With 70+ years of extensive experience, our firm is one of the leading workers’ comp law firms in Los Angeles, California. If you are injured at your workplace, our most reputable workers’ compensation attorney at Koszdin, Fields & Sherry can help. We have been helping injured workers in Southern California since 1955 for workers comp or workman comp. We have 2 offices in the United States for your convenience. Reach out for a free consultation at 323-375-5642.
Being injured on the job is a stressful and painful situation in your life. It also creates a financial burden if your work’s compensation benefits are denied. In this situation, discuss with our certified workers’ compensation lawyer. We represent you in your case on a contingency fee basis.
Why Choose Koszdin, Fields & Sherry?
Certified Specialists in Workers’ Compensation Law
All of our partners are Certified by the State Bar of California as specialists in workers’ compensation law, a credential held by only a select group of attorneys statewide. This certification means you’ll have proven experts guiding your case, not just general practitioners.
70+ Years of Experience Protecting Injured Workers
Since 1955, Koszdin, Fields & Sherry has stood alongside workers across Los Angeles and Southern California. With more than seven decades of history and over 100 years of combined attorney experience, we’ve helped thousands of people navigate the complexities of California’s workers’ compensation system.
Millions Recovered in Benefits and Settlements
Our firm has successfully recovered millions of dollars in medical care and benefits, wage replacement, and permanent disability benefits for injured workers. We fight to ensure our clients not only receive the benefits they are entitled to but also the respect and dignity they deserve throughout the process.
👉 When you need a Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorney who combines specialized expertise, decades of experience, and a proven record of results, Koszdin, Fields & Sherry is ready to stand with you.
SOURCE: Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, 2022 Oregon
Workers’ Compensation Premium Rate Ranking Summary (September 2021)
Understanding California Workers’ Compensation
How the System Works
California’s workers’ compensation system is designed to protect employees who are injured or develop illnesses on the job. It is a no-fault system, which means you don’t have to prove that your employer was negligent to qualify for benefits. In exchange, workers generally cannot sue their employer directly for a workplace injury, except under rare circumstances.
The process can feel overwhelming — filing forms, meeting deadlines, and dealing with insurance adjusters — which is why having an experienced Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorney on your side is so important.
Benefits Available Under California Law
Workers’ compensation provides several types of benefits, depending on the severity and lasting impact of your injury:
- Medical care – Covers hospital visits, doctor appointments, prescriptions, medical equipment, and any treatment necessary to help you recover.
- Temporary disability benefits – Provides partial wage replacement if you are unable to work while recovering (typically up to 104 weeks).
- Permanent disability benefits – If your condition causes lasting impairment, you may qualify for ongoing compensation. Learn more about how this works in our detailed guide on permanent disability benefits in California.
- Job retraining / vocational rehabilitation – Support and training to help you return to the workforce if you cannot go back to your previous job.
- Death benefits for dependents – Financial support for surviving family members if a workplace accident is fatal.
Key Points About California Law
California law ensures that nearly all employees are covered by workers’ compensation insurance, regardless of fault. If your case involves a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME), it’s important to understand how their evaluation can affect the benefits you receive.
Common Work Injuries in Los Angeles
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, millions of workplace injuries and illnesses are reported across the U.S. each year. California consistently ranks at the top for nonfatal workplace injuries, with more than 531,000 incidents in a recent year. Many of these injuries force employees to miss significant time from work and face lasting health challenges.
Types of Workplace Injuries We Handle
Our Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorneys have represented clients with a wide range of serious injuries, including:
- Severe sprains and strains
- Broken or dislocated bones
- Lacerations and puncture wounds
- Amputations
- Crush injuries
- Open head wounds
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Respiratory illnesses
- Occupational cancers
- Hearing and vision loss
- Emotional and psychological trauma
Repetitive Motion & Stress Injuries
Not all injuries are sudden accidents. Many develop slowly over time due to repeated physical activity or poor workplace conditions. These are known as repetitive motion injuries, and they are among the most common causes of workers’ compensation claims nationwide.
Examples include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- Hand, wrist, and elbow injuries
- Neck, back, knee, and hip strain from repeated motion
These injuries can be harder to prove since they develop gradually, but they are no less serious. They can significantly reduce your ability to work, and in some cases cause long-term disability. Learn more about how these claims are handled in our guide to repetitive motion injury workers’ compensation cases.
Cost of Hiring a Workers’ Comp Attorney
No Upfront Costs
Many injured workers worry that they can’t afford a lawyer when medical bills and household expenses are already piling up. At Koszdin, Fields & Sherry, you don’t have to pay anything upfront to get experienced legal representation.
Contingency Fee Basis
We handle workers’ compensation cases on a contingency fee basis. This means:
- No hourly rates
- No retainers or out-of-pocket costs
- No legal fees unless we win your case
If we are successful in recovering compensation for you, our fee is taken as a percentage of your award or settlement. If we don’t recover benefits on your behalf, you don’t owe us anything.
Why This Matters
This arrangement ensures that every injured worker, regardless of financial situation, has access to skilled legal help. Our interests are aligned with yours: we only succeed if you succeed.
Time Limits & Deadlines for Workers’ Comp Claims in Los Angeles
Reporting Your Injury (30 Days)
California law requires you to notify your employer of a workplace injury within 30 days of the incident. Failing to report on time can jeopardize your ability to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim (1 Year)
Notifying your employer is not the same as filing an official claim. You must submit a workers’ compensation claim within one year from the date of your injury or from when you first discovered the work-related condition.
Third-Party Lawsuits (2 Years)
If someone other than your employer caused or contributed to your injury, for example, a negligent contractor or equipment manufacturer, you may have grounds for a third-party personal injury lawsuit. These cases allow you to recover additional damages, such as pain and suffering, that are not available under workers’ comp. The statute of limitations is two years from the date of injury.
Learn more about when and how you may be able to pursue a lawsuit in our detailed guide: Can You Sue Your Employer for a Work Injury in California?
2023 Workers’ Comp Claims Reports by Region and County
Trading Partners send First Reports of Injury (FROIs) to the Workers’ Compensation Information System (WCIS). These reports include location details of California workers’ compensation claims. The EDD in California updated the Local Area Unemployment Statistics on April 19, 2024. They then added this information to the Labor Market Information.
| CALIFORNIA COUNTY | 2023 FROI | 2023 Employment (EDD)* | Percent FROIs | Percent Employment (EDD) | Rate of Injury to Employment per 100 employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totals | 680,152 | 13,576,200 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3.6 |
| LOS ANGELES | 170,206 | 4,767,300 | 25.02% | 35.1% | 3.6 |
| ORANGE | 55,158 | 1,537,100 | 8.11% | 11.3% | 3.6 |
| SAN DIEGO | 55,128 | 1,532,300 | 8.11% | 11.3% | 3.6 |
| SAN BERNARDINO | 41,534 | 967,100 | 6.11% | 7.1% | 4.3 |
| RIVERSIDE | 39,556 | 1,104,200 | 5.82% | 8.1% | 3.6 |
| ALAMEDA | 32,794 | 789,800 | 4.82% | 5.8% | 4.2 |
| SANTA CLARA | 27,203 | 1,423,000 | 4% | 10.5% | 1.9 |
| SACRAMENTO | 26,660 | 706,000 | 3.92% | 5.2% | 3.8 |
| FRESNO | 18,840 | 424,300 | 3% | 3.1% | 4.4 |
| SAN JOAQUIN | 15,808 | 325,100 | 2.32% | 2.4% | 4.9 |
SOURCE: Workers’ Compensation Information System (WCIS) 2023 Database
What should a Worker Do After a Job Accident or Work Injury in Los Angeles?
Taking specific steps in the immediate aftermath of a job injury can dramatically improve your chances of recovering maximum compensation benefits. These steps include:
Reporting the Job Injury Incident
If it’s not an emergency, immediately inform your supervisor or the highest-ranking team member about any workplace accident. If you cannot handle the situation, it is important to communicate the incident promptly. Reporting workplace accidents as soon as possible ensures proper handling and documentation.
Depending on where you were injured, security cameras monitoring the area might have caught footage of your accident. Ask your supervisor or the property owner if this is the case. If it is, please request to not delete the footage. You should have a witness to confirm that you requested it, in case someone denies it later.
Identifying Witnesses
Determine which of your coworkers might have witnessed your accident and make a list of their names. Find witnesses who are not coworkers, like customers, and get their names and contact information.
Documenting the Scene of the Accident
Take pictures of the conditions at the scene of the accident. You don’t have to prove someone was at fault to get workers’ compensation in California. But it’s a good idea to document the accident scene if it shows someone else was careless.
You may be able to sue a third party for additional compensation if they are involved in your injuries. This is in addition to what you receive from workers’ comp. Suing the person at fault can help you get more money for your injuries.
Seeing a Doctor
Avoid delaying medical treatment after experiencing a workplace accident. You must see a doctor immediately, even if you do not believe you have been injured. Your injuries will only worsen if you do not receive treatment right away. You need to see a doctor to confirm that no immediate care is necessary.
You must also understand the role that seeing a doctor can play in your Los Angeles workers’ compensation case. Your employer’s insurance company may not pay you if you don’t see a doctor on the day of your work injury in Los Angeles. They might say there is no proof that your injuries are related to the accident. If you went to the doctor after your accident, you can prove that the accident caused your injuries.
Contact a Los Angeles Workers’ Compensation Law Firm
Your employer’s insurance may try to deny your workers’ compensation claim, which should not come as a shock. Insurance companies are businesses. The insurance company’s goal is to avoid paying you whenever possible.
If an insurer cannot deny your claim, it will still attempt to settle for as little money as possible. You should have a good Los Angeles workers’ compensation lawyer to help you get more money for your injuries. They can refuse bad offers and prove your losses to get you more money. Contact a top attorney today for expert legal assistance.
FAQS: Workers’ Compensation Cases
In California, Yes, you can sue even if you accept workers compensation. However, the 3 types of lawsuits you can file are limited. You can sue for intentional torts by your employees, third-party liability, and civil penalties if specific laws were broken.
If you settle a workers comp claim in California. You can file a claim first, and then you can be treated for medical treatment. You can negotiate with the insurance company. Mainly, 2 types of settlements typically come in two forms: Stipulated Award, which is regular payment, and Compromise and Release, which is a lump sum payment, which means you get all the money from the settlement at once, in a single payment. If you need a top work comp lawyer, meet Koszdin, Fields & Sherry in Los Angeles for your rights.
The contingency fee that workers’ compensation attorneys charge in California is usually 10% to 15% of your settlement or award. Workers comp lawyers only get paid if you win your case.
If you’re a California Worker, you have many important rights to receive compensation benefits if you suffer from an incident. These benefits include medical treatment, permanent and temporary disability benefits, wage replacement, and vocational rehabilitation. Also, you have to receive death benefits if workers die during their work. That’s it. Your rights are protected by law if you file a workers’ compensation claim.
This is illegal in California. Your company can’t fire you if you plan to file workers’ compensation claims. If you’re fired for this reason, you can file against this in the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH).
If you feel you received unfair treatment, our Koszdin, Fields & Sherry team can help you understand your rights and explore legal options.
No, workers compensation employees do not receive full pay if they’re injured at work. The amount they receive will depend on their injury, but generally, about two-thirds of the average weekly wage is received by employees, up to a maximum limit.
In Suburb Los Angeles, Koszdin, Fields & Sherry is the best law firm specializing in workers’ compensation cases throughout California.
Free Consultation With Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Los Angeles
If you get hurt at work, you should seek medical help immediately and document your injuries. Some symptoms may not show up immediately, so it’s crucial to keep track of everything.
Contact our legal team today for a free attorney consultation to guide you through the workers’ compensation claim process. We will help you meet important deadlines. We will assist you in completing paperwork to get the money you need for medical bills and lost income. Call us at 323-375-5642 to get started.
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