If you work in a dangerous industry, such as construction or firefighting, you’re well aware of the hazards you may face every day when you clock in. The injuries you may sustain on the job could be covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. But what about the injuries that could happen before you enter your place of work? Can you receive workers’ compensation benefits for car accidents that occur during your commute?
This area of workers’ compensation is confusing because your commute is not technically “work”. The majority of employees in the United States are not paid for their time spent driving to and from work. Does this mean you cannot be compensated if you’re injured during your travel time?
The workers’ compensation system protects employees who are injured in work-related accidents, not just employees who are injured at their place of work. It is possible to recover compensation for an accident that occurred during your commute, but it can be complicated.
A normal commute is usually not covered by workers’ compensation insurance. However, time spent driving to and from work may be covered if it is considered part of your work responsibilities — this includes traveling for a business trip, situations when an employee is using a company car, or when an employee is driving specifically to complete work duties. These activities normally would be covered by workers’ compensation, because any injuries that occur during those times would be considered work related. Unfortunately, commutes are typically separated from other work duties, so are not always covered.
At Alvandi Law Group, P.C., our attorneys are committed to helping injured employees recover the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve. We focus our practice solely on workers’ compensation cases, and are experienced in achieving successful results.
Schedule a free consultation with our legal team through our contact form or by calling (800) 980-6905.