Concord Workers’ Compensation Attorneys

The purpose of the workers’ compensation system is to allow individuals who are injured at work or develop medical conditions due to their employment to recover monetary benefits to aid with the various financial losses associated with their injury or illness. Because it is a no-fault system, you do not need to prove that your employer (or anyone else) was negligent or otherwise at fault for your work-related injury; you simply need to prove that the injury or illness is somehow related to your work. In exchange, you are generally not permitted to sue your employer after a workplace accident or injury except in very rare and specific circumstances.

In California, eligible employees may be able to recover the following workers’ compensation benefits:

• Medical Care: Workers’ compensation pays for all medical expenses related to treating your work-related injury or illness, including initial emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, therapy, rehabilitation, medications, medical equipment, and other ongoing costs. Medical care benefits also cover mileage to and from doctors’ appointments/treatments.
• Temporary Disability: When an employee cannot return to work temporarily following a job-related accident, injury, or illness, workers’ compensation pays temporary total disability (TTD) benefits. These benefits are calculated at two-thirds the injured employee’s average weekly wage and are limited to 104 weeks (within 5 years) following the date of injury.
• Permanent Disability: Injured employees may be eligible for permanent partial disability (PPD) and/or permanent total disability (PTD) benefits if their work-related injuries/illness result in permanent impairment. PPD and PTD benefits are calculated based on the employee’s “impairment rating,” among other factors.
• Supplemental Job Displacement: Also known as “vocational rehabilitation” benefits, supplemental job displacement benefits are available when an employee is no longer able to work at his or her previous employment after reaching “maximum medical improvement” (MMI). Eligible employees may receive a voucher for up to $6,000 for retraining costs.
• Life Pension: Employees who are severely but not totally disabled, meaning they are given an impairment rating of 70 – 99%, may be entitled to life pension payments through the workers’ compensation system. Eligible employees will receive a small supplemental payment weekly for the remainder of their lives.

Additionally, when an employee dies due to a workplace accident or job-related injury or illness, their surviving spouses and/or dependents may be eligible to receive death benefits through the California workers’ compensation system. Benefits include costs associated with funerals/burials, as well as lost income, wages, earnings, and other employment benefits.

What If My Workers' Comp Benefits Were Denied?

It is a frustrating reality: insurance companies often deny valid claims to protect their bottom line. Common reasons for denial include claims that the injury wasn't work-related, "lack of medical evidence," or missed filing deadlines.

If you receive a Notice of Denial, do not give up. You have the right to appeal the decision through the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB).

The basic steps in the appeals process include:

1. File an Application for Adjudication of Claim: This formally opens a case with the WCAB.
2. Request a Hearing: We file a "Declaration of Readiness to Proceed" to get your case in front of a judge.
3. Mandatory Settlement Conference (MSC): A judge will attempt to help both parties reach a settlement.
4. Trial: If no settlement is reached, your case will go to trial before a Workers' Compensation Administrative Law Judge.

Workers' Comp Claim FAQs

Can I See My Own Doctor?

In most cases, you must see a doctor within the insurance company’s Medical Provider Network (MPN). However, if you "pre-designated" your personal physician in writing before the injury occurred, you may be able to see them instead.

Can I Be Fired for Filing a Workers' Comp Claim?

No. California Labor Code Section 132a makes it illegal for an employer to punish or fire you for filing a claim. If this happens, you may be entitled to increased compensation and reinstatement.

How Much Does a Workers' Compensation Lawyer Cost?

At Pacific Workers', The Lawyers for Injured Workers, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means there are no upfront costs, and we only get paid if we successfully recover a settlement or award for you. Fees are typically set by a judge and are usually around 15% of your settlement.

What Is "Maximum Medical Improvement" (MMI)?

MMI is the point where your condition has stabilized and is not expected to get significantly better or worse, even with further treatment. At this stage, your permanent disability rating is determined.

How Can an Attorney Help My Workers’ Comp Case in Concord?

Here are some of the ways our Concord team can support you throughout your case:

• Help when employers resist: We step in if your employer will not report the claim, refuses to provide required forms, or pressures you to return to work before you are ready.
• Gather and present evidence: We collect medical records, witness statements, and employment documents to prove that your injury is work-related and to show how it affects your ability to do your job.
• Deal directly with insurers: We communicate with the insurance company on your behalf, respond to requests for information, and challenge attempts to reduce or cut off your benefits.
• Explain your benefits clearly: We walk you through what benefits are available, how long they may last, and what to expect at each stage so you are not left guessing about your rights.

When you work with a workers compensation lawyer from our firm, we also help you understand how your medical treatment, work restrictions, and potential return-to-work plans fit together. We can talk through whether modified duty offered by your employer is appropriate, what to do if you are still in pain, and how to document ongoing symptoms for the claims administrator or a judge. Our goal is to give you clear guidance so you are not forced to navigate complicated forms and hearings alone at a time when you should be concentrating on your health.

Common Work Injuries in the Concord Area

Workers in and around Concord face many different risks depending on their job, from warehouse employees near the Port Chicago Highway to office staff in downtown buildings close to the Contra Costa County courthouses. Some people suffer sudden trauma, such as fractures from falls off ladders or acute back injuries from lifting heavy equipment, while others develop conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome or chronic knee pain over time. Understanding how your particular injury happened and how it affects your ability to work is essential to building a strong claim.

We regularly assist people hurt in construction accidents, vehicle collisions while driving for work, repetitive motion injuries, and incidents involving unsafe conditions in retail and restaurant settings along major routes like I-680. We can help you explain the full impact of your symptoms, from the medical treatment you need to the time you may be off work or on light duty. By carefully documenting how your injury has changed your daily life, we present a clearer picture of your losses to the insurance company and, when necessary, to a judge.