AVVO 10.0 Superb Rating as a top workers’ compensation attorney, he understands exactly how insurers approach these claims and what it takes to counter them. The firm has also earned an AV Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible recognition for professional excellence and ethical standards.

As a workplace accident lawyer in Palm Beach, FL, we handle the full case from the initial workers’ comp claim to identifying whether a negligent third party can also be held responsible for the crash.

A Track Record of Results for Injured Workers

We’ve handled thousands of work injury cases in Palm Beach, FL and throughout Florida. Our firm has helped clients recover millions of dollars in workers’ compensation benefits. That includes $6,000,000 for a truck driver who suffered a traumatic brain injury when struck by another vehicle while on the job, and $325,000 for a laborer injured in a motor vehicle accident while being transported in a company vehicle. Work-related vehicle crashes are cases we have considerable experience litigating.

No Fees Unless We Win

Our Palm Beach work injury attorneys handle every case on a strict contingency basis. You pay nothing out of pocket to hire us. No upfront retainer, no hourly billing. We only get paid when we recover compensation for you. For someone who can’t work and is watching bills pile up, that matters.

What Our Clients Say

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“Thank you Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt! Eli Franks, thank you for your help, guidance, & wisdom throughout this process, making each step less stressful with your communication as well as explanations. I am truly grateful! Having a work-related accident & doing all you can to get well is consuming enough but then having to deal with the unfortunate “game” of workers comp is overwhelming. Please do not try to navigate this situation yourself…Put your mind at ease, call the best… Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt.” – Rebecca Martens

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Types of Car Accident at Work Cases We Handle in Palm Beach

Not every work-related car accident looks the same. Florida workers’ compensation law covers a range of scenarios where an employee is injured in a vehicle crash in the course of employment. Here’s what we handle for Palm Beach workers:

• Work-related car accidents. Crashes that occur while you’re performing job duties such as making deliveries, traveling between job sites, or running an errand for your employer. We build the connection between your job duties and the crash so the claim can’t be disputed on a technicality.

• Delivery truck accidents. Delivery drivers and route workers face elevated risk every day. When a crash happens during a delivery run, we pursue all available avenues of recovery, including workers’ comp benefits and any third-party claims against at-fault drivers.

• Construction accidents. Heavy equipment, dump trucks, and work vehicles on or near construction sites create serious injury risks. Florida construction workers injured in these crashes may have claims against multiple parties beyond the workers’ comp carrier.

• Truck accidents. Commercial vehicle crashes involving 18-wheelers or other large trucks while an employee is on duty. These cases involve federal trucking regulations and may include employer, carrier, and third-party liability.

• Company vehicle accidents. Workers injured while being transported in an employer-owned vehicle have a clear path to workers’ compensation coverage. These crashes often involve questions about vehicle maintenance, driver negligence, and employer responsibility.

• Traumatic brain and catastrophic injuries. High-speed collisions during work travel can result in devastating injuries. We handle the most serious cases, including TBIs, spinal injuries, and permanent disabilities that require lifetime medical care and long-term wage replacement.

Florida Legal Requirements for Work-Related Car Accidents

Florida’s workers’ compensation system operates under Florida Statutes Chapter 440, which governs nearly every aspect of how work injury claims are filed, managed, and resolved. Under Florida law, most employers with four or more employees are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Construction employers must carry coverage regardless of the number of employees.

When it comes to car accidents at work, the law covers injuries that occur “in the course and scope of employment.” That phrase carries a lot of weight. If you were running a work errand, driving between job sites, making a delivery, or traveling for a client meeting, you’re likely covered. Commuting directly to and from work, on the other hand, is generally excluded under Florida’s “coming and going” rule, but there are exceptions, particularly when an employer provides the vehicle or when the travel itself is a core part of the job.

Florida also operates under a no-fault auto insurance system, which means your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage applies first after a crash. But when a work-related collision is involved, workers’ comp often provides broader benefits than PIP alone, including full medical coverage and wage replacement without a deductible or coverage cap.

One more thing to know: Florida’s statute of limitations for filing a workers’ comp claim is two years from the date of injury. Missing that deadline can forfeit your right to any benefits, so don’t wait to speak with our lawyers.

What Damages Are Recoverable in a Palm Beach Work-Related Car Accident?

Florida workers’ compensation provides specific categories of benefits for workers hurt in on-the-job car accidents. These are separate from what you might recover in a standard personal injury lawsuit, though in some cases, both avenues are available.

Medical benefits cover all reasonably necessary treatment related to the work injury, including emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, prescription medications, and mileage reimbursement for travel to authorized medical appointments. Under Florida law, your employer or their insurance carrier has the right to direct your medical care through authorized treating physicians, which is one reason having a knowledgeable attorney matters from the start.

Lost wage benefits come in two main forms. Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits pay two-thirds of your average weekly wage if you’re completely unable to work while recovering. If you can work in a limited capacity at a reduced pay rate, temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits may apply. These are calculated based on your pre-injury average weekly wage, which insurers often try to minimize.

Permanent impairment benefits apply when a work injury results in lasting physical limitations. Florida uses impairment income benefit ratings assigned by authorized physicians to calculate what you’re owed once you reach maximum medical improvement.

Beyond workers’ comp, if the car accident was caused by a negligent third party, such as a reckless driver, a faulty vehicle component, or an unsafe road condition (due to negligence on the part of the city or county), you may have a separate personal injury claim. That claim can include pain and suffering, full lost wages, and other damages that workers’ comp does not cover. We assess every work-related accident case for third-party liability in conjunction with the workers’ comp claim.

Punitive damages are rarely available in workers’ compensation matters, but may be possible in a third-party negligence action where the at-fault driver’s conduct was particularly reckless or egregious.

Contact Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt

If you were hurt in a car accident while working in Florida, our Palm Beach car accident at work lawyer wants to hear from you. The consultation is free, and at Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt, we don’t collect a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf. You should expect a prompt, direct conversation about what happened, your rights, and the next steps. Contact us today to get started.

Work-Related Car Accident Statistics in Palm Beach

Motor vehicle crashes remain one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities in the United States. According to BLS census data, transportation incidents account for the largest share of fatal occupational injuries year after year, with roadway crashes involving motor vehicles making up the biggest subset of that category. 

The FLHSMV crash dashboard reports Palm Beach County among Florida’s highest-volume counties for total traffic crashes, driven in part by heavy corridor traffic on I-95, the Florida Turnpike, and Okeechobee Boulevard. Delivery drivers, service technicians, and workers moving between job sites make up a meaningful share of that volume, which is why work travel coverage questions come up often.

Steps To Take After a Work-Related Car Accident

The first days after a work-related car accident matter more than most people realize, which is why you should contact our Palm Beach work-related car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Here is what an injured worker can do to protect their best interests:

1. Report the Crash to Your Employer Right Away. Florida law requires notice of a workplace injury within 30 days, but waiting more than a day or two creates problems even when you are still within the statutory window. Report the crash the same day where possible, in writing, through a supervisor text or email, and follow up with a formal incident report.
2. Get Medical Attention Even If You Feel Okay. Adrenaline masks pain in the hours after a crash, and traumatic brain injury symptoms sometimes take days to appear. Get evaluated the same day at an emergency room, urgent care, or the employer-authorized clinic. Under Florida workers’ comp, the carrier generally directs medical care, so ask which authorized provider you should see.
3. Call Law Enforcement to the Scene. A police crash report is the single most important document in a work-related car accident file. Officers assign fault, capture witness contact information, diagram the scene, and identify the drivers involved. When law enforcement does not respond, reconstructing the file later becomes significantly harder.
4. Preserve Evidence Before It Disappears. Photograph both vehicles from multiple angles, capture road conditions, and note traffic signals or signage nearby. Do not authorize salvage or repairs on a vehicle with event data recorder information until the file is preserved. Collect names and phone numbers of independent witnesses.
5. Document Everything About Your Work Trip. The controlling legal question is whether the crash occurred within the course and scope of employment. Save the delivery manifest, dispatch record, work order, or communication that put you on the road at the time of the crash. Screenshot GPS records, work chat messages, and employer instructions. This evidence becomes central if the carrier disputes work-relatedness.
6. Be Careful with the Insurance Adjuster. The workers’ compensation carrier will call, sometimes within hours. So will the other driver’s auto insurance company. Both may ask for recorded statements. Neither is entitled to a statement without counsel, and both are trained to use anything you say against the eventual claim value.
7. Watch What You Post Online. Social media posts become discovery material in a contested claim. Assume anything you post will be reviewed by the defense.
8. Contact a Lawyer Before Signing Anything. Release forms, medical authorizations, and early settlement offers all appear quickly. Sign nothing until an attorney reviews the paperwork. Knowing when to call our Palm Beach work-related car accident lawyer can be the difference between preserving your position and locking yourself into an unfavorable one.

Palm Beach Work-Related Car Accident Lawyer FAQs

What Makes a Car Accident “Work-Related” Under Florida Law?

Florida workers’ compensation covers injuries that arise out of and occur in the course and scope of employment. For a car accident to qualify, you must have been performing job duties or acting on your employer’s behalf when the crash happened. Delivering products, driving between job sites, transporting equipment, making a client visit, or running a supervisor-directed errand all typically qualify. The specific facts of your route and purpose at the moment of the crash control the coverage analysis.

What if I Was Driving My Personal Vehicle for a Work Errand?

Ownership of the vehicle usually does not change the analysis. What matters is whether you were performing job duties when the crash occurred. A sales representative in her own car heading to a client meeting is generally covered. A field service worker using his personal truck at his employer’s request is generally covered. Mileage reimbursement records, dispatch logs, and text messages from a supervisor often become important evidence of the work-related purpose of that specific trip.

Can I Sue the At-Fault Driver in Addition to Receiving Workers’ Comp?

Yes, in most situations. Florida’s workers’ compensation exclusive remedy rule prevents most lawsuits against your own employer, but the at-fault driver in another vehicle is a separate third party. A negligence claim against that driver can cover damages workers’ comp does not, such as pain and suffering and full lost wages. The workers’ comp carrier holds a lien on the third-party recovery, but the net result frequently still improves the injured worker’s overall position by a substantial margin.

What Should I Do if My Employer Denies the Crash Was Work-Related?

Denials happen often, particularly when the crash involved any personal detour or when the employer questions whether you were on official business at the time. Do not accept the denial as final. The Judge of Compensation Claims decides work-relatedness when the parties dispute it, and the analysis turns on evidence of your route, purpose, and employer instruction. Preserving dispatch records, GPS data, and communications with supervisors becomes critical, as does knowing how to respond to a denial.

How Long Do I Have to Report a Work-Related Car Accident?

Florida statutory law requires notice of a workplace injury to the employer within 30 days. That reporting deadline appears in Fla. Stat. § 440.185 and applies to all workers’ compensation claims, not just car accidents. The two-year deadline for filing a formal petition for benefits is a separate, longer window that governs the claim filing itself. Our Palm Beach work-related car accident attorneys advise clients to file a notice as soon as possible.

What if the At-Fault Driver Was Uninsured or Underinsured?

Workers’ compensation coverage does not depend on the other driver carrying auto insurance. Your workers’ comp claim proceeds separately based on the fact of the work-related injury. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, however, the third-party liability angle changes materially. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your own auto policy, or a policy owned by your employer if you were in a company vehicle, may apply.

Can I Choose My Own Doctor After a Work-Related Car Accident?

Not initially. Florida workers’ comp law gives the carrier the right to direct medical care through authorized treating physicians. You can request a one-time change of physician under the statute if the initial doctor is not addressing your concerns, and disputes over medical care can be escalated to the Judge of Compensation Claims. For any third-party liability claim, you have full authority to choose whichever provider you prefer, since the third-party side does not involve carrier-directed care.

What if I Cannot Return to My Old Job After Recovery?

Two categories of workers’ compensation benefits address that outcome. Impairment income benefits pay based on the impairment rating assigned by an authorized physician once you reach maximum medical improvement. Permanent total disability benefits may apply when the injury prevents any gainful work. Vocational rehabilitation is also available for workers who need training in a different field. On the third-party liability side, diminished earning capacity is a separately recoverable damage category in a negligence action against the at-fault driver. Our Palm Beach work-related car accident lawyer can help you obtain the maximum compensation.

Local Information for Palm Beach Work-Related Car Accident Cases

Most Dangerous Locations for Work-Related Car Accidents in Palm Beach

Several Palm Beach County corridors produce a disproportionate share of local work-related crashes involving delivery drivers, service vehicles, and workers on the road:

• Interstate 95. The county’s stretch of I-95 sees heavy commercial traffic and consistent congestion between exits, producing high-speed rear-end and multi-vehicle collisions.

• Florida’s Turnpike. Long-distance commercial routes through the county drive both truck and passenger car crash volume, with rear-end and lane-departure crashes dominating.

• Okeechobee Boulevard. A major east-west arterial connecting downtown West Palm Beach westward, with signalized intersections generating steady angle and rear-end crash volume.

• U.S. Highway 1. The coastal corridor carries mixed passenger and delivery traffic year-round through Palm Beach and neighboring municipalities.

• Southern Boulevard. Another east-west arterial with a mix of highway-speed segments and dense urban intersections between the western communities and the coast.

Important Local Resources for Palm Beach Work-Related Car Accident Cases

Injured workers navigating a work-related car accident in Palm Beach often need contact with several local and state agencies during the course of the claim:

• Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office: (561) 688-3000. Crash reports for accidents in unincorporated county areas are filed through PBSO.

• Good Samaritan Medical Center: (561) 655-5511. Full-service hospital in downtown West Palm Beach handling trauma care.

• St. Mary’s Medical Center: (561) 844-6300. Level I Trauma Center serving Palm Beach County.

• Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation Employee Assistance Office: (800) 342-1741. Handles injured worker questions about the workers’ compensation system.

Reference to these resources does not constitute an endorsement, and inclusion here is for informational purposes only. The Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt is not affiliated with any of the organizations listed above.

About the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt

Judd Koenig began his legal career representing employers and insurance companies before transitioning in 2004 to exclusively represent injured workers. He co-founded the firm on that plaintiff-side conviction and authored the 2003 Quick Guide to Workers’ Compensation Law, a resource still referenced across Florida by attorneys and industry professionals. His AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating and bar admissions in Florida and Georgia reflect decades of Palm Beach-area workers’ compensation practice. The firm has recovered millions of dollars for injured Florida workers over the past two decades.

What Our Clients Say

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“My experience with Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt has been amazing. Robert took the time to explain everything I needed to know and walked me through how the entire process works. Dominique has also been incredibly helpful. Whenever I couldn’t get in touch with Robert, she was always there to answer my questions and provide updates. They have both been professional, knowledgeable, and supportive throughout the process. I truly appreciate everything they’ve done for me and highly recommend their office. ” — Martina E.

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Contact the Law Offices of Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt

A work-related car accident produces overlapping legal obligations, and moving quickly matters. Consultations at our firm are free, and we handle these cases on a contingency basis, so there are no attorney fees unless we recover on your behalf. You should expect a supportive conversation about the crash, medical care, your employer’s response, and the best recovery path forward. Contact us to schedule a case review with our Palm Beach work-related car accident attorney.