You probably know that you have workers’ compensation coverage if you’re injured on the job in Missouri. However, you may question whether a car accident going to or from work is also covered. If you think about it, you are only traveling because of work, so perhaps it would fall under the coverage umbrella. HNI explains that workers’ compensation laws do take this into consideration but that travel to and from work is not usually covered because of something called the coming and going rule.
The coming and going rule states travel to and from work is on the employee’s own time and therefore not covered under workers’ compensation. There are, however, some exceptions. If you are doing an errand for work while on your way to or from work, then you may be able to get covered since the time was not completely your own.
Of course, any time you are driving as part of your job is covered because you are on company time and considered to be at work. If you are on-call and are called into work, then your travel time to work may also be covered because you were on-call so you were on company time when you headed to work. Business travel is also often covered because, again, you are considered to be on company time.
The distinction is pretty clear. You have to be on company time and handling company business for any travel-related accidents to be considered coverable by workers’ compensation. This information is for education and is not legal advice.
