When you are injured on the job, you may be entitled to receive some kind of compensation. This compensation is essential when it comes to helping cover all related medical expenses, rehabilitation, and lost wages if you are unable to return to work. Many injured individuals will wonder, “When does workers’ comp start paying in California?” At Canlas Law Group, APLC, our experienced Los Angeles workers compensation attorneys are here to answer that question and help you understand the process.
Canlas Law Group, APLC: Fighting for You in a Workers’ Comp Case
With over 25 years of shared experience between us, the team at Canlas Law Group, APLC, is here to help you recover the maximum amount of compensation available in your workers’ comp case. Over the years, we have won millions of dollars in compensation for our clients and are now ready to do the same for you. You don’t deserve to shoulder the entire burden of a work injury on your own shoulders, and we can help you fight for what you need to rest and recover.
When Workers’ Comp Payments Start and What Can Affect Timelines
Every seven seconds, an individual is injured at their place of work. After you suffer an injury, it can take time to receive certain forms of compensation you may be owed. For this reason, and several others, it is vital that you begin the filing process as soon as your injury occurs. For medical benefits, such as the coverage of all related medical expenses, these benefits can start right away after you have been injured. Other benefits, however, will take longer to start coming.
Once your claim has been officially approved and you have passed the required waiting period, payments for lost wages will begin coming in after a few weeks. However, this timeline can be pushed back if you experience delays in being approved. The most common reasons why delays or denials can occur in a California workers’ compensation claim include:
- Improperly filled out or incomplete documentation: If your claim has any missing medical records or the claim paperwork is not correctly filled out, this may slow the process or even cause your initial claim to be denied.
- Disputes: If your employer or their insurance company tries to question whether or not the injury you suffered took place at work or is related to your employment, this can cause both delays and denials, depending on the nature of the dispute.
- Deadlines: If you fail to report the injury in the required period of time or you do not file your claim by the necessary deadline, this can lead to delays or denials.
If your claim has been delayed or denied, and you are not receiving the benefits you should be within a reasonable timeframe, you have the right to seek an appeal. At Canlas Law Group, APLC, we can help you do just that.
It is also important to keep in mind that, once your first payment is received, your temporary disability benefits can continue until one of the following situations occurs:
- Your doctor says you are clear to go back to work.
- Your doctor has determined that your condition is not expected to improve beyond where it is currently.
- You return to work in a modified way at the same or higher level of income.
- You have received temporary disability benefits for the longest period of time legally available.
What Benefits You May Be Entitled to in California
Depending on the severity and nature of your work injury, there are several forms of compensation or benefits you may be entitled to receive. These can include all related medical costs, temporary or permanent disability benefits, supplemental job displacement benefits, and death benefits if you have lost a loved one in a work-related accident.
FAQs About When Workers’ Comp Starts Paying in California
What Is the 90-Day Rule in California?
In California, there is a crucial rule that applies to all workers’ compensation claims known as the 90-day rule. This rule states that you typically have 90 days from the date of the injury to seek necessary medical treatment within the legal system of workers’ compensation insurance. Any treatment received outside of the stated network might not be covered, such as a physician who is not approved by your employer’s workers’ comp insurance.
What Are Some Exceptions to the Required Waiting Period?
California has a three-day waiting period before any kind of temporary disability benefits kick in. However, there are certain exceptions to these rules. This waiting period may be waived if your disability lasts more than 14 days, the injury was caused by an act of workplace violence, such as in cases of an active shooter, and if specific labor code requirements are met.
What Are the Most Dangerous Industries in California?
California plays host to a wide variety of industries. From Mt. Shasta to San Francisco, people are employed in all kinds of jobs. The most common include manufacturing, healthcare, farming and agriculture, and trade, transportation, or utilities such as electrical. One of the most dangerous industries, manufacturing, has over 1.3 million people employed.
How Are Workers’ Comp Benefits Calculated in CA?
Benefits for workers’ compensation claims are calculated using a number of factors. These factors include the severity of your injury and how it affects your ability to work, the weekly earnings you were making before your injury, and any calculations regarding temporary or permanent disability benefits. Your attorney can review your case and help determine the amount of compensation you may be owed.
Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today by Contacting Canlas Law Group, APLC
If you have been injured on the job in California, it is crucial that you report this injury as soon as possible and begin the process of seeking your due compensation. Receiving these benefits, however, is not as simple as it may seem, and you may face an initial denial. At Canlas Law Group, APLC, we are here to help you recover compensation and begin receiving payments in a timely manner. Contact our offices today to learn more and schedule a free consultation.
ES