An employer provides vans to employees for carpooling, and an injury occurs while commuting. Under California workers’ compensation, what is the injury’s compensability status?

An employer provides vans to employees for carpooling, and an injury occurs while commuting. Under California workers’ compensation, what is the injury’s compensability status?

• A. Noncompensable.
• B. Noncompensable because of the coming and going rule.
• C. Compensable.
• D. Compensable as an exception to the coming and going rule.

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that California’s rule usually says injuries on the way to or from work aren’t covered, but there are exceptions when the travel serves the employer’s interests. When the employer provides transportation for employees, such as vans for carpooling, that travel is considered part of the job. In this situation, the commute isn’t purely personal—it’s done for the employer’s benefit. So an injury that happens during that commute falls within the scope of employment and is compensable. That’s why this is compensable as an exception to the coming-and-going rule.

The key idea is that California’s rule usually says injuries on the way to or from work aren’t covered, but there are exceptions when the travel serves the employer’s interests. When the employer provides transportation for employees, such as vans for carpooling, that travel is considered part of the job. In this situation, the commute isn’t purely personal—it’s done for the employer’s benefit. So an injury that happens during that commute falls within the scope of employment and is compensable. That’s why this is compensable as an exception to the coming-and-going rule.