If you get injured on the job, two of the biggest expenses you’re going to face will be lost wages and medical bills. Workers’ compensation is designed to cover some of these costs. Your medical bills should be covered if it was a workplace injury that led to that treatment, and you should get 2/3 of your wages while you’re out of work. There’s also potential compensation for families of those who passed away on the job, or those who have significant injuries and can never work again.
But what about your transportation costs? For instance, say that you need to spend months doing rehab after your injury. You know that workers’ comp is supposed to pay for the bills at that rehab center, since they are a medical expense. But maybe the closest center is hours away from your home, and the travel expenses are going to be significant. Would you be compensated in any way, or do you just have to accept that cost?
There is a mileage compensation
The good news is that workers in California can be compensated for their mileage. This changes every year, allowing the amount of compensation to keep up with things like inflation. If the injury took place on or after January 1 in 2023, then the rate is 0.655 cents per mile. This is an increase from last year‘s rate of 0.625 cents per mile.
You may also be able to claim other “reasonable expenses” that go beyond the mileage you’re putting on your car or the gas that you are buying. Examples include things like parking passes or tolls for bridges and toll roads. Whether you’re traveling to go to rehab, therapy, a pharmacy, a doctor’s office or the local hospital, you may be able to seek these types of compensation.
The key is simply to know what steps to take and what legal options you have. Be sure you know how to proceed if you’ve been injured on the job.
