How Is Workers’ Compensation for Traveling Employees Handled?

 Posted on April 11, 2025 in Personal Injury

The workers’ compensation insurance program was designed to provide immediate healthcare for workers who are injured on the job or become ill due to work-related conditions. Typically, the "going-and-coming" rule prevents workers from receiving benefits if they are injured on their way to or from work. Like with most laws, some exceptions apply. The commercial traveler or traveling employee doctrine says that if an employee is required to travel for work, injuries sustained during travel are usually covered by workers’ comp if they are related to work.

Insurance companies, including those offering workers’ compensation policies, often use a variety of tricks to pay the bare minimum for claims. An insurer may say that your injury does not qualify under the commercial traveler doctrine. If you are entitled to benefits, our dedicated DuPage County, IL workers’ compensation lawyers will fight to help you collect them.

Who Is Considered a Traveling Employee for Workers’ Compensation?

If your job requires you to travel between locations during the workday, you are probably considered a traveling employee. Traveling out of town, such as for a work conference or client meeting, should also fall under the commercial traveler doctrine. Other examples of traveling employees include:

• Airline employees
• Buyers and off-premises salespeople
• Construction workers
• Home health care workers
• Truck drivers

If your boss tells you to stop somewhere on your way to work or go pick up everyone’s lunch, that should also be covered. However, the accident that caused your injury must have happened while you were engaged in work-related activities.

If your work-related travel requires you to fly to reach your destination and stay in a hotel, workers’ compensation should apply if you are injured. However, if you are hurt while sightseeing on a business trip, that would probably be considered being on your own time and may not be covered by workers’ comp.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer as an Injured Traveling Employee?

The lines between work-related and non-work-related activities while traveling for your job can blur. Insurers usually pounce on any hint of a way to deny your workers’ comp benefits. You may need to furnish evidence proving that your activities at the time of your accident were related to your job.

Insurance company representatives can also be intimidating. If they say your injuries are not eligible for workers’ compensation coverage, you may believe them and lose out on the benefits you deserve.

Your lawyer knows what kinds of evidence you need to support your claim, and we know how to find it. We are also very familiar with insurance company tactics, so we understand how to overcome them. Our extensive knowledge of workers’ compensation laws means we use it to your benefit. We refuse to be intimidated, and we will fight tenaciously to help you secure the benefits you deserve.

Call Our Skilled Mt. Prospect, IL Traveling Employees Attorneys

Do not let an insurance company take advantage of you. The experienced Schaumburg, IL workers’ compensation lawyers at Grauer & Kriegel, LLC will advocate on your behalf to help you collect full benefits. Call 847-240-9010 or contact us online to schedule your no-cost case review.