What workers’ compensation pays in Los Angeles varies by case and depends on the victim’s circumstances. California will determine how much you receive in workers’ compensation benefits based on the extent of your injuries and the financial losses you accumulated as a result. If you have been injured at work in Los Angeles, your employer must pay for your medical care even if you miss time from work. However, you may qualify for other types of workers’ compensation, as well.
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), workers’ compensation provides for the cost of medical care and rehabilitation for workers who suffer injuries on the job, and it also provides the families of deceased victims with lost wages and benefits. Although workers’ compensation systems vary by state, they typically involve two components: payments for lost time at work (indemnity payments) and payments for medical care.
If you have suffered a workplace injury in Los Angeles or lost a loved one to an occupational fatality, a lawyer can help you with your workers’ compensation claim.
The Purpose of Workers’ Compensation Benefits
California’s Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) explains that if you suffer an injury on the job, your employer has a legal obligation to provide benefits sufficient enough to make you financially whole until you can return to your job or give you the means to earn an income if you can no longer work.
To qualify for workers’ compensation, you must report the injury to your employer as soon as possible and receive emergency medical care or make an appointment with your doctor. After these steps, you can begin receiving coverage for your workplace injury. In complex cases or those involving severe injuries, an attorney can help you fight for an adequate settlement.
The Types of Damages Covered by Workers’ Compensation
Injuries covered by workers’ compensation include one-time accidents, such as a chemical burn or falling from scaffolding, as well as those that occur over time from repetitive motions or exposures. Although workers’ compensation pay in Los Angeles varies, it may include many types of benefits depending on the extent of the injury and whether you lost a loved one as a result.
- Medical care: Your employer will cover payment for the medical treatment you must receive as a result of your injury, including appointments, equipment, medications, tests, and transportation.
- Temporary Total Disability (TDD): If you cannot return to work after three days, you may qualify for up to two-thirds of your wage in temporary disability benefits. According to DIR, workers could receive a minimum of $194.91 and a maximum of $1,299.43 per week for TDD in 2020 based on their current pay rate. You can continue to receive TDD until a doctor clears you to return to work or your condition does not improve within a certain time period. At this point, you may qualify for permanent disability benefits.
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): PTD pays for injuries from which you cannot recover if you suffer a permanent loss of measurable physical or mental function. The amount of PTD you may receive depends on the nature of your injury.
- Supplemental Job Displacement Benefits: If you qualify for PTD and your employer does not offer you another type of work and you do not return to work for your employer after suffering your workplace injury, you may receive career benefits for retraining or education.
If you have suffered an occupational injury, a lawyer can help you determine the types of workers’ compensation benefits you may receive.
Death Benefits for Victims’ Loved Ones
When family members lose loved ones as a result of workplace accidents and injuries, they may receive death benefits if they depended on the victim for financial support. The amount of death benefits depends on the number of total dependents and their level of dependency on the victim; partial dependents may not qualify for full benefits.
Totally dependent children can receive benefits up to age 18, except in the case of physical or mental incapacitation, in which they qualify for lifetime payments. The state pays death benefits weekly based on the victim’s temporary disability rate and also covers funeral and burial expenses up to $10,000, as the DIR explains.
A Lawyer Can Help You with Your Case
While Los Angeles employees may not have a hard time receiving workers’ compensation benefits for minor injuries in some cases, more serious injuries and legal concerns with the actions of your employer or the insurance company may make the process more difficult.
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we may be able to help you receive the workers’ compensation payment you deserve. Contact us today at (800) 529-9122 to discuss your free case evaluation with our legal team.