workers comp | WORK COMP SIMPLIFIED

California Workers’ Compensation Claims: What to Know About Cumulative Trauma Injuries

In California, employers are required to provide no-fault workers’ comp insurance benefits to their staff. A worker who is hurt on the job is entitled to get coverage for all reasonably necessary medical care and for partial wages. UnderCalifornia Labor Code section 3208.1, an injury may be specific or cumulative. A cumulative injury is one

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Five Steps to Take if You are Injured in the Job in California

General / Joseph Yrulegui

Every employee deserves a safe workplace. Sadly, job-related injuries and illnesses remain a serious issue in our region. According to data from the California Department of Industrial Relations, nearly 500,000 people were hurt at work in the state in 2019. Workers’ comp is designed to protect people hurt on the job. Here, our Fresno workers’ comp lawyer

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Are California Workers’ Compensation Benefits Taxable?

General / Joseph Yrulegui

The California Department of Industrial Relations reports that around half of a million workers are hurt on the job in the state annually. If you are injured at work, you may be entitled to workers’ comp to cover medical care and lost income. This raises an important question: Do you have to pay taxes on workers’ compensation benefits

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Amazon Letter to Shareholders: Musculoskeletal Disorders are Serious Problem in Warehouses

General / Joseph Yrulegui

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,

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California Senate Rejects Workers’ Comp Reform Proposal

General / Joseph Yrulegui

On June 4th, 2021, The Press Democrat reported that the California State Senate has rejected a bill that would create long-term reforms to the workers’ compensation insurance system that would have made it easier for some frontline health care employees to qualify for benefits. In this article, our California workers’ compensation attorney proposed an overview of the reform proposal

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An Overview of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in California

General / Joseph Yrulegui

Workers’ comp insurance coverage provides much needed financial protection to people hurt on the job. Benefits are paid out to help support injured workers. As explained by the California Department of Industrial Relations, the benefits available through the program are primarily designed to help workers get the “medical treatment you need to recover from your work

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The Duty-Belt Presumption for Police Officers Explained

Police Officers / Joseph Yrulegui

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 […]

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AB 5 and Workers’ Compensation

Employment / Joseph Yrulegui

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

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California Workers’ Comp QMEs: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

QME / Joseph Yrulegui

As explained by the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), QMEs are licensed doctors who have been trained and certified by the state’s DWC. When there are questions regarding the nature and severity of an employee’s injury, a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) may be brought into to bring additional clarity and help resolve the issue. Here, […]

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Nearly 15,000 Workers Comp Claims Filed in California for COVID-19 Exposure Through June 30th

Covid-19 / Joseph Yrulegui

The coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to affect communities throughout the country. The California Department of Public Health reports that more than 525,000 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the state as of August 5th, 2020. Despite sanitizing efforts, the virus may be transmitted almost anywhere, including in the workplace. Recently, the California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) released data

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