Are Traveling Airline Employees Eligible for Workers’ Compensation?

 Posted on October 24, 2024 in Workers' Compensation

When an employee gets injured at work, he or she is generally entitled to workers’ compensation. These benefits help an employee cover the costs of medical expenses and loss of income due to recovering from a work-related injury. 

However, there is some confusion regarding people whose jobs involve travel and who get injured outside their usual work environment. For example, what happens when airline employees, including pilots and flight attendants, get injured at work? Since Illinois is a major travel hub, many people throughout the state work in the travel industry and need to travel for their jobs. A skilled Joliet, IL workers’ compensation attorney can offer personalized guidance when employees suffer work injuries.

Issues When Traveling Workers Are Injured

Unique issues arise when traveling workers get injured while doing their job, including:

• Jurisdictional complexity: When employees work in multiple states, it can be confusing to understand which state's laws apply.

• Injury documentation: If injuries occur in various locations, it can make it harder to gather evidence and identify witnesses.

• Reporting limitations: Irregular hours due to flight schedules can prevent someone from promptly reporting an injury.

• Occupational hazards: Some risks that are specific to airline work, like exposure to jet fuel or unusually long hours spent sitting, can be harder to link directly to a specific incident.

Coverage Options for Injured Traveling Airline Employees

In addition to Illinois’s state-specific workers’ compensation programs, there are several options and policies available to traveling airline employees who get injured at work, including:

• Employer's workers' compensation insurance: Most airlines are required to have workers' compensation insurance policies that cover work-related injuries, regardless of where they occur or who is at fault.

• Travel accident insurance: Some airlines offer their employees added travel accident insurance to cover injuries they suffer while traveling for work, as a supplement to the standard workers' compensation.

• Disability insurance: Short or long-term disability insurance is often available independently or through the employer. This provides income replacement for employees who are unable to work due to a work-related injury.

Traveling airline employees are generally covered by their employers’ workers’ compensation insurance. The state of Illinois requires most employers to have this insurance and provide benefits for work-related injuries, regardless of where the employee was injured. While coverage for airline employees often includes injuries outside typical workplace scenarios, the specifics can depend on several factors:

• Employer policy: The airline's workers' compensation policy will dictate coverage details, including out-of-state incidents.

• Jurisdiction: If an employee is injured while traveling out of state, the claim may still be handled under Illinois law if the employee is considered a resident of Illinois and the employer is based there.

• Federal regulations: Federal regulations apply in some cases, which can affect claims. For example, FAA employees are covered by the Federal Employees Compensation Act. 

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Will County, IL Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

If you are an airline employee, speak with an experienced Joliet, IL workers’ compensation attorney about seeking maximum coverage. Your work routine is likely different from a typical office employee but that does not mean you do not deserve compensation when you are injured at your job. Call McNamara Phelan McSteen, LLC at 815-727-0100 to schedule a free consultation so we can protect your rights and advocate for the compensation you are entitled to.