There are many employees in the United States who drive a company car as a part of their daily job responsibilities. This company car could feel like it belongs to you — especially if you spend a lot of time in it. You might even use the car when you’re not technically working. Additionally, you might use the vehicle for personal reasons, even when you’re on the company clock.
Maybe you’re making deliveries for your company, but you remembered that you needed to buy a few groceries, so you make a detour to the grocery store. If you do something like this, it’s very important that you remember that engaging personal activities — even while you’re on company time — could mean that you’re not covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation policy while you’re making the “detour.”
In the language of workers’ compensation law, when you’re acting in your own personal capacity and you’re not under the employer’s instruction on company time, it’s called a “frolic.” When an injurious accident happens during a frolic, the employer might not be obliged to pay for the employees’ injuries under the workers’ compensation system.
Workers’ compensation insurance is a powerful employee benefit that most Omaha employees enjoy. Nevertheless, these benefits are not without their limits. Therefore, it’s important that employees take the time to educate themselves about their legal rights and workers’ compensation coverage. This will help the employee refrain from making decisions that will hinder the ability to get medical care in the event of a serious injury on company time.
If you have questions about your workers’ compensation rights, our law office can answer any questions you might have.