What Are Combo Cases?

When someone gets injured, it can feel like life has suddenly been turned upside down. Between medical bills, lost wages, and the stress of recovery, the last thing most people want to worry about is how to navigate the legal system. But for some people, their situation is even more complex because they’re dealing with what attorneys call “combo cases.” 

A combo case happens when someone is entitled to benefits from more than one legal claim at the same time. The most common example occurs when an employee is injured while on the job in a car accident. In this situation, the injured worker may have a claim under workers’ comp as well as a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.

In other words, you’re not limited to choosing one path. Both systems may apply, and each provides different types of benefits. But because these claims overlap, navigating them can be complicated without legal guidance.

Car accidents that happen while working are one of the most frequent causes of combo cases. Imagine you’re driving a company vehicle to a job site or making deliveries for your employer when another driver runs a red light and crashes into you. Because you were injured while performing work duties, you qualify for workers’ comp benefits. But since another driver was at fault, you may also pursue a personal injury claim against that driver’s insurance.

Each claim serves a different purpose:

• Workers’ Comp Claim: Covers your medical treatment, partial wage replacement, and certain disability benefits, regardless of fault.
• Personal Injury Claim: Allows you to seek damages such as pain and suffering, full lost wages, and future medical expenses not covered by workers’ comp.

This combination is what makes it a “combo case.”

While workers’ comp provides essential benefits, it has limits. For instance, it doesn’t cover pain and suffering or full wage loss. That means many injured workers may not receive compensation for the full extent of their damages if they rely solely on workers’ comp.

A personal injury claim connected to a car accident can help fill those gaps, and pursuing both claims increases the likelihood of a fair recovery.

Handling a combo case is rarely straightforward. Here are a few reasons why:

• Overlapping Benefits: If workers’ comp pays certain benefits that you later recover in a personal injury claim, the workers’ comp insurer may have a right to reimbursement. This process, called “subrogation,” must be carefully managed.
• Complex Procedures: Workers’ comp and personal injury claims follow different rules, with separate deadlines and paperwork, which can make the process confusing.
• Insurance Company Tactics: Multiple insurance companies may be involved, each trying to limit their financial responsibility. Without strong legal representation, injured people can be left navigating a maze of red tape.

That’s why having an attorney who understands both areas of law is critical.

An experienced attorney can guide you through the challenges of a combo case by:

• Coordinating Claims: Making sure your workers’ comp claim and personal injury case are handled in sync, so you maximize compensation without jeopardizing either claim.
• Protecting Against Reimbursement Issues: Negotiating with the workers’ comp insurer to reduce any repayment obligations, leaving more money in your pocket.
• Maximizing Recovery: Ensuring you pursue every available benefit—from medical care and wage replacement to pain and suffering damages.

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident while working, you may not realize you have more than one legal option. At Jack Bailey Law Corporation, our team has extensive experience with combo cases, especially those involving car accidents and workers’ comp. We understand the complexities and know how to build strong claims that protect our clients’ rights.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a work-related car accident, don’t leave money on the table. Contact Jack Bailey Law Corporation today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help you navigate your combo case.