Understanding a California Employer’s Legal Requirements for Workers’ Compensation

The typical California employer is expected to follow certain legal requirements in order to meet basic legal ramifications for the workers’ compensation of injured workers in the state.

What follows are some of the most important legal requirements employers are expected to follow based on California law.

Having a Single Employee Requires Meeting California Workers’ Compensation Requirements

In California, having a single employee is justification enough to provide workers’ compensation. All employers in the state are expected to provide workers’ compensation, so long as the employer has at least one employee.

In such scenarios, workers’ compensation is not just expected. Rather, it is required. Any employer aspiring to comply with California law — which, naturally, ought to be all businesses — ought to acquire workers’ compensation insurance.

Failure to acquire this legally mandated insurance can lead to six-figure fines at amounts up to $100,000.

Failing to Provide Workers’ Compensation Can Lead to Criminal Sanctions

When an employer has a legal obligation to provide workers’ compensation benefits to injured workers and fails to do so, criminal sanctions may be necessary. For example, willfully choosing not to provide workers’ compensation that is required in California may be construed as a misdemeanor that may lead to jail time.

Choosing to Remain an Uninsured Employer Carries Legal Risks

In addition to the potentially criminal consequences of failing to obtain workers’ compensation insurance, there are additional legal risks involved as well. Specifically, employers who remain uninsured may be sued by injured workers who are entitled to deserved workers’ compensation benefits.

If you are unsure whether you are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits, your best course of action is to speak with a California workers’ compensation attorney. Since employers with one or more attorneys are expected to obtain workers’ compensation insurance, the reality is that the vast majority of California employers will be expected to comply with existing California law and provide the expected compensation that injured workers deserve.

Contact The Ledger Law Firm

The Ledger Law Firm is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm that is led by nationally acclaimed personal injury and workers’ compensation lawyer Emery Ledger.

Our team of attorneys makes sure that your legal claim is protected from any employer who wishes to skirt California law and shy away from the legal compensation you may be entitled to receive.

At The Ledger Law Firm, we believe that California employers are obligated to comply with California law that says injured workers ought to be compensated for injuries arising from and during the scope of their employment. If this right is violated in any way, please reach out to us to discuss the facts of your legal claim.

Our team will build a strong case on your behalf that makes sure your workers’ compensation benefits were not denied because of wrongful discrimination or any other violation of California law.

For more information on how The Ledger Law Firm can help represent your legal interests and workers’ compensation claim, contact us online for a free legal consultation today.