Workers’ compensation laws of California have been significantly changed and benefits to injured workers have been dramatically reduced over the past several years in an effort to reduce insurance costs. Major revisions to the law in 2005 and 2013 have been the most dramatic and complex changes since California adopted the system in 1913.
The workers' compensation case today is a different system of benefits than it has been historically in California, and the legal practitioner needs to find creative ways to work within the law to limit the influence of employers and insurers who try to reduce benefits that limit employees’ chances to get competent and complete medical care, keep his or her job, and return to full employment after an injury.
Injured workers whose cases are accepted get medical treatment and temporary disability compensation. These cases seem straightforward until there are denials of medical care, delays of benefits, termination of payments and notices for the employee's signature that can either preserve important rights, or waive them. An injured worker with a denied claim has an additional set of barriers to obtaining benefits and professional medical and legal advice may be required to obtain any benefits at all.
Treatment and compensation are seldom enough these days for the worker who is permanently partially disabled to transition from a good job that is physically demanding to a good job (or sometimes any job) that is less physically demanding where the funds are limited to $6,000 for skills training. We have vocational counselors available by referral to assist the search for a new job for serious injury cases.
Our firm is committed to obtain for our clients all of the benefits which may be available under the law. While representing the needs of employees in their work injury claims, we have assisted clients in regard to return to work issues, reinstatement of work benefits, employer accommodations, and wrongful termination claims.
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