Liablility of corp while traveling

[sabshire]

I live in Texas, I work for a company in CA. My wife and I are wanting to travel in a motorhome to my jobsites across the country. We will travel and then live in the motorhome for 6 weeks to 3 months then go to the next location. I want my company or the company I am doing work for to reimburse me for expenses as I will be saving them money on hotels, car rental, plane fare, meals etc. as a per diem.
I have been told by my company that it is not possible to do this due to insurance liablility if someone should get hurt the company could get sued. Is this true? What is the difference between a motorhome and driving a car (liability)? I am very upset because I was told this would be possible and now they have crawfished on me. Please help. What are some alternatives that could be suggested? ie: rent the motorhome from a relative or have the company reimburse me in other inventive ways... Thanks, Scott

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Adrian Scott Abshire
Senior Application Developer
Action Technologies

 

[Tracey]

Yes, the company could get sued. The differences between travelling in a motorhome with your wife & just driving a car yourself are:
The motorhome is bigger and will cause more damage if it's in an accident.
The motorhome is bigger & more likely to cause an accident.
You would be the only driver of the car, but the company might be liable if your wife is driving the home & causes an accident.
It looks downright unprofessional for a company rep to drive onto the job sit in a 22' Pace Arrow.

Propose this: YOU will travel by company car, car rental, or plane to the various jobsites. However, if your wife just happens to be at the new site with a handy motorhome, you get the option of staying in the home & the company pays your wife the daily hotel rate & gives you the standard per diem allowance for meals. The company may not save any money, but they don't have any extra potential liability either, so they shouldn't care either way. Put your proposal in writing and get their response in writing.

You can always stay in the MH anyway -- you just won't get reimbursed for it.

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This is not legal advice and you are not my client. Double check everything with your own attorney and your state's laws.