Building Code Administrators and Inspectors Florida Principle and Practice Licensure Practice Exam

Under what condition can an employee receive compensation for towing costs under Workers' Compensation?

1. Only if the towing was approved

2. Only if the employee is driving the vehicle

3. There are no conditions, it’s always covered

4. Only if the employee is injured during towing

The correct answer is: Only if the towing was approved

An employee can receive compensation for towing costs under Workers' Compensation if the towing was approved. This stems from the principle that for an expense to be compensable, it typically must be directly related to a job-related incident or an employer-approved activity. If the towing was necessary because of a work-related issue (for example, the vehicle breaking down during work duties), and the employer pre-approved this service, then the costs can be covered as part of the workers' compensation benefits. The approval aspect is crucial, as this demonstrates that the towing was recognized as a necessary and legitimate work-related expense. Without such approval, there is no guarantee that the expense will be deemed reasonable or attributable to the employer's responsibilities. In this context, it's important to note that compensation is not automatically granted for towing costs regardless of the situation, underscoring the need for prior approval to establish a legitimate connection to the employee's work duties.