In order to be eligible for workers’ compensation, your injury needs to be related to your job. A big factor in determining whether an injury was work-related is where it happened. An injury on your employer’s property is pretty clear, but what if you drive around instead of working at a desk all day?
The good news is that you’re still covered if you have to drive around to do your job. If you have to meet clients or customers in other towns, for example, and you get in a car accident on your way to an appointment, then it should be considered a work injury under Illinois law. (Commuting to and from work usually isn’t covered, although it can be in certain situations.)
But there are some gray areas, such as running personal errands during your work day. Let’s say you have a meeting in Park Ridge, then run to the store for a few things, then have a meeting in Evanston, then meet a friend for lunch and then drive down to Homewood for another meeting before heading back home. If you are a traveling employee, it’s expected that you would run errands, eat meals and stop for gas during your work day, but you might not be covered the entire day.
It comes down to whether you were still considered “in the course of” your employment when you were injured. This usually depends on how far you deviate from your path. You might not be covered for a car accident on your way to run a personal errand, but coverage might kick in again once you’re headed back toward a work appointment. In other words, you might exit and re-enter the course of your employment during the day.
If you’re not a traveling employee, and you leave work to run a personal errand that has nothing to do with work, then you probably wouldn’t be covered under workers’ comp for any injuries you suffer while you’re out.
The bottom line is that each situation is different, so don’t make an assumption.
We are workers’ compensation attorneys who help people with Illinois work injuries anywhere in IL via our statewide network of attorneys. Contact us and we will answer your questions or find the right lawyer for your situation.
