Which scenario is an example of a valid exception to the coming-and-going rule?

• A. The injury occurred in the employer's parking lot while performing a work-related task.
• B. The injury occurred during a personal errand after work.
• C. The injury occurred while commuting to work for a pure personal reason.
• D. The injury occurred during a lunch break off-site.

Answer: (A)

The going-and-coming rule normally excludes injuries that happen during a worker’s ordinary commute, but there are exceptions when the injury arises in connection with the employer’s premises or work activity. A key exception is when the injury occurs on the employer’s premises (including the parking lot) while the employee is performing a work-related task. In that situation, the incident is still linked to the employer’s business and is considered within the course of employment.

Here, the injury happened in the employer’s parking lot and the employee was performing a work-related task at that time. The parking lot is part of the employer’s premises, and the activity was job-related, so this injury falls under the exception and is compensable.

The other scenarios don’t fit because they involve purely personal errands or personal commutes without any work-related activity or premises connection tying the incident to employment.