Three people, including two law enforcement officers, were injured in a traffic accident near a nightclub in Tampa in the early-morning hours of Saturday, November 28. The wreck took place at the intersection of N. 30th Street and E. 113th Ave. A valet driver allegedly made a left turn while operating a customer’s car, pulling in front of the Tampa police officers, who were leaving a convenience store and heading to a non-emergency call at the time of the accident. Their sirens and lights were not in use.
The accident critically injured the valet driver and caused the two officers to suffer minor injuries. All were transported to Tampa General Hospital where the valet’s condition eventually improved.
Helping workers who are hurt in vehicle accidents
While workers are not eligible for workers’ compensation when they are commuting to work, it is often possible to collect benefits if you suffer injuries in a vehicle accident that occurred while you were doing your job. Police officers on their way to a call would most likely be considered to be acting in service to their employer and therefore could collect workers’ compensation for this type of accident. A valet driver who is moving a customer’s car as part of his job duties is also likely to be able to recover under Florida’s workers’ comp law.
Determining whether workers are covered can be tricky when the circumstances are not as clear-cut. Workers who go on service calls are generally covered as they travel between one call and another. However, when workers make a personal stop, like the police in this accident did, it can be harder to determine if their claim is covered.
If you have been hurt in a vehicle accident while you were on the job, speak with a Bradenton work injury attorney at the firm of Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh to learn about your options.