Coachella Valley Work-Related Car Accident Lawyer

Your Local Coachella Valley Work-Related Car Accident Lawyers

Since 1981, English Lloyd & Armenta has been representing workers across the Coachella Valley and Southern California. We’ve successfully recovered millions for our clients through settlements and verdicts, and we’re confident we can help you, too.* Our team has experience as former insurance defenders, so we’re familiar with the tactics they use to minimize payouts. We also know how to navigate workers’ compensation claims.

Work-Related Car Accident Laws in California

Auto accidents involving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) or even employees in their personal vehicles can be difficult to navigate. Victims in traffic accidents can suffer from catastrophic injuries. Some may even lose their lives.

Accidents involving large trucks can be particularly dangerous. In 2025, there were 10,810 accidents involving large trucks in California. As of July 2026, there have been another 3,624 truck accidents. How you go about recovering damages after a work auto accident depends on the details of the incident.

You may find yourself filing both a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party claim to recover the full scope of compensation for your losses. Regardless, it’s vital to have a Coachella Valley work-related car accident attorney on your side to pursue the compensation you deserve.

Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim After a Work-Related Car Accident

Under California law, you typically have one year to file a workers’ compensation claim after sustaining an injury on the job. You also must report your injuries within a certain period of time to receive workers’ comp benefits in the first place. Workers’ compensation claims are handled through the California Division of Workers’ Compensation.

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system that supports injured employees by providing costs for medical treatment and partial recompensation for lost wages. In the event of fatal accidents, workers’ comp also offers death benefits to surviving family members.

Notably, these benefits do not cover non-economic damages, like pain and suffering, or punitive damages. Moreover, it’s considered an exclusive remedy in injury cases. This means employees typically cannot pursue additional legal action against them. However, you could file a claim against your employer in certain situations.

Exceptions to the exclusive remedy rule that allow injured employees to pursue a legal case include circumstances where the employer:

• Doesn’t carry workers’ compensation insurance
• Is out to cause intentional harm
• Fraudulently concealed the danger

A Coachella Valley work-related car accident lawyer can evaluate your case and go over your legal options for seeking fair compensation after a crash.

Filing a Third-Party Personal Injury Claim After a Work-Related Car Accident

It’s possible for more than one party to be at fault in a car accident, including those involving commercial vehicles. Beyond your employer, potential at-fault parties in these types of accidents can include:

• Other drivers on the road
• Government entities or employees
• The owner of the vehicle
• Maintenance companies
• Parts manufacturers
• Vehicle manufacturers

If a third party is liable for the crash, you can file a personal injury claim to recover more of your losses. The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in California is two years from the date of the accident.

You can recover both economic and non-economic losses through a personal injury claim. Recoverable damages can include:

• Disability
• Emotional trauma
• Loss of quality of life
• Lost wages
• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Property damages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Scarring and permanent disfigurement

The damages you can recover depend on the scope of your losses and the strength of your claim. While workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, filing a personal injury claim requires proving negligence or intentional wrongdoing.

California follows a pure comparative fault law. This means that injured parties can file to recover their damages, regardless of their percentage of fault. However, you can expect your settlement to be reduced based on that percentage of fault. That’s why it’s important to establish clear liability in a car accident case.

To do this, you can collect a preponderance of evidence that supports your claim. It’s imperative that you start doing this at the scene before everything gets cleared away. In the wake of a car accident, it’s wise to complete as many of these steps as you can:

• Contact local law enforcement and file a police report.
• Document the scene by taking notes, pictures, and videos.
• Exchange information with the involved parties.
• Reach out to a personal injury lawyer.
• Request a copy of the police report.
• Seek medical attention and keep copies of your records.
• Talk to witnesses and get their contact information.

You can expect to handle personal injury claims through the local civil superior court that covers your county. For Coachella Valley, this would be the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. That said, not all personal injury claims go to court. On the contrary, many settle through negotiations with the at-fault party and their insurance provider. Settling cases out of court still poses its own challenges.