Category Archives: Workers’ Compensation

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE IN CALIFORNIA: UNDERSTANDING YOUR MOST BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES AS AN EMPLOYER

Employers in California are legally obligated to purchase and maintain no-fault workers’ compensation insurance coverage (Labor Code § 3700). As an employer, you have certain legal obligations under our state’s workers’ compensation laws. Failure to abide by these duties could lead to a number of different legal problems. In this article, our Bakersfield workers’ compensation […]

OUT-OF-STATE DUO SENTENCED IN LARGE CALIFORNIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FRAUD CASE

According to a report from Insurance Journal, a Georgia business owner and another man from Atlanta have been sentenced as part of a multi-million dollar workers’ compensation fraud scheme in California. Wesley Owens and Beau Wilson both pleaded no contest to felony workers’ compensation fraud charges. Here, our Fresno workers’ compensation defense attorney discusses the […]

THE NURSES LABOR UNION RALLIES IN FAVOR OF ASSEMBLY BILL 1156: WHAT THE PROPOSED WORKERS’ COMPENSATION REFORM LEGISLATION COULD MEAN FOR EMPLOYERS AND INSURERS

On April 3, 2023, National Nurses United published a press release on the call for California lawmakers to pass Assembly Bill 1156 (AB 1156). A proposed reform to our state’s workers’ compensation laws, the bill was authored by Mia Bonta (Democrat, Oakland) and it is being sponsored by California’s largest labor union for nurses (California […]

SIX KEY THINGS AN EMPLOYER MUST DO IF AN EMPLOYEE IS HURT ON THE JOB IN CALIFORNIA

Workplace accidents happen. The State of California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) reports that 161,860 workers filed for benefits for nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in 2020 alone. Even an employer that follows all of the best workplace safety practices could still end up facing a workers’ compensation claim. It is crucial that employers understand […]

WHAT IS A LABOR CODE 132(a) LAWSUIT? (WORKERS’ COMPENSATION IN CALIFORNIA)

An employee who was hurt on the job in California has a right to file for no-fault workers’ compensation benefits. As an employer, you are required to obtain and maintain the proper workers’ compensation insurance coverage for your employees. Employers cannot discriminate against an employee who was injured on the job or retaliate against an […]

WHAT EMPLOYERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WORKERS’ COMPENSATION SELF-INSURANCE IN CALIFORNIA

California law requires private businesses and organizations to obtain and maintain no-fault workers’ compensation insurance coverage for their employees. Employers can join the state’s workers’ compensation system by purchasing a legally compliant policy, or they can opt to operate as a “self-insured” employer. Below, our Sacramento workers’ compensation defense attorneys offer a guide to the […]

PROPOSED BILL WOULD REQUIRE CALIFORNIA LICENSED PHYSICIANS FOR UTILIZATION REVIEW (UR)

According to a report from the California Globe, a recently proposed state law (California Senate Bill 636 (SB 636)) would require the use of a California-licensed physician for a utilization review in a workers’ compensation claim. Within this article, our Bakersfield workers’ compensation defense attorney highlights the key things employers, claims administrators, and insurance companies […]

REPORT: COVID-19 DRIVES NEARLY HALF OF ALL WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS IN CALIFORNIA’S HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY

According to reporting from Insurance Journal, a recent analysis published by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) found that nearly half of the workers’ compensation claims filed within the health care industry were due to COVID-19. However, on an industry-wide basis, workers’ compensation rates in the industry remain below the state average. In this […]

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION DEFENSE: A GUIDE TO THE DUTY-BELT PRESUMPTION IN CALIFORNIA

The burden of proof matters in any legal case. It determines who has the obligation to provide evidence in a claim. In California, the burden of proof for a workers’ compensation claim generally rests on the injured worker. They have the responsibility to prove the following: However, the burden of proof flips in certain cases […]

DEFENDING WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS INVOLVING REPETITIVE STRESS INJURIES IN CALIFORNIA

In California, employers are required to provide no-fault workers’ compensation insurance coverage for their staff, both full-time and part-time. A person who was hurt on the job may be entitled to claim workers’ compensation benefits for a sudden onset injury (one that occurred in a specific accident) or repetitive stress injury (one that occurred with […]