The California Department of Industrial Relations reports that around half of a million workers are hurt on the job in the state annually. If you are injured at work, you may be entitled to workers’ comp to cover medical care and lost income. This raises an important question: Do you have to pay taxes on workers’ compensation benefits . . .
Amazon is one of the largest employers in our state. Earlier this year, Geekwire reported that the company has 153,000 employees in California alone. A significant share of Amazon employees work in the warehouse. Notably, in the most recent Letter to Shareholders, CEO Jeff Bezos stated that the company is putting more emphasis on workplace safety issues. Specifically, . . .
On June 4th, 2021, The Press Democrat reported that the California State Senate has rejected a bill that would create long-term reforms to the workers’ compensation insurance system that would have made it easier for some frontline health care employees to qualify for benefits. In this article, our California workers’ compensation attorney proposed an overview of the reform proposal . . .
Workers’ comp insurance coverage provides much needed financial protection to people hurt on the job. Benefits are paid out to help support injured workers. As explained by the California Department of Industrial Relations, the benefits available through the program are primarily designed to help workers get the “medical treatment you need to recover from your work . . .
In California, workers are entitled to ‘no-fault’ benefits for job-related injuries. In filing a workers’ comp claim, it is generally an employee’s responsibility to prove that their injuries are connected to their employment. However, in limited circumstances, California law shifts the burden of proof in the other direction—ruling that certain injuries for certain workers are . . .
In recent years, businesses and organizations are increasingly relying on the contributions of gig workers and independent contractors. In the fall of 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed California Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5) into law; the bill restricts an employer’s ability to classify a worker as an independent contractor. There are strict rules that must be followed . . .
As explained by the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), QMEs are licensed doctors who have been trained and certified by the state’s DWC. When there are questions regarding the nature and severity of an employee’s injury, a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) may be brought into to bring additional clarity and help resolve the issue. Here, . . .
The coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to affect communities throughout the country. The California Department of Public Health reports that more than 525,000 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the state as of August 5th, 2020. Despite sanitizing efforts, the virus may be transmitted almost anywhere, including in the workplace. Recently, the California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) released data . . .
In some cases, an injury can make a person vulnerable to other medical complications. Under California’s workers’ compensation laws, this type of new health problem may be considered a compensable consequence. In California, a compensable consequence is an injury or health condition that arises directly out of an industrial injury. This raises an important question: What qualifies . . .
An employer, administrator, or insurance company may want to settle a workers’ compensation claim. Before reaching an agreement, it is important to know the difference between the two main types of workers’ comp settlement options. These options are a compromise and release (C&R) and a stipulation. Here, our Fresno workers’ compensation defense lawyersexplain the most important . . .