Los Angeles, California Workers’ Compensation Laws
Work Injury Attorneys
The Jin Law Firm P.C. has more than 40 years of combined attorneys’ experience handling Los Angeles, California workers’ compensation claims. If you have been injured on the job, our attorneys can help assess your claim and help you receive the benefits you deserve.
Under California law, employers must provide employees with workers’ compensation benefits. Businesses are, however, permitted to purchase individual workers’ compensation to cover themselves.
As a no-fault workers’ compensation system, California strives to have their laws benefit both employees and employers. Under this no-fault rule, workers are not allowed to sue their employers in court. In return, employees are not required to prove that their injury was the employer’s fault, only show that the injuries they received are work-related. The workers’ compensation system in California is paid for by employers but provides benefits to injured employees.
Workers Rights Under California Laws
Injured employees are entitled to several different types of benefits if their injuries occur while on the job. The benefits and any non-cash payments received under workers’ compensation are tax-exempt, which is different from unemployment benefits. Workers may be entitled to the following:
- Temporary Disability Payments- Injured workers receive these payments for any time off work they must take that relates to the work injury. These payments are two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage, with state-mandated weekly maximums taken into consideration. To learn more about temporary disability payments, visit our Workers’ Compensation Benefits.
- Permanent Disability Payments- If your injury is so severe that you are not able to return to your previous job or obtain a new job, you may get permanent disability. This is paid out according to a specific permanent disability rating, which depends on the type of injury, your age, your occupation and particular doctor’s restrictions. Depending on this rating, you may find that you qualify to receive permanent disability payments from four weeks or up to 14 years.
- Medical Treatment Costs- Any associated medical expenses that relate to your injury are covered by California’s workers’ compensation program, which may include the costs of evaluations, treatments, surgery, prescription drugs, transportation costs and medical aid devices. You can also receive reimbursement for traveling to your medical appointments.
- Life Pension Payments- Severely disabled workers that have a rating of 70 to 99 percent permanent disability may qualify to receive a small weekly life pension payment in addition to their regular disability payments. You may receive this life pension payment for the rest of your life.
- Death Costs- If your loved one or family member was killed while conducting a work-related activity, dependants and spouses might qualify for death benefits, which includes covering burial expenses.
- Vocational Retraining Expenses- If you can no longer return to your previous job and your employer is not able to offer you an alternative or modified position, you may qualify to receive the retraining benefit, known as the Supplemental Job Displacement. This benefit provides $6,000 for education-related retraining at specific state-approved schools and covers tuition, books and other related fees.
We Assist with Recovery of All Entitled Benefits
The Jin Law Firm provides a team case approach, ensuring that our clients’ interests are protected and helping them receive the highest level of benefits afforded under Los Angeles, California workers’ compensation laws.
Our attorneys, paralegals and support staff offer complimentary case consultations. Our staff is multilingual, speaking both English and Spanish. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with one of our team.