If you suffer injury or illness at work, you probably know you can claim workers’ compensation. Most California employers must hold it, and as it is no-fault insurance should cover most cases.
What you might not know is what workers’ compensation covers. Is it just your medical bills? Or more? Here is what workers’ compensation could cover in California:
1. Medical treatment
Depending on the extent of the injury or illness, you could require considerable medical treatment, as well as rehabilitation. The cost of ongoing medical care can be costly, and you might require care for a considerable amount of time.
2. Lost wages because you cannot work
Temporary disability benefits cover wages lost while you are off work recovering. Permanent disability benefits could come into place later if you never recover enough to return to work or can only return to work in a limited capacity.
3. Retraining
Being unable to return to your current place of work does not necessarily mean you will never be able to find another job. You may be able to claim to retrain in order to secure a different role, either with the same company or with another.
4. Death benefits
If you die as a result of what happened at work, then your family may be able to claim death benefits to cover some of the financial losses your death causes them.
Having the right to claim for these things does not necessarily mean you will get them. Insurers often reject claims or offer only a reduced payout. Getting legal help to file your claim increases the probability you get the full amount of workers’ compensation that you deserve.