If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Call 911 after any crash with injuries, a head injury, neck pain, chest pain, or if anyone is trapped.
- 2If you can do so safely, move away from traffic and turn on hazard lights.
- 3If another driver was involved, ask for a police report and exchange names, insurance and plate numbers.
- 4Call your supervisor or dispatcher to report the crash or injury, then follow up in writing.
- 5Take photos of the van, the other vehicle, the road and any shelving, ladders or tools that shifted inside.
- 6Write down where you were going, which job ticket or call you were on, and the time.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Work vans carry heavy tools, pipe, ladders and supplies. Injuries can come from a collision, cargo sliding forward in a hard stop, falling from the rear step or roof rack, or twisting while reaching into bins. Describe in your report not just the crash but what inside the van hit you or what you were reaching for.
When a crash involves another driver, there may be more than one insurance claim: the workers' compensation claim through your employer, and possibly a claim involving the other driver. How these interact depends on your state, so ask questions before giving statements to anyone.
Deadlines to report and to file a workers' compensation claim vary by state, and claims involving another driver can have their own timelines. Check with your state's workers' compensation agency promptly.
Keep the police report number, photos, your route or dispatch records, the van's number, medical records and a log of missed work.
Getting medical care
Neck and back injuries from vehicle crashes may not hurt much at first. Get evaluated by a licensed clinician soon, even if you feel okay. The clinician decides what care fits after examining you. Mention any part of your body that hit the steering wheel, door, seat belt or cargo, and any headaches.
Tell every provider you were working and driving for your job. Ask your employer or the adjuster whether you need to start with a specific provider, since some states and employers require it. Follow-up may involve spine care, physical therapy or chiropractic care. If you are far from home on a service call, ask how follow-up care near home will be arranged.
If medication is prescribed, ask the pharmacy and the adjuster how work-injury prescriptions are handled. Home delivery can help if you are told not to drive.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- Another driver caused the crash, which can raise third-party questions alongside workers' comp.
- You were hurt by cargo or shelving that was not secured and there is a dispute about it.
- The claim is denied because you were between jobs, on a lunch stop or taking the van home.
- Neck or back pain is not improving and treatment is delayed.
- Multiple insurers are contacting you and asking for statements.
- You cannot return to driving or field work.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Follow your care plan and keep a record of pain, stiffness and headaches, which can come and go after a crash.
Ask whether you are cleared to drive and to lift tools before returning to field work. Written restrictions help your employer find suitable tasks, like shop or office work, if available. Ask also whether you can climb in and out of the van, reach into bins and handle ladders.
Keep your supervisor and adjuster updated in writing. If you are dealing with another driver's insurer too, keep those records separate and clearly labeled.
Questions to ask
- Was I covered at that moment, given where I was driving?
- Who should I talk to about the other driver's insurance?
- Which clinic should I see first for a work injury?
- Doctor, am I safe to drive and lift while I recover?
- What is my claim number and who is the adjuster?
- Pharmacist or adjuster, how do I fill work-injury prescriptions, and is home delivery an option?
- Attorney, how do workers' comp and a claim against the other driver work together in my state?
- Can shelving and cargo restraints in the van be checked?
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I was injured in a work van crash?
Call 911 if anyone is hurt, get a police report, and report the crash to your employer in writing. Get checked by a clinician even if you feel fine. Photos and the other driver's information help later.
Is an injury in a company van covered by workers' comp?
It may be if you were driving or riding for work, depending on your state. Commutes and personal stops can be treated differently. Check your state's rules and report the injury.
I hurt my back reaching into the van for tools. Does that count?
It may count as a work injury, depending on your state. Lifting and reaching for job supplies is part of the job for many tradespeople. Report it the same way you would any other injury.
What if the other driver caused the crash?
There may be a claim involving that driver in addition to workers' comp. How the two interact varies by state. People often talk with an attorney in this situation.
Should I talk to the other driver's insurance company?
You may want to ask questions first before giving any statement. Many people speak with an attorney before talking to another driver's insurer. Keep notes of every call.
Can I keep driving the van after a minor crash?
Only if you feel well and your employer says the van is safe. If you have any pain, dizziness or headache, get checked first. Some injuries show up later.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).