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The time it takes to approve a California workers’ compensation claim can vary depending on several factors. These factors include the complexity of the claim, the availability of medical records and evidence, the cooperation of all parties involved, and any potential disputes or appeals that may arise.

Sacramento Workers Comp Attorney Workers compensation is insurance that provides wage replacement and medical benefits to employees who are injured in the course of employment. Any fraud that is committed with workers compensation can have serious repercussions. Since 1991, the California State Legislature and insurance industry programs have been working together to fight fraud and […]

Occupational illnesses occur when an event or exposure occurs in the workplace, resulting in the development or worsening of a medical condition. Workplace accidents can happen to anyone even at the most unexpected time. Though some workplaces are more prone to occupational accidents, such as construction and other manual labor jobs, occupational illness includes a wide range of health problems that can occur even in the most seemingly low-risk office jobs. Regardless of your occupation, if you have gone ill as a result of your workplace, reach out to a Sacramento workers compensation attorney to learn what legal actions you can take.

In 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that there were 774 deaths due to an accident on construction sites. This is more than 18 percent of all on-the-job fatalities of 2010. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has also found that 4% of construction workers are injured while they work every year. Construction is a very dangerous job due to the nature of the work as well as the tools and machinery construction workers use to complete their tasks. Dangerous electric tools and conditions paired with physically exhausting hours leads to an increased likelihood of injury. If you have been injured while working on a construction site, make sure to seek out legal representation from a Sacramento work injury lawyer immediately.

The act was signed into law by Richard Nixon on December 29, 1970, and it set federal rules and regulations to inform employees of on the job hazards, and ensure that employers do everything in their power to make the workplace safer. OSHA is an agency of the United States Department of Labor and is responsible for enforcing the guidelines that it creates. Compliance Safety and Health Safety officers are the backbone of the agency and they conduct inspections and investigations of workplaces to ensure compliance. OSHA randomly schedules inspections, which are usually planned for worksites in particularly hazardous industries, but a site inspection can also be triggered by a workplace fatality, multiple hospitalizations, worker complaints, or business partner referrals. Inspections are conducted without advance notice by trained compliance officers who utilize a combination of telephonic, electronic, and on-site inspection techniques.

Back and neck injuries are some of the most serious and potentially life-threatening injuries given the sensitivity of the spinal cord and the central nervous system. Suffering any type of injury in general could be a traumatic experience but getting injured while on the job, could be even more stressful. A back injury can happen out of nowhere and depending on what type of work you’re in, you could be prone to more injuries than others. Even if you weren’t participating in an activity that is more susceptible to injuries, if you suffered any back or neck pain due to your line of work, you may be entitled to workers compensation benefits under California law. Contact a workers comp attorney in Sacramento to learn more about your options.

Working outdoors in the heat? Here’s what Californians need to know about their rights. California in 2005 became the first state to establish a standard to protect outdoor workers from heat exposure.

For Christina Nester, the pandemic lull in Massachusetts lasted about three months through summer into early fall. In late June, St. Vincent Hospital had resumed elective surgeries, and the unit the 48-year-old nurse works on switched back from taking care of only COVID-19 patients to its pre-pandemic roster of patients recovering from gallbladder operations, mastectomies […]

The California Applicants’ Attorneys Association (CAAA), whose members represent Californians who get injured at work, released the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s signing of an executive order today that helps protect frontline workers who contract COVID-19 on the job: “We applaud Governor Newsom for enacting an executive order to ensure essential workers […]

The California Labor & Workforce Development Agency has released updated information and resources for workers and employers impacted by COVID-19. Visit their website for more information: labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019 In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor has released updated information to help with recent nationally enacted legislation, including the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. For more information, […]

Insurance Commissioner Lara Issues Alert About Immigrant Workers’ Eligibility for Workers’ Compensation Benefits for COVID-19 Exposure or Illness LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today alerted insurance companies that all workers affected by COVID-19 on the job are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits regardless of their immigration status. This includes workers engaged in […]

If California wants to increase unemployment insurance benefits to help workers cope with the economic fallout from the new coronavirus, the higher payments could be delayed up to a year because the state employment department isn’t prepared for the job. A new report from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office found the information technology systems at […]

An unemployed worker in California will likely find their first benefit payment will take “much longer” than the typical 21 days, according to a report from the state Legislative Analyst’s Office report released Monday. Under normal economic conditions, the state Employment Development Department “typically issues about 80 percent of first benefit payments within 21 days […]

Workers’ compensation is the largest premium segment in the U.S. commercial insurance market. Workers’ compensation, mandated by law in 49 U.S. states to provide employer reimbursements for injuries occurring in the course of employment, represents one of the largest nondiscretionary expenses for labor-centric firms. Yet these premiums are dwarfed by the overall cost of occupational […]

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones’ has made the rate decision. It is the last of his tenure. It calls for an 8.4% cut in California’s workers’ comp advisory pure premium rates. The change is effective for policies that renew or incept on or after Jan. 1, 2019. California Employers will be happy. The cut is far […]

Senate Bill 1160, signed into law in 2016, increased control of medical lien claims in exchange for less restrictive Utilization Review (UR) at the start of the claim. It also required accreditation by July 1, 2018, for any utilization review organization operating in California to ensure they issue timely decisions, review all pertinent medical records, […]

The numbers in the insurance industry’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau’s latest report tell a story… The average rate charged to employers per $100 of payroll is down 10% in the last year and down 17% since 2015. The average indemnity pay out to our clients is up 13% in the last 5 years. Insurance […]

WASHINGTON — Two more Republican senators declared on Monday night that they would oppose the Senate Republican bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, killing, for now, a seven-year-old promise to overturn President Barack Obama’s signature domestic achievement. The announcement by the senators, Mike Lee of Utah and Jerry Moran of Kansas, left their leaders […]

On behalf of Gary Nelson at Law Office of Gary C. Nelson The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issues rules affecting the workplace to ensure safe working environments. The agency recently issued a new rule that changes certain reporting mandates The Occupational Health and Safety Administration is a federal agency referred to as OSHA within […]

Ron Calderon sat alone in the New Deal-era federal courthouse at Spring and Temple streets in downtown Los Angeles. Moments before, this scion of a California political dynasty had strolled through the room’s big Wizard of Oz double doors, his suit jacket open to expose a generous girth, as though he were casually stepping onto […]