Who’s Responsible After a Work-Related Car Accident in South Carolina?

When employees drive for work—whether they’re in a company vehicle or using their own car—employers often share in the legal and financial responsibility if a crash happens. This idea comes from the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, which generally holds employers accountable for their employees’ actions when those actions are within the course and scope of employment.

In practical terms, that often includes:

  • Driving to meetings with clients

  • Making deliveries or service calls

  • Running errands for the company

  • Traveling between job sites

But if the employee is driving for personal reasons, is clearly off the clock, is under the influence, or just commuting to and from work, responsibility usually shifts back to the employee and their own auto insurance instead of the employer.

 

For people living and working in Loris, Conway, Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, and throughout Horry County, it’s important to understand how these rules work—because they affect who pays when there’s a serious work-related crash.

How Common Are Work-Related Vehicle Accidents?

Car and truck crashes tied to work are a leading cause of on-the-job injuries and fatalities nationwide. Thousands of employees are hurt every year while driving for work, leading to:

  • Emergency room visits and hospital stays

  • Long recovery periods

  • Significant lost work time and reduced income

Work-related driving combines all the usual hazards—distracted driving, speeding, fatigue, bad weather, and mechanical problems—with extra pressure, such as:

  • Tight delivery windows and strict schedules

  • Unfamiliar routes across South Carolina

  • Trying to answer calls or messages while on the road

  • Stress from production or sales quotas

These realities show why it’s so important for employers to:

  • Maintain company vehicles carefully

  • Offer meaningful driver safety training

  • Set realistic expectations for routes and schedules

  • Create clear rules about distracted driving, speeding, and alcohol

When businesses cut corners on safety, they may increase their own exposure to liability if a serious crash occurs.

Workers’ Compensation for Employees Hurt in a Work-Related Crash

If you’re injured in a vehicle accident while doing your job in South Carolina, you may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, even if you were the one who made a driving mistake. Workers’ comp is generally a no-fault system, designed to support injured workers without requiring them to prove someone else was careless.

Workers’ compensation can provide:

  • Payment of reasonable and necessary medical treatment

  • Rehabilitation and therapy if you need to recover function

  • Partial replacement of lost wages if you are out of work

  • Possible benefits for permanent impairment

However, workers’ comp does not pay for pain and suffering. That’s where third-party claims may come in. In some situations, an injured worker may also have a claim against:

  • A negligent driver in another vehicle

  • A careless subcontractor or vendor

  • A vehicle or parts manufacturer that produced a defective product

Even if you were using your own car for work, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation for your injuries, while your personal auto policy or the at-fault driver’s insurance addresses the vehicle damage.

Company Vehicles and Employer Liability

When a crash involves a company car, truck, or van, the question becomes: who is responsible—the employer, the employee, or both?

Key factors often include:

  • Was the employee on the job?
    Were they making deliveries in Loris, driving between job sites in Conway, or visiting a customer in Myrtle Beach? If so, the employer’s insurance may be on the hook.

  • Was the employee following company rules?
    Employers may argue that they are not liable if the driver was intoxicated, using the vehicle for purely personal business, street racing, or otherwise violating clear company policies. 

  • Did the employer act responsibly?
    Employers can face additional exposure if they:

    • Failed to properly screen or train drivers

    • Ignored past accidents or driving violations

    • Neglected vehicle inspections and repairs

    • Encouraged unrealistic schedules that push drivers to speed or multitask

In many cases, both the employer and the employee may share responsibility for the accident, depending on the facts.

Why These Details Matter After a Crash

Sorting out who is at fault in a crash involving a company vehicle is rarely simple. The answer can affect:

  • Which insurance policies apply

  • How much coverage is available for medical bills and lost wages

  • Whether workers’ compensation is involved

  • Whether you can pursue a third-party personal injury claim

For injured workers, getting this wrong can mean leaving significant compensation on the table. For employers, it can mean unexpected lawsuits or exposure they thought their policies and procedures had covered.

How Josephs Law Firm PA Helps After a Work-Related Vehicle Accident

At Josephs Law Firm PA in Loris, South Carolina, our team understands how car accidents, workers’ compensation, and employer liability overlap—especially when crashes involve:

  • Company vehicles used for deliveries or service calls

  • Employees driving personal cars on company business

  • Serious injuries that take someone out of work for weeks or months

From our office in Loris, we help injured people throughout Horry County, including Longs, Aynor, Green Sea, Conway, Myrtle Beach, and Carolina Forest, make sense of their options. We can:

  • Review accident reports, job duties, and employer policies

  • Determine whether your crash is covered by workers’ compensation

  • Identify all potential insurance policies (company and personal)

  • Evaluate whether you may also have a third-party claim

After a Work-Related Crash, Don’t Guess About Your Rights

If you were hurt in a crash while driving for work—or if you were hit by someone driving a company vehicle—you don’t have to guess who’s responsible or which insurance should pay.

Talking with a South Carolina personal injury and workers’ compensation lawyer can help you:

  • Understand your legal rights

  • Avoid mistakes when dealing with employers and insurance adjusters

  • Protect your income, your medical care, and your future

Josephs Law Firm PA is here to walk you through the process step by step and explain how the law applies to your specific situation, so you can focus on healing and getting back to your life.