Covered Injuries

You must provide compensation for any employee injury or death that results from employment or occurs on the job, without regard to negligence.

  • Types of Injuries Covered

    Types of Injuries CoveredWorkers' compensation covers injuries regardless of the level of medical care necessary.  More »

  • Covered Injuries Overview

    Covered Injuries OverviewYou must provide compensation when the following happens.  More »

  • Exclusions From Workers' Compensation Coverage

    Exclusions From Workers' Compensation CoverageIn some cases, an employee could be disqualified from receiving workers' compensation benefits even if the employee was injured on the job.  More »

  • Employee Injuries While Commuting

    Employee Injuries While CommutingEmployees are not covered by workers" compensation while "going and coming" to and from work unless specific circumstances apply.  More »

  • Stress-Related Injuries

    Stress-Related InjuriesTo receive workers' compensation benefits for a work-related psychiatric, or stress, injury, an employee must show that the work-related stress was the predominant cause of the psychiatric injury.  More »

    ​ Read about a new 2012 court case.
  • Aggravation of a Previous Injury or Illness

    Aggravation of a Previous Injury or IllnessYou may be responsible for an injury to an employee if that employee's prior nonindustrial medical condition was aggravated by his/her employment or if the injury occurs as a "compensable consequence" of an earlier industrial injury.   More »

  • Injuries at Home

    Injuries at HomeUnder certain circumstances, workers' compensation may cover injuries incurred outside the workplace, even in an employee's home.   More »

  • Injuries Caused by Employee Misconduct

    Injuries Caused by Employee MisconductLabor Code sections 4551 and 4552 provide for a 50 percent reduction in benefits if the WCAB finds that the employee's serious and willful misconduct caused the injury.   More »

  • Injuries Caused by Employer Misconduct

    Injuries Caused by Employer MisconductLabor Code sections 4553 and 4553.1 provide for a 50 percent increase in benefits, together with costs and expenses not to exceed $250, in situations where the employee is injured by serious and willful misconduct.   More »

  • Permanent Disability and Multiple Injuries

    Permanent Disability and Multiple InjuriesA California Supreme Court ruling confirms the proper calculation of a workers' compensation permanent disability award for employees who suffer multiple injuries.  More »

  • Workers’ Compensation Claims Against Fellow Employees

    Workers’ Compensation Claims Against Fellow EmployeesEmployees cannot sue their employers for co-workers' inappropriate workplace behavior that leads to a workers' compensation injury.   More »

  • Statutory Exceptions to the Exclusive Remedy of Workers’ Compensation

    Statutory Exceptions to the Exclusive Remedy of Workers’ CompensationIn most circumstances, workers' compensation is the exclusive remedy for work-related illnesses and injuries.  More »