What Forms Do I Need for My Workers' Compensation Claim in California?
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What Forms Do I Need for My Workers' Compensation Claim in California?
For California workers who sustain injuries or develop an illness because of their job, state worker compensation laws provide certain benefits to recover financial losses they may have suffered. Eligible employees may receive medical care and income replacement compensation from their employers while unable to work. To receive these benefits, though, one must complete several steps, including:
- Notifying their employer, they got injured on the job
- File a claim form with the employer, and,
- Filing an Application for Adjudication of Claim with California's Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB)
There are also deadlines to meet for each of these requirements, and missing them could mean losing your workers' compensation eligibility for your injuries.
Filing the Right CA Workers's Compensation Forms on Time
The clock starts running from the moment you get hurt at work, found out you had an injury from your job or should have reasonably known you were injured or sick because of your employment. The last condition is challenging since some occupational illnesses and injuries happen over time, like carpal tunnel, for example.
According to state law, your deadline to report your injury and file a claim begins when:
- First day you missed work or were medically assessed for an injury, and,
- You know or reasonably should know that your job caused your injuries
Reporting a California Work Injury
Your first course of action after being injured at work is to seek medical care right away. It doesn't matter where you go in emergency situations, but you usually are required by California workers' comp laws to visit a medical provider on your company's preferred network. At your doctor's appointment, make sure to tell your physician that the injury or illness they are treating you for is work-related.
You are also required to report your injuries within 30 days of receiving it or getting diagnosed, or you risk your eligibility for workmans' comp benefits. There is an exception to this rule: if your employer or supervisor knew about your injury already. However, it's probably wise to officially notify your company in writing anyway to avoid disputing this fact.
Using CA Workers' Comp Form DWC-1 to File Your Claim
Within a day of telling your boss you were hurt at work, they should give you a Form DWC-1 to file a claim. You should also receive additional information about your rights and any other benefits you might qualify for while injured. Of course, if they don't have one available, you can always download it at the California Division of Workers' Compensation website.
This form must be filled out completely and thoroughly, so make sure to follow the instructions carefully when filling out your document section. For many injured employees, this can be difficult to complete because you may not know the full extent of your injuries yet. Because you have 30 days to file your work injury claim, consider speaking with a skilled workmans' comp attorney first to ensure you don't miss any information.
Once you've successfully filled out your part of the form, give it to your employer to fill out the remaining sections. They should then submit it to their insurer and provide you a copy of the completed document as required by law.
Using Medical Benefits While Awaiting a Workers' Comp Claim Decision in CA
After your filing, you should continue receiving treatment while the insurer investigates the claim. Currently, the insurance company has to pay up to $10,000 in medical costs on your behalf during this time. If, after 90 days, you don't receive a claim denial, it's generally recognized that your claim has been approved. This means visiting a doctor in their specified provider network in their workers' comp insurance policy.
Additionally, suppose you have already missed work because of your occupational illness or sustained injuries. In that case, the insurer should start temporary disability payments within 14 days of receiving your filed claim and your inability to work. Should they fail to do so, ask you for my details regarding your claim, or deny it outright, a late penalty will be accrued. This is usually an extra 10% on top of your normal temporary disability benefit rate.
CA Workers' Compensation Form for Disputed Claims
If you've been receiving temporary disability benefits from your employer's workers' comp insurer, you may be thinking that your claim was approved. If you only suffered minor injuries, this could be the case, but be prepared for a dispute to show up at any time. Unfortunately, they aren't that uncommon since insurance companies are all about saving money on payouts, even for minor incidents.
When an insurer denies your claim, you will need to open a case with the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board. To do this, you need to file an Application for Adjudication of Claim (Form WCAB-1), which you can download on the DWC's website.
You have one year after one of these milestones in your case to file this document with the Board:
- Date of injury, or,
- Last day you received medical benefits from your employer, or,
- Date your temporary disability benefits stopped
As mentioned earlier, California courts recognize that injured workers may need longer time to file this form in certain situations. For example, this usually applies to instances where employers and their insurers paid medical costs in advance, knowing these payments were for a potential workman's compensation claim. In these instances, a worker has five years to file this application instead. Otherwise, one only has a year.
CA Workers' Compensation Forms for Death Benefits
Some workplace injuries and illnesses are so grave that the employee dies, leaving their surviving family members to struggle with the damages caused. If you are in this tragic situation, it's possible to seek death benefits if you were a dependent of the deceased. State law gives you a year from the date of their death to submit an application for adjudication, as well.
Bear in mind that the determination of your dependency will be based on your relationship and needs at the time they were injured, not when they passed. This makes it especially important to speak with a knowledgeable CA workers' compensation attorney about the specifics of your case.
Currently, any death benefit payments you receive will be based on the same rate as the temporary disability your loved one received before dying. That amount is typically two-thirds of the average weekly income they earned before getting hurt at work. Additionally, any temporary or permanent disability payments your family member had received stop upon death and have no bearing on the death benefit you might receive.
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What if I Didn't File My CA Workers' Compensation Forms on Time?Â
Failure to file your CA workers' compensation forms on time puts your eligibility in jeopardy. If you missed a filing deadline, reach out to the skilled attorneys of Morgan & Morgan right away. There is some flexibility in the law for submitting a work injury claim, and we can evaluate your circumstances and determine if an exception applies to your case.
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How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Workers' Compensation Lawyer?
If you hire a workers' compensation attorney at Morgan & Morgan, you won't pay a dime in fees or expenses unless we win your case. If your workers' compensation benefits claim has been denied or you are receiving inadequate benefits, please fill out our free, no-obligation case review form to learn more about how we may be able to help.
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What Makes Morgan & Morgan Workers' Comp Attorneys Different?
At Morgan & Morgan, we are fully committed to helping injured California workers coming to us for help after being injured on the job and/or having their claims denied. You can rest easy knowing that our extensive advocating for workers will help guide you through this complex process and ensure you get the compensation you are due.
We have extensive experience in CA workers' compensation law and have represented countless employees over our 30 years of practice for the following injuries:- Muscular and ligament injuries, including torn rotator cuffs and herniated disks
- Broken bones
- Occupational illnesses caused by exposure to harmful workplace toxins, including Black Lung disease and mesothelioma
- Head injuries and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Hearing loss and blindness
- Construction accidents
- Workplace deaths
- Burns
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Amputations
- Blindness
- Musculoskeletal injuries
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Do You Pursue Third-Party Claims for Work Injuries?
Even though workers' compensation insurance claims mean you can't sue your employer, it's possible that a manufacturing defect in the machine you were using contributed to your injuries. Morgan & Morgan are here to hold these companies responsible for the harm caused to you and will file a personal injury suit on your behalf to recover additional damages, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Past and future medical costs
- Lost wages
- Diminished work capacity
- Burial costs
- Transportation costs to and from treatment
- Loss of consortium
- Mental anguish
If negligence on their part caused you to suffer severe harm, we will hold them accountable. Unfortunately, though, fellow employees are typically not considered a third party.
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You Need a Qualified California Workmans' Comp AttorneyÂ
Even with the protections afforded to injured workers under California's workers' compensation laws, getting a claim approved is challenging. The current system leaves room for improvement on many levels, especially when insurers get away with frustrating claims to delay payment.
At Morgan & Morgan. We have over 30 years of experience in this area of law. This is what we do day in and day out. Advocating for our clients is our passion, and since 1988, we've helped thousands of hurt workers and their families recover just and fair compensation for the suffering they've endured. We also aren't afraid to take your claim to trial should your claim be denied. We know what information needs to be heard and the level of evidence required to maximize your workmans' comp benefits.
You deserve to be treated with dignity and respect during this challenging time in your life. If you or a loved one have been unfairly treated by workman's comp adjusters or an employer who doesn't carry such a policy, trust us to find a satisfactory resolution. Trust our experienced lawyers to be your skill advocate. Please fill out our brief contact form to get started today.