If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Call 911 if anyone is hurt, the vehicles cannot be moved, or you have neck pain, headache, dizziness or numbness.
- 2If you can, move to a safe spot and turn on hazard lights.
- 3Exchange names, insurance and plate numbers with the other driver, and ask for a police report.
- 4Photograph both vehicles, the road and any visible injuries.
- 5Call your supervisor or dispatcher, then report the crash in writing with the time and location.
- 6Write down where you were going for work: a delivery, a client visit, a service call.
- 7Keep the conversation with the other driver to exchanging information; questions about fault and injuries can be sorted out later.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Rear-end crashes are common for delivery drivers, utility crews, home health aides and office workers running errands for the company. Your workers' comp claim generally goes through your employer. A separate claim involving the at-fault driver may also be possible, depending on your state. Being stopped at a light, waiting to turn into a customer's driveway, or idling in traffic between home visits are typical moments for rear-end crashes. Write down where you were going and why, since the work purpose of the trip can matter for coverage.
Your employer may have its own vehicle accident report in addition to an injury report. Fill out both and keep copies. Ask before giving statements to any insurer you are not familiar with. Your company may also have a vehicle insurer, separate from the workers' comp insurer. Write down which company each caller represents.
Deadlines to report and to file vary by state, and claims involving another driver may have different timelines. Your state's workers' compensation agency can tell you the rules that apply. If you were using your own car for work rather than a company vehicle, say that too; it can change how things are handled.
Keep the police report number, photos, the other driver's information, your route or schedule, and all medical records. If your vehicle has a dash camera or telematics, ask your employer to save the footage and data.
Getting medical care
Neck and back injuries from rear-end crashes often feel worse over the following days. A licensed clinician can examine you and decide what care fits. Follow-up may include spine care, physical therapy or chiropractic care. Mention every symptom, including headache, jaw pain, dizziness, trouble concentrating or pain between the shoulder blades. These can follow a rear-end crash and are easy to forget at the visit.
Tell the clinic you were driving for work. Rules about which provider you see first vary by state and employer, so check with your employer or the adjuster. If the other driver's insurer offers to pay for treatment, ask how that interacts with your workers' comp claim before agreeing to anything.
If you leave with a prescription, ask the pharmacy and the adjuster how it should be billed as a work injury. 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
- The other driver's insurer contacts you for a statement.
- Your neck or back pain is not improving and treatment is delayed.
- You are told you were not on work time when the crash happened.
- You cannot return to driving for work.
- There are disputes about how workers' comp and the other driver's insurance work together.
- You were driving your own car for work and coverage is unclear.
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 track symptoms like stiffness, headaches and trouble sleeping. Some symptoms come and go. Stiffness after a rear-end crash often peaks a day or two later. Keep moving within your clinician's guidance, and write down how sitting in a vehicle for long periods affects you.
Ask your clinician whether you can drive and for how long. Share any restrictions with your employer and ask about non-driving tasks. Home health aides and delivery drivers may need a shorter route or fewer stops; utility crews may be moved to shop work. Ask what is possible.
Keep your workers' comp and any other-driver claim records separate and organized. Stay in touch with your adjuster. Some people feel anxious driving after being hit. That is common; mention it to your clinician.
Questions to ask
- Do I need to fill out a company vehicle accident report too?
- Who should I contact about the other driver's insurance?
- Which clinic should I see first?
- Doctor, am I safe to drive?
- What is my claim number and who is my adjuster?
- Can my prescriptions for this injury be billed to the claim and sent to my home?
- Attorney, how do workers' comp and the other driver's claim fit together?
- Can dash camera or vehicle tracking data from the crash be saved?
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I was rear-ended in a company vehicle?
Call the police, get the other driver's information and get checked for injuries. Report the crash to your employer in writing. Keep photos and the police report number.
Is being rear-ended in a work vehicle covered by workers' comp?
It may be if you were driving for work, depending on your state. Commutes and personal errands can be treated differently. Report it and ask your state's agency.
Can I file a claim against the driver who hit me?
In some situations, yes, in addition to workers' comp. How they interact varies by state. Many people talk with an attorney about this.
My neck did not hurt until the next day. Is that normal?
Delayed neck pain after a rear-end crash is common. Get checked and tell the clinician about the crash. Report it to your employer too.
Should I talk to the other driver's insurance company?
You may want to ask questions before giving a statement. Many people speak with an attorney first. Keep notes on every call.
Who pays for the company vehicle damage?
That is usually handled between your employer and the insurers. Your focus can be on your injuries and your claim. Ask your employer if you have questions.
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).