Bakersfield Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

Are You Covered by Workers’ Comp?

California law requires nearly every employer in the state to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage to its workers. Specifically, the law states that a company that employs at least one person must purchase state-approved workers’ compensation insurance to cover eligible employees. Furthermore, unlike many other states, California does not make many exclusions or exceptions to its workers’ compensation coverage rules. For example, even most agricultural workers are owed workers’ comp coverage. Certain (but not all) independent contractors are some of the few workers who aren’t owed workers’ compensation insurance benefits if a workplace or work-related injury or accident occurs.

You should be eligible for workers’ compensation if:

• You are covered by workers’ compensation insurance;
• You suffer an injury or illness at work or while completing a work-related duty; and,
• You need medical attention or miss work due to the injury or illness.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault-based insurance system that is designed to help workers recover from work-related accidents, injuries, and illnesses. Under this system, you can receive workers’ comp benefits even if you admit that your mistake was the sole cause of your workplace accident.

Benefits that are usually available through workers’ compensation are:

• Medical treatments: All medical care costs associated with your work injury should be covered, including emergency care, hospitalization, future rehabilitative therapy, prescriptions, co-pays, etc.
• Temporary disability pay: If you aren’t able to return to work after your accident, you may qualify for temporary disability pay that equals two-thirds of your average wages, expiring up to 104 weeks later.
• Permanent disability pay: If you aren’t expected to return to work due to a permanent disability caused by a work-related accident, you may be eligible for permanent disability pay. This pay will vary depending on the type and severity of your disability.
• Life pension: If you are given a disability rating between 70% and 99% and you likely can’t find work in any industry or field, you could be given additional financial support through life pension benefits.
• Vocational rehabilitation: You could receive financial benefits that help pay for training, certification, and educational courses that would allow you to start a new career in a role that isn’t limited by your injuries or disabilities.
• Death benefits: When a work-related injury or illness causes a worker to pass away, certain family members and dependents may be able to file for death benefits. Funeral costs, burial expenses, and limited pay replacement benefits are the most common types of death benefits through workers’ compensation.

Tell Your Employer About Your Injury Right Away

As soon as you suffer an injury at work, even if it doesn’t seem medically serious, you should notify your boss or employer. If you do need medical attention, notifying them right away allows your employer to start the workers’ compensation process quickly, which benefits all parties.

In California, you are required to notify your employer about a work-related injury or illness within 30 days of its occurrence or when its connection to your work becomes reasonably noticeable. If you miss this 30-day deadline, you could lose the option to file for workers’ comp at all.

Call Our Bakersfield Workers’ Comp Lawyers Now

At Pacific Workers', The Lawyers for Injured Workers, workers’ compensation cases are all we handle. We keep our phone lines open for your convenience, so you can reach out for legal counsel whenever you need it. Even if you had an accident late on a holiday night, our Bakersfield workers’ compensation attorneys will be ready to help and lend a legal hand.

Dial (888) 740-6434 today to ask for a no-cost consultation about your case or claim.