When a person suffers a work-related injury, they will usually be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Employers are required to maintain workers’ compensation insurance, and their policies provide coverage for all employees who are injured in workplace accidents or for other reasons that are related to the work they have performed. Workers’ comp provides multiple types of benefits, including medical benefits that pay for all treatment a person receives following an injury, as well as disability benefits that address their loss of income. In many cases, disability benefits are temporary, and they will allow a person to continue receiving pay while they are recovering from their injuries. However, in cases where injuries will affect a person for the rest of their life, permanent disability benefits may be paid.

When Will a Person Receive Permanent Disability Benefits?

While a person is recovering from a work-related injury, they may receive temporary disability benefits, and these benefits will generally pay two-thirds of the wages that they earned before they were injured. A person can receive temporary disability (TD) until they reach the point of maximum medical improvement (MMI) or their doctor determines that their condition is permanent and stationary (P&S). If the person’s injuries will continue to affect them after reaching this point, their doctor will submit a report to the workers’ compensation claims administrator stating that they have a permanent disability, and the person will be able to begin receiving permanent disability (PD) benefits.

How Are Permanent Disability Benefits Calculated?

After receiving a report of permanent disability, the Disability Evaluation Unit (DEU) will review reports from the doctor or another qualified medical examiner and determine the person’s PD rating, which will be used to calculate the amount of benefits they will receive. A PD rating is determined using multiple complex formulas, and these formulas will take into account the part of the body that was injured, the extent of impairment affecting that body part, how the injury will affect a person’s future earning capacity (FEC), the person’s occupation, and their age. If multiple parts of the body were injured, the ratings for each body part will be combined to determine a total PD rating.

There are many different types of accidents that may happen in the workplace, and in these situations, workers will need to understand their rights and options. Slip and fall accidents are among the most common causes of work-related injuries. Even though these may seem like minor incidents that will not result in long-lasting harm, they can cause a variety of injuries that may affect a person in the days and weeks following an accident. In some cases, they can result in ongoing health issues or permanent disabilities. Workers who are injured in fall accidents will need to understand the types of workers’ compensation benefits they can receive to address the effects of their injuries.

Common Slip and Fall Injuries

There are many reasons why slip and fall accidents may occur, including wet floors, damaged sidewalks, potholes in parking lots, or tripping hazards such as torn carpets or extension cords in an office or other locations. A person who slips and falls may experience injuries such as:

• Broken bones - The impact of a fall may lead to fractures in different parts of the body. Bones in the arms or wrists may be broken when a person braces themselves against a fall. Fractures may also occur in the hips, ankles, or ribs. While a person may not require extensive treatment for relatively mild fractures, more serious cases may involve shattered bones or damage to the surrounding tissues, and surgery may be required to repair the damage. While a broken bone is healing, a person’s ability to complete work-related tasks may be significantly impaired.

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There are many reasons why work injuries occur. While some injuries may be the fault of an employee who did not follow the correct safety practices, many are caused by the negligence of other parties. In some cases, an employer may fail to provide employees with the proper safety equipment or training, or they may fail to ensure that equipment is properly maintained. Equipment-related injuries may also occur due to design or manufacturing defects. Fortunately for people who are injured by faulty or defective equipment while on the job, workers’ compensation benefits will usually be available to address their medical expenses and any temporary or permanent disabilities. By understanding the types of equipment-related injuries that can occur and the steps they can take following an injury, a person can make sure they will be able to receive the benefits they deserve.

Common Work Injuries Caused by Defective Equipment

Breakdowns can sometimes be prevented by enduring that equipment is properly maintained, but there are some situations where it may be difficult or impossible to predict and prevent equipment failures. Some common types of tools and equipment that may cause injuries include:

• Ladders and scaffolding - Construction workers will often need to work above the ground, and they need strong, sturdy surfaces when doing so. Old, worn-out ladders may collapse, or they may fall over because they were placed on uneven surfaces without support. Scaffolding may collapse because of faulty components or because it was not assembled properly. These issues can lead to dangerous fall injuries.

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For those who are injured while on the job, workers’ compensation can provide essential benefits, ensuring that their medical care will be paid for and that they will be compensated for some of the income they have lost. However, there are some situations where workers’ comp claims may be denied. In these cases, injured workers will need to understand their options for filing an appeal, including when their case may be heard by the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB).

Requests for Reconsideration Before the WCAB

While all work-related injuries should be covered by workers’ compensation, regardless of who was at fault, there are a variety of reasons why a person may be denied benefits. An employer or their insurance company may believe that a person’s injuries were not work-related, or they may claim that certain types of medical treatment are not necessary. Disputes may also arise regarding whether an injury has resulted in a disability, and a worker may be denied temporary or permanent benefits that should address the loss of income they have experienced.

If a workers’ compensation claim is denied, a person will need to go through a specific process as they respond to this denial and request a review of their case. In some cases, a person may be able to resolve disputes by working with their claims administrator, or they may be able to negotiate a settlement with their employer. If a case cannot be resolved through these methods, a trial may be held before a workers’ compensation judge, who will review evidence and testimony and make a decision about whether benefits should be granted.

A serious injury can cause a great deal of difficulty in a person’s life, but those who are injured while working will often be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits that can ease some of the burden. When an injury is serious enough that it limits a person’s ability to work while they are recovering, temporary disability benefits will provide the person with compensation for some of the income they have lost. However, as the name implies, these benefits will only last for a certain amount of time, and workers who are subject to limitations on the work they can perform following an injury will need to understand how long they can receive benefits.

Understanding the Limits on TTD and TPD Benefits

A person will be eligible for temporary disability benefits if they require overnight hospitalization following an injury or if the doctor who provides treatment following an injury determines that they will be unable to return to work for at least three days. Temporary disability benefits will provide compensation for the income lost due to the inability to work at the level that would allow a person to earn the wages they received before they were injured.

Two different types of temporary disability benefits will be available depending on whether a person will be able to work at all while they are recovering. A person may receive temporary total disability (TTD) benefits if they are completely unable to work, or they may receive temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits if their employer offers them the opportunity to work at a reduced capacity, such as working for fewer hours or in a lower-impact position that pays less than what they previously earned.