If an accountant is injured in an accident while commuting after taking work home, how should the claim be processed?

• A. Accept as an exception to the coming and going rule
• B. Delay and investigate
• C. Deny the claim
• D. Close the file

Answer: (A)

In the context of workers' compensation laws, the "coming and going rule" generally means that employees are not covered for injuries sustained while commuting to and from work. However, there are exceptions to this rule. In this scenario, the accountant was injured while commuting after taking work home, which could justify an exception.

When work is being performed remotely, and the injury occurs during the commute back from this work, it can be reasonable to consider this as part of the work-related activities. The rationale is that the individual was engaged in a work-related task by taking work home, and therefore the injury sustained while commuting can be seen as connected to their employment. This connection may be strong enough to warrant acceptance of the claim as an exception to the coming and going rule.

Accepting the claim acknowledges the unique circumstances surrounding remote work and commuting, illustrating an understanding of how modern work practices may impact traditional compensation rules. This approach allows for a more comprehensive and flexible application of workers' compensation regulations.