⚖️ Workers’ Compensation
Protecting the Rights of Injured Workers Across California
At Mina Law Group, we understand that workplace injuries can disrupt every aspect of your life—your health, your finances, and your ability to provide for your family. California’s workers’ compensation system is designed to protect employees who are injured or become ill due to their work, but navigating that system can be complex and overwhelming without skilled legal representation.
we know how devastating a workplace injury can be — physically, emotionally, and financially. Whether you suffered a sudden accident or have developed pain over time, you deserve full and fair compensation for your injuries. Our experienced attorneys fight aggressively to ensure that injured workers receive the medical care, wage replacement, and benefits the law provides — and that insurance companies can no longer delay or deny what is rightfully yours.
Our firm represents injured workers throughout California, ensuring they receive maximum medical care, wage replacement benefits, and fair compensation for their injuries. We fight aggressively against employer and insurance company tactics aimed at delaying or denying your rightful benefits.
💼 What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system that provides benefits to employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. This means you do not have to prove that your employer was negligent—you are entitled to benefits simply because your injury occurred in the course of your employment.
Common workplace injuries include:
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Back, neck, and spinal injuries
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Slip-and-fall or lifting accidents
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Repetitive stress injuries (such as carpal tunnel)
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Construction and industrial accidents
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Exposure to toxic substances
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Stress-related or psychological injuries
Understanding Your Work Injury: Cumulative Trauma vs. Specific Injury
Specific Injury
A specific injury happens from a single, identifiable event — such as a fall, lifting accident, or sudden strain that occurs on one specific date.
Examples include:
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A slip-and-fall on the job
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A back injury from lifting heavy equipment
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A hand injury from machinery malfunction
Cumulative Trauma (CT)
A cumulative trauma injury develops gradually over time from repetitive work activities. It often begins as mild discomfort that becomes disabling after months or years of repetitive motion, poor ergonomics, or constant stress.
Examples include:
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Back, neck, or shoulder pain from repetitive lifting
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Carpal tunnel or wrist injuries from typing or using tools
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Knee or foot pain from standing long hours
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Psychological or stress-related injuries from high-pressure environments
Many workers don’t realize that these gradual injuries are fully compensable under California law. In fact, cumulative trauma cases often result in significant settlements — and our firm has extensive experience building strong medical and factual evidence to prove them.
Benefits Available Under California Law
If you’ve been injured at work, you may be entitled to one or more of the following benefits:
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Medical Treatment – All reasonable and necessary medical care related to your injury must be covered, including hospital visits, surgeries, medications, and rehabilitation.
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Temporary Disability Benefits (TD) – Payments to replace lost wages while you are recovering and unable to work.
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Permanent Disability Benefits (PD) – Compensation for lasting impairment or disability caused by the work injury.
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Supplemental Job Displacement Voucher (SJDB) – Education or training vouchers if you are unable to return to your previous occupation.
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Death Benefits – Financial support for the dependents of workers who lost their lives due to a job-related injury or illness.
How We Help You
Insurance companies often minimize or deny legitimate claims. At Mina Law Group, we take a proactive and aggressive approach to protect your rights:
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Filing and managing your claim from start to finish
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Securing prompt medical treatment and ensuring your doctor understands the legal aspects of your injury
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Challenging wrongful denials or delays by the insurance carrier
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Representing you in hearings before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB)
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Maximizing your settlement or permanent disability award
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Pursuing 132a discrimination claims when your employer retaliates against you for filing a claim
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Filing Serious and Willful Misconduct petitions when an employer’s reckless behavior causes your injury
Section 132a Discrimination & Retaliation
California Labor Code Section 132a makes it illegal for an employer to fire, demote, or otherwise retaliate against an employee for filing or intending to file a workers’ compensation claim. If this happens, you may be entitled to additional compensation, reinstatement, and penalties against your employer.
Our firm takes these cases seriously—retaliation against injured workers is not only unlawful but unethical, and we ensure employers are held accountable.
Third-Party Liability Claims
Sometimes, a third party—not your employer—is responsible for your injury (for example, a negligent subcontractor or equipment manufacturer). In those cases, we pursue a civil personal injury claim alongside your workers’ compensation case to recover additional damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of earning capacity—damages that are not available under workers’ comp alone.
Don’t Wait — Deadlines Matter
Workers’ compensation has strict deadlines. You must report your injury to your employer within 30 days, and you generally have one year from the date of injury to file a claim. Missing these deadlines can jeopardize your right to benefits. Our team ensures all documentation is properly and timely filed to protect your claim.
What To Do Right Now (Step-by-Step)
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Report & Document: Give notice in writing; submit DWC-1; keep copies.
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Medical Care: Ask for MPN list; pick a PTP who treats your injury type (we’ll help select).
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Job Duties Log: Write out daily tasks, weights, frequencies, postures, driving time—crucial for CT.
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Track Symptoms & Time Off: Dates, body parts, medications, missed work—helps with TD and §5412 date.
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Call Mina Law Group: Early counsel means fewer denials, better doctors, stronger records. We file the Application for Adjudication, request QME/AME when needed, and set conferences to move your case.
FAQs Clients Always Ask
Q: Can I choose my own doctor?
A: Usually within the MPN; if MPN access is defective or improperly noticed, we push for non-MPN care.
Q: My claim was denied—now what?
A: We file the Application, obtain a QME/AME, and seek interim TTD (via EDD if needed); denials can flip with proper medical-legal evidence.
Q: How is CT different from “getting older”?
A: CT is proven by job-related risk factors and patterned symptoms tied to work tasks. We counter “degeneration” arguments with objective medical and ergonomic evidence.
Q: Will I get fired for filing?
A: Retaliation is illegal (132a). We document and prosecute retaliation.
Q: Should I settle by C&R or keep future medical open?
A: Depends on treatment needs and costs. We model scenarios and negotiate accordingly.
Why CT Cases Need an Experienced Firm
CT claims live or die on causation detail: body mechanics, frequency, load, duration, ergonomics, and credible medical-legal reporting. We:
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Build exposure timelines and duty matrices employers/insurers can’t ignore.
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Prepare targeted QME questions to lock in industrial causation and fair apportionment.
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Press for appropriate specialties (e.g., Ortho + Hand + Psych if needed).
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Litigate UR/IMR denials and maximize PD with strong impairment evidence.
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Coordinate third-party claims to increase total recovery.
Free Case Evaluation — Mina Law Group
Injured over time or from a single event? Don’t guess. CT vs. Specific can change your benefits, your deadlines, and your outcome.
Call Mina Law Group for a free, confidential consultation. We move fast to protect your medical care, your paycheck, and your future—and you pay nothing unless we win.