Employment

Workplace Injuries in California: What is Doctor ‘Predesignation’?

Employment, General, Medical Treatment /

Following a serious accident in the workplace, you need top quality medical care from a doctor you can trust. This raises an important question: Can you choose your own doctor after a work injury in California? The short answer is ‘it depends’—you can predesignate a personal physician in certain circumstances. In this article, our Fresno workers’ compensation attorney explains

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California Regulators Issue New Wildfire Smoke Safety Guidelines for School Employees

Employment, General /

Wildfires have long been a serious safety hazard in the Western United States, particularly in stretches of our region. Northern, Central, and Southern California are all affected by wildfires. The California Air Resources Board emphasizes that “the area burned by California wildfires each year has been increasing” over the last seven decades.  A large wildfire can impact

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California Workers’ Comp Claims: Your Rights if Your Employer is Uninsured

Employment, General, Injury, Uninsured /

Workers’ comp insurance provides much needed financial protection to people hurt at work. By law, your employer is required to pay for your workers’ compensation insurance California Labor Code § 3700). Unfortunately, not all businesses and organizations in Fresno County comply with the law.  This raises an important question: What options do injured workers have if their

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California Fast Food Workers Planning Walk Out, Safety Remains a Problem in the Industry

Employment, General, Injury /

According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, fast food workers throughout California are planning a “walk out” in protest of wages, benefits, and workplace safety standards. The labor protest is scheduled for November 9th, with rallies planned at Mcdonald’s locations around the region, including in Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, and Sacramento  Workplace safety

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An Overview of Workplace Violence and Workers’ Comp in California

Employment, General, Injury, S&W /

Unfortunately, workplace violence is a serious public safety problem in our country. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that occupational violence 21,000 injuries and 450 fatalities each year. Violence in the workplace can occur in a wide range of different circumstances. It may be committed by intruders, customers, co-workers, or even managers.  You

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What Happens if I am Injured While Working at Home in California?

Employment, General, Injury /

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, more employees are working from home—at least on a part-time basis. According to the California Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), 40% of the state’s total workforce are employed in positions that could be done solely or partially remotely. As accidents can happen anywhere, the rise of work-from-home has created some

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Can I be Fired for Filing for Workers’ Compensation in California?

Employment, General, LC 132A /

Similar to the vast majority of jurisdictions in the United States, California is an at-will employment state. In effect, this means an employer is allowed to terminate a worker for virtually any reason, including for no reason at all. However, employers cannot terminate workers for an illegal reason. 

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Report: Hotter Temperatures Mean More Work Injuries in California

Employment, General, Injury /

According to a report cited by the Los Angeles Times, rising temperatures are expected to result in more work-related injuries in California. Alarmingly, the study also finds that heat-related workplace injuries and illnesses are underreported in the state’s current workers’ compensation statistics. In this article, our Fresno workers’ comp attorney provides an overview of the study.  UCLA/Stanford Study:

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Are Independent Contractors Covered by Workers’ Compensation in California?

Employment /

As explained by the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) “All California employers must provide workers’ compensation benefits to their employees.” Of course, the key word in that sentence is “employees.” You may be wondering: Can an independent contractor file for workers’ comp benefits in California? In general, the answer is ‘no,’ but an employee who was improperly misclassified

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