Your job requires you to care for patients, sometimes at locations away from the main facility. If you sustain an injury while traveling to see a patient in San Diego, California, you may be wondering if you qualify for workers’ comp. The fact is that coverage depends on why you were traveling and how closely the trip is related to your job.
How does work-related travel fit into workers’ comp?
Workers’ comp generally covers injuries that arise out of and occur in the course of employment. By contrast, a normal commute from home to a fixed job site often falls outside coverage. You need to prove that travel is part of your job to be able to qualify for workers’ comp.
When does travel count as work?
To qualify, your injury must happen in the course and scope of your job. For healthcare workers, three common exceptions make travel work‑related:
- Travel between sites: Driving from one work location to another as part of your shift, for example, a nurse who goes from one patient’s home to another and then back to the hospital.
- Special mission: Traveling at your employer’s specific request for a job task outside your normal route, for example, your manager asked you to pick up durable medical equipment (DME) like a ventilator from a medical supplier.
- Required vehicle: Using a vehicle your employer demands for work tasks, for example, your supervisor asks you to use your car to transport patients.
If you get hurt on a work trip, the first step is to get medical care and report the injury right away. It may be necessary to speak with a workers’ comp lawyer if your employer or the insurer claims that the trip was not work‑related.
Act fast to protect your rights
When proof is unclear, insurers may argue an injury was personal. That can leave you responsible for medical bills and lost income. A skilled workers’ comp lawyer can review the facts and help collect evidence that can support your claim.