What is the name of the rule that generally holds injuries during a commute to be noncompensable?

• A. Special Mission Exception
• B. Commercial traveler rule
• C. Personal risk
• D. Coming and going rule

Answer: (D)

In workers’ compensation, injuries sustained on the way to or from work are generally not compensable under the coming and going rule. The idea is that once the workday ends, the employer loses control over the worker, and the trip home is considered a personal risk rather than part of the job.

There are important exceptions that can make a commute injury compensable: if the travel is for a special mission on the employer’s behalf, or if the employee’s duties require travel away from home on a regular basis (the commercial traveler scenario), or when the employer provides transportation and the trip is part of the employment activity. The term personal risk emphasizes that if the incident arises from purely personal factors, it wouldn’t be covered.