The workers’ compensation claims process can be highly complex. Most employees need to understand how the entire process works from start to finish. Here we will address some of the most frequently asked questions about workers’ compensation and provide other relevant information regarding the workers’ compensation process.
Suppose you’ve suffered a work-related injury or illness—examples: a broken arm from falling or back pain from overuse. Your employer is required to provide direct payment benefits called workers compensation. These payment benefits are used to cover costs like medical bills and lost wages. Workers’ compensation helps employees maintain their financial well-being while recovering from an injury or illness sustained on the job.
California’s employment places are obligated by law to have an employee injury and illness prevention program. This program requires employee training, workplace inspection, and procedures for correcting unsafe working conditions immediately. One of the various ways you can avoid injury or illness on the job is by actively participating in your workplace’s injury and illness prevention program and reporting unsafe working conditions to your employer.
If you have suffered a work-related injury or illness, you should report the incident immediately to your employer or supervisor. Seek immediate medical attention if you need it. Reporting injuries or illnesses as soon as they occur helps to prevent delays in receiving your benefits.
Yes, filling out a workers’ compensation claim form and then giving it to your employer helps expedite filing your workers’ compensation claim. This action starts the process of evaluating which workers comp benefits you qualify for under state law. These benefits include:
- The presumption that your injury was caused by work because your claim was neither accepted nor denied within 90 days of providing the completed claim form to your manager.
- Up to $10,000 in medical treatment while the workers’ compensation claims administrator evaluates your claims case.
- A raise in your disability payment rate if those payments are late.
- A means for resolving any significant disagreements between yourself and the claims admin over whether your injury or illness occurred at work, the medical treatment you receive, and whether you will receive permanent disability benefits.
Medical care: This is paid for by your employer. These payments help to assist in your recovery from your work-related injury or illness.
Temporary disability benefits: Payments for lost wages because your injury prevents you from working your job while recovering.
Permanent disability: Permanent disability direct compensation payments occur when you do not recover from your injury or illness.
Supplemental job displacement benefits: Supplemental job displacement benefits offer vouchers to help pay for skill enhancement or retraining if you don’t fully recover and return to work for your employer after an injury or illness.
Death benefits: Death benefits help provide direct payments to your children, spouse, or other dependents if you die due to a work-related injury or illness.
The workers’ compensation claims process can be highly complex. Most employees need to understand how the entire process works from start to finish. We hope that these frequently asked questions addressed in this text helped clear up any worries about workers’ compensation and gave other relevant information about the workers’ compensation process.
However, if you still have questions about the workers’ compensation process or need help filing your claim. We recommend reaching out to one of our expert Stockton workers’ compensation attorneys at Stockton Workers’ Compensation Attorneys, P.C. You can reach us at (209) 323-5126 or by visiting our website to chat directly with an attorney.
