Which of the following statements best describes the going-and-coming rule for injuries?

• A. In general, injuries on the way to or from work are excluded, with exceptions for personal errands and employment-related activities.
• B. In general, injuries on the way to or from work are always compensable.
• C. The rule only applies if the employee is paid for mileage.
• D. The rule does not apply to self-insured employers.

Answer: (A)

The going-and-coming rule is that injuries you suffer while commuting to or from work are generally not compensable, unless the trip serves the employer or is required by the job. The best description here reflects that: the ordinary commute is excluded, but there are specific exceptions when the trip is tied to employment—either because you’re performing work-related activities during the trip or because personal errands are connected to carrying out duties for the employer. In practice, this means a traveling employee, someone heading to a temporary work site, or periods when you’re on a job-directed trip can still result in a compensable injury, whereas a routine, purely personal commute does not. This rule applies regardless of whether the employer is self-insured or not, since the coverage framework follows the same principles.