If you were hurt on the job, California workers’ compensation benefits should cover your medical care and replace part of the wages you lose while you recover. Abramson Labor Group represents injured workers, never employers, in workers’ compensation claims. Our case reviews are free and confidential, and we work on contingency.
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. Under Labor Code section 3600, an employer’s liability for compensation exists “without regard to negligence” for an injury “arising out of and in the course of the employment.” You do not have to prove your employer did anything wrong. You do have to show the injury or illness is work-related.
Benefits are usually paid by an insurance company or claims administrator, not your employer directly. That is where problems start: claims get delayed, wage rates get miscalculated, and treatment gets denied. Our article on how workers’ comp works in California walks through the process, and our workplace injuries page covers the types of injuries we handle.
According to the Division of Workers’ Compensation, “workers’ comp insurance provides five basic benefits.”
| Benefit | What it covers | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Medical care | Treatment for your work injury or illness | Workers’ comp and disability |
| Temporary disability | Two-thirds of the gross wages you lose while recovering | Temporary disability benefits |
| Permanent disability | Payments if the injury leaves a lasting impairment | Permanent disability benefits |
| Supplemental job displacement | Help with retraining if you cannot return to your job | Return to work and job displacement |
| Death benefits | Benefits for dependents of a worker who dies from a job injury | Death benefits |
For more on what payments look like, read how much workers’ comp pays in California and whether workers’ comp is taxable.
Insurers do not always pay what an injured worker is owed. These are the problems we see most often.
Your employer “must give or mail you a claim form within one working day after learning about your injury or illness,” and while the claim is under review you can receive “up to $10,000 in treatment under medical treatment guidelines” (DWC). If no decision is made within 90 days, the DWC says your claim “is considered accepted in most cases.” If your claim has been denied or delayed, you have options.
Being punished for reporting a work injury can be a separate legal claim. See our article on whether you can be fired for filing workers’ comp in California.
Workers’ comp has strict notice rules. Under Labor Code section 5400, notice of the injury generally must be given to the employer “within thirty days after the occurrence of the injury,” and the DWC warns that a late report could cost you benefits. Labor Code section 5405 sets a one-year period for proceedings to collect benefits, measured from dates such as the date of injury or the last date benefits were provided. Which date applies depends on your case, so it is worth having it reviewed early. A workers’ compensation attorney can evaluate which deadlines apply to you.
We represent injured workers in Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, and across Los Angeles County, and statewide through our California employment lawyers.
We work on contingency, so you do not pay anything unless we win. The case evaluation is free. The DWC notes that “your attorney can’t directly charge you for his or her services” (DWC). Learn more about how contingency fees work.
No. Liability exists “without regard to negligence” for injuries arising out of and in the course of employment (Labor Code section 3600).
Temporary disability “pays two-thirds of the gross (pre-tax) wages you lose while you are recovering from a job injury” (DWC). Our temporary disability page, linked in the table above, explains how it is calculated.
Our California workers’ compensation FAQ answers common questions about claim forms, deadlines, and delays. For serious head injuries, see traumatic brain injury and workers’ comp.
If you were hurt at work and your benefits are late, low, or denied, we can review your claim and explain your options. Request your free case evaluation, contact us, or call us at (213) 493-6300.
You do not pay ANYTHING unless we win!
Last updated: October 2026
This page is general information about California law, not legal advice. Every situation is different. For advice about your specific case, talk to a licensed California workers’ compensation attorney.
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