In the state of California, every company or individual with at least one full-time or part-time employee must maintain workers’ compensation insurance coverage for all their employees. Workers’ compensation coverage may provide benefits to help cover medical bills, replace lost work income, and address certain other out-of-pocket expenses stemming from any work-related injury or illness suffered by a covered employee.
However, determining whether you have valid standing to file a workers’ compensation claim may be more complicated than it first appears, especially if your employment status is unclear or you are not sure whether your injury was work-related. If you have questions about workers’ compensation claim eligibility in Santa Ana or would like assistance navigating your options, our attorneys are here to help.
If you are classified as an employee by your employer, or if the nature of your work makes you an employee in legal terms, you could be eligible to file an workers’compensation claim in Santa Ana if you experience an injury or illness on the job. This includes full-time and part-time employees, regardless of the hours they work per week, as well as seasonal and temporary employees. Furthermore, your immigration status does not affect your access to workers’ compensation. You may seek benefits regardless of your documentation status if you function as an employee.
Workers’ compensation is designed only to cover injuries and illnesses that occur during a covered worker’s employment. Generally, this means your injury must be traced directly to a specific accident or set of workplace conditions. Some commuting injuries may affect your eligibility to file a claim for workers’ accident compensation insurance in Santa Ana, as these situations are generally excluded from coverage.
Additionally, workers’ compensation does not cover the following types of injuries:
Pre-existing conditions are not themselves covered by workers’ compensation. However, if your working conditions significantly aggravate or worsen a pre-existing condition, that aggravation may qualify as a basis for a workers’ compensation claim.
Proving your right to seek workers’ compensation benefits is just one step among many in the process of pursuing financial support from your employer after a workplace injury. Establishing workers’ compensation claim eligibility in Santa Ana may be the single most important part of the claims process, since your claim cannot proceed without this initial determination.
For this reason, you should seek guidance from our skilled attorneys as early as possible in your case. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
