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What are my options if I fall in a work parking lot?

On Behalf of | Jul 17, 2024 | Workers' Compensation

An injury from a fall while at work typically entitles you to workers’ compensation benefits. Falls are one of the most common types of workplace injuries and have many different causes. But what if the fall occurs while you are in the parking lot of your workplace?

The answer to this question depends on the circumstances of the fall. You generally cannot receive workers’ compensation benefits for a fall that occurred while you were commuting to or from work.

Exceptions to the commute rule

However, if the fall occurs “in the course and scope of your employment,” you should receive workers’ compensation benefits the same as you would with any other work-related injury.

This analysis could get tricky if you arrived at your workplace, exited your vehicle and fell on your way into the building.

You may argue that once you were out of your vehicle, your commute was technically over and you are now officially “on the clock,” such that you are eligible for any workers’ compensation benefits. The idea is that once you are on the premises of your work, you are officially at work and any injuries that occur qualify you for workers’ compensation.

Falls when traveling for work

If the fall happens when you are traveling for work, you are normally still entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. For example, if you travel to different places throughout the day as part of your job and fall in the parking lot at another location, you are considered to be acting in the course and scope of your employment.

The same analysis applies if you fall and are injured while on a business trip or running a special errand for your employer during your regular commute.

You should always report any injury, such as a fall, to your employer as soon as you can. Since falls in parking lots can be a gray area, your employer may try to fight your claim for workers’ compensation benefits, which is why it is important to know your rights and prepare to argue your claim.

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