Under workers’ compensation, an employer is responsible for covering the losses an employee may suffer from a work-related injury. Appropriate compensation includes covering medical bills in addition to supplementing a worker’s missed wage-earning potential.
It is worth noting that not all work-related injuries happen at the job. For instance, if you sustain an injury at a company banquet, workers’ compensation may also cover this. However, it is notable that workers’ compensation does not cover injuries sustained during a commute in most circumstances. According to FindLaw, this is the ‘going and coming’ rule.
What if I work in a moving vehicle?
If your workplace is the inside of a vehicle, then the going and coming rule does not apply while you are in your workspace. For example, workers’ compensation covers bus drivers and airline pilots while they are driving their bus route or flying their plane.
If you have to travel between worksites as part of your job, this is also an exception to the going and coming rule. For instance, if you are a construction worker that works at multiple sites during your shift, workers’ compensation covers this.
Are there any other exceptions?
Going on a business trip is also an exception to the going and coming rule. If you sustain an injury while on a business trip, workers’ compensation may cover any injuries. Finally, “special missions” are also an exception to the going and coming rule. For instance, if your boss hands you money and tells you to pick up the office a round of coffee and you sustain an injury while doing so, workers’ compensation may cover it.
