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,
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
The Duty-Belt Presumption for Police Officers Explained Read More »
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 […]
AB 5 and Workers’ Compensation Read More »
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
California Workers’ Compensation: What is a Compensable Consequence? Read More »
California employers are required to provide no-fault work injury insurance to their employees. If an injured worker files a claim, a claims administrator has a responsibility to make an initial decision within 90 days. If they fail to accept or deny the workers’ compensation claim before the deadline expires, they are liable by default. This
Workers’ Comp Defense in California: What is the 90 Day Rule? Read More »
Under California Labor Code § 4800, certain frontline workers—including police officers, firefighters, and other public safety personnel—are entitled to additional legal protection in the event that they suffer a job-related injury. Referred both as “Labor Code Section 4850 benefits” and “Labor Code Section 4850 Time,” this special provision allows qualifying employees to receive their full salary
An Overview Labor Code 4850 Benefits Read More »
Under California workers’ compensation laws, there are two broad categories of work injuries — specific injuries and cumulative trauma. A specific injury occurs in a single event, in which an employee is hurt at a specific place and time. In contrast, cumulative trauma injuries develop gradually over time. They occur as the collective consequence of many repetitive movements […]
California Workers’ Compensation: Defending a ‘Cumulative Trauma’ Claim Read More »
Workers’ compensation insurance provides medical coverage and wage loss benefits to employees who were hurt on the job. As emphasized by the California Department of Industrial Relations, “employers are required by law to have workers’ compensation insurance.” For employers and insurers, navigating the workers’ comp claims process can be complicated. It is not uncommon to run
When Should I Hire a Workers’ Comp Defense Lawyer in California? Read More »
Published by Joseph Yrulegui on March 23, 2021 Workers’ Comp Defense in California: Understanding a Claimant’s Duty to Disclose On February 3rd, 2021, the California Department of Insurance announced workers’ compensation fraud charges against a Kern County man accused of bilking an insurance company. According to the allegations raised by the agency, this man unlawfully failed to