San Leandro Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Workers’ compensation is a specialized insurance system that provides financial and medical support for covered workers who are hurt in a way that is related to the scope of their employment. In California, nearly every employer is required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance that covers virtually every employee, including seasonal, part-time, remote, and brand-new workers. If you are not an independent contractor or one of the few occupational exceptions under California law, then you should have workers’ compensation insurance coverage that can help you if you’re ever hurt while working.

The most common benefits provided through workers’ compensation insurance in California are:

• Full cost coverage for necessary medical care
• Temporary disability benefits until the injured workers can return to work
• Permanent disability benefits if there are long-lasting impairments that affect work
• Job retraining assistance to start a new job or career that accommodates permanent disabilities
• Death benefits available to the loved ones of a deceased worker

How Long Will Your Workers’ Comp Benefits Last?

The duration of your workers’ compensation benefits depends on the type of injury you suffered and how it prevents you from working. If your injury is minor to moderate, you might expect temporary disability benefits that last up to 104 weeks (within a five-year period). If your injury is severe, you might qualify for permanent disability benefits. For catastrophic injuries and disabilities, you might even be able to get additional lifetime benefits.

Will Your Workers’ Comp Benefits Be Taxed?

Typically, under both state and federal law, workers’ compensation benefits are not taxable. Some complications may apply, though, such as when the injured worker is also receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). If you are worried about your workers’ compensation benefits being taxed, we can assess the benefits you can expect and provide our insight. Thanks to our reputation among legal communities, you can also ask us about any tax lawyers we trust to help our clients in such situations.

What Injuries are Covered by Workers’ Comp?

If you are hurt at work or while completing a job-related duty, your injury should be covered by workers’ compensation—with very few exceptions. Even if you made a mistake that caused your injury, you should remain covered by workers' compensation insurance provided by your employer or purchased separately by you. For example, if a retail worker is rushing through the store to get a product for a customer, slips, falls, and gets injured, they can still file for workers’ comp benefits even though they were acting unsafe at the time of the accident. Only in rare cases when it seems that the worker was intentionally trying to get injured can their workers’ comp coverage be challenged by the insurer.

Common injuries noted in workers’ compensation claims include:

• Broken bones
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Toxic exposure
• Occupational illnesses
• Aggravation of pre-existing conditions
• Mental health injuries

Why Would an Employer Dispute Your Claim?

Insurance companies provide the benefits of workers’ compensation policies to injured workers. However, employers purchase those insurance policies. When an employer reports a worker’s injury to the insurance provider and benefits are necessary, the insurance company might raise the employer’s premium. For this reason, some employers try to dispute an injured worker’s claim.

An employer might dispute a worker’s claim by saying that:

• The injury didn’t happen at work or involve a work-related duty;
• The injury is solely based on a pre-existing condition and was exacerbated by other non-work factors;
• The worker did not report the injury on time; or,
• The worker can still perform job duties.

If your employer is trying to dispute your claim, call (888) 740-6434 immediately. Our San Leandro workers’ compensation attorneys know how to stand up to employers and insurance companies that try to get between an injured worker and the benefits that they need.

We’re Available 24/7 – Reach Out Now

If you were hurt at work in San Leandro, get our workers’ compensation attorneys on your side right away. Pacific Workers', The Lawyers for Injured Workers is the name that local workers, businesses, and even other law firms trust when results matter the most. See what we can do for your case by reaching out today.

We offer free consultations to inquiring clients. Call (888) 740-6434 to request one.