What is the general effect of the coming and going rule in workers' compensation?

• A. Injuries during commuting are noncompensable.
• B. Injuries during commuting are compensable.
• C. The rule does not apply to on-duty travel.
• D. The rule applies only to injuries at home.

Answer: (A)

The coming and going rule is that injuries a worker suffers while commuting to or from the workplace are generally not compensable under workers’ compensation. This keeps the coverage focused on injuries that occur while performing job duties. There are exceptions, though: if the travel itself is part of the job or required by the employer—such as traveling between job sites or to a work assignment, or when transportation is provided by the employer—the trip can be considered within the course of employment and may be compensable. The rule doesn’t hinge on injuries at home, and on-duty travel that is a normal part of work can fall under compensation, which is why the general effect is that commuting injuries are noncompensable.