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If you suffer injuries in a crash while driving for work in Phoenix, you may have concerns about medical bills, lost wages, and insurance. A workplace injury attorney can help you understand how Arizona law applies to your current situation. Your options depend on why you were driving, whether the trip served your job, and who caused the collision. According to BLS figures published April 1, 2026 covering 2024 data, Arizona had 94 fatal work injuries that year and transportation incidents (44) were the single largest cause, accounting for about 47% of all of them. Harris Injury Law Firm is always ready to protect your benefits. Schedule a consultation now.
Does Workers’ Compensation Cover a Car Accident While You Are Working?
Arizona workers’ compensation may cover an employee’s injuries from a work-related car accident. Under A.R.S. § 23-1021, the injury must arise out of and occur during employment. The law focuses on the connection between your injury and your job. It does not require you to prove that another driver caused the crash before you can qualify. Your employer, insurance carrier, or claims administrator can examine:
- Why were you driving?
- Where you were going.
- Whether your employer assigned the trip.
- Whether you were performing a work duty.
- Whether personal activity interrupted the work trip.
When Does Driving Count as Part of Your Job?
Arizona generally distinguishes work-related travel from an ordinary commute. The Industrial Commission of Arizona explains the going-and-coming rule and recognizes exceptions. These may involve special errands, travel between employer premises, or employer-provided transportation.
Driving Between Work Locations
An employee may travel between offices, customer locations, construction sites, or other work locations during the day. A crash on that trip may qualify for workers’ compensation if the employment connection meets Arizona law.
Making a Delivery or Running a Work Errand
A delivery driver may crash while transporting goods. Another employee may suffer injuries while collecting supplies or completing an employer-directed trip. These trips may support a workers’ compensation claim when they form part of the employee’s duties. The specific circumstances still matter.
Driving to a Customer or Job Site
Some employees travel directly from home to a customer or job site. Others travel from an employer’s office to that location. The law may treat these trips differently. The assigned duties, travel arrangements, and purpose of the journey can affect the analysis.
Using a Company Vehicle or Your Own Car
The purpose of the trip remains important and decides workers’ compensation eligibility, it is not decided by the vehicle owner or insurance. If you used your personal car, preserve any work instructions, mileage records, delivery details, or messages that explain why you were driving. If you used a company vehicle, keep relevant dispatch records and report details.
Is Your Normal Commute Covered?
Arizona generally excludes an ordinary trip between home and your regular workplace under the going-and-coming rule. However, exceptions may apply. For example, a special errand for your employer may differ from a routine commute. Travel between employer locations may also receive different treatment. Do not assume that every trip before or after a shift falls outside coverage. Explain the full circumstances to the claims administrator and seek legal advice if the parties dispute the trip’s purpose.
Does It Matter Who Caused the Crash?
Fault and workers’ compensation eligibility involve different questions.
If Another Driver Caused the Accident
You may have a workers’ compensation claim and a separate claim against the driver who caused your injuries. The second claim depends on the facts and applicable law. A police report, witness details, photographs, and available video may help establish how the crash happened.
If You Caused the Accident
Arizona workers’ compensation generally does not require an injured employee to prove another person caused the injury. Your own driving error does not automatically defeat an otherwise valid claim.
Can You Pursue Both Claims?
Arizona law allows an eligible injured worker to pursue a third-party remedy against someone outside the worker’s employment. See A.R.S. § 23-1023. The claims serve different purposes and follow different rules. Workers’ compensation may provide medical and disability benefits. A third-party claim may address losses caused by another person’s negligence.
The workers’ compensation carrier may have a lien against a third-party recovery for benefits it paid. The law also sets notice and other requirements. Do not assume that you can keep every payment from both claims without an adjustment. Harris Injury Law explains this issue further in its guide to workers’ compensation with third-party liability.
What Benefits May Workers’ Compensation Provide?
If Arizona accepts your claim, benefits may include medical care and qualifying wage-loss or disability benefits.
Medical Treatment
Arizona law addresses medical, surgical, and hospital benefits under A.R.S. § 23-1062. Coverage depends on the claim and the treatment required for the injury.
Wage-Loss and Disability Benefits
An injury may prevent you from returning to your regular duties. Depending on your medical restrictions and claim status, you may qualify for temporary disability benefits or other benefits under Arizona law. Keep records of missed work, pay, medical restrictions, and any modified duties. Do not assume every injured employee receives the same payment or benefit duration.
What Should You Do After a Work-Related Car Accident?
Take these steps when you can do so safely.
- Get medical care
- Report the crash
- Preserve evidence
- Document the work trip
- Track your losses
- Review insurance questions carefully
- Check the deadlines
What If Your Employer Disputes the Claim?
Your employer may argue that you were commuting, running a personal errand, or acting outside your job duties. That disagreement does not settle the legal question by itself. Evidence can help clarify the trip’s purpose. Preserve the instructions, schedule, location records, and communications that relate to the assignment.
If the carrier denies your claim, review the denial notice and its stated reasons. Arizona has procedures for challenging disputed workers’ compensation decisions. A work accident attorney can review the facts and explain the available steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does workers’ compensation cover my own car if I use it for work?
Possibly. Using your personal vehicle does not automatically prevent coverage. The employment connection remains central.
What if I was driving a company vehicle?
The vehicle alone does not decide the claim. The trip’s purpose and your work duties still matter.
Can I claim workers’ compensation and pursue the other driver?
You may have both options if the facts support them. Arizona law also addresses the carrier’s interest in a third-party recovery.
Does workers’ compensation pay for car repairs?
Not automatically. Vehicle repairs usually involve a separate property damage claim or applicable auto insurance.
Speak With a Workplace Injury Attorney About Your Options
If you’re searching for a workplace accident attorney in Phoenix, Harris Injury Law can give you clear guidance on both your workers’ compensation claim and any potential third-party claim. A workers compensation law firm can review the employment connection, evidence, and deadlines. An attorney can also explain whether a separate claim may apply. If you need help understanding your options, contact Harris Injury Law. Learn more from a Workers compensation lawyer about the Arizona workers’ compensation process.
Harris Injury Law, PLLC 1136 E Campbell Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85014
(480) 800-4878 Consultations are free, and cases run on a contingency fee, meaning no attorney fee unless compensation is recovered. Request a consultation or meet our attorneys. Every case depends on its own facts; no outcome can be promised or predicted.
