Most people understand the most straightforward workers’ compensation cases, which involve an employee being injured in the workplace. A situation that is much more complicated is when a worker sustains damages during travel.
Between Job Sites
Some employers require their workers to travel between job sites. A typical example is a construction manager, who might be overseeing multiple projects at once and need to drive between them on the same day. In these cases, workers’ compensation will generally cover a car accident because the employee is on the clock and carrying out a job function during the event.
When Your Boss Tells You to Run an Errand
This is another time when workers’ compensation will likely cover you. The reason is that your boss asked you to do something, which makes it a work-related task. Additionally, you should be on the clock when this happens. If the errand you run happens before you clock on, that is a legal gray area that you can explore with an attorney.
Commercial Travel
Some people travel long distances for their jobs. This is frequently the case for real estate companies and businesses that manage accounts. What happens is an employee will fly out to another state to carry out a work-related task, and if they get injured while there, they will likely be covered. This coverage should be present even if the employee gets into a car accident on the way to a meal, rather than explicitly completing out a work task.
Traveling as a Job
For some, traveling is their job, not just a part of their job. Typical examples include bus drivers, truck drivers, and other similar professions. There is generally no legal gray area in these situations. If an employee is injured in an accident, they will almost always be eligible for benefits.
When an Accident is the Employees Fault
You might think that an accident being your fault would disqualify you from receiving benefits. This belief is not true in most circumstances. The reason is that workers’ compensation is a “no-fault “ system, meaning you can still obtain payment for your injuries even if the accident was partially your fault. The exceptions to this rule are extremely negligent actions like drinking and driving.
Commuting
The last category is commuting, and it is the only one where you will not typically receive workers comp benefits. The reason is that you driving to work is not the same as you working. Instead, you will have to pursue payment through an alternate legal system.
To sum this article up in one tidy sentence, you will almost always be covered by workers’ compensation if you were on the clock and completing a work-related function during your travel accident. If you aren’t, the legality of your situation will be a bit more complex. Regardless, it is best to talk to a St. Louis workers compensation lawyer before pursuing benefits.
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