Woodland Hills Attorneys for COVID-19 Worker's Compensation

Helping Clients Get Compensation for Coronavirus Exposure

On May 6, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order stating workers whose jobs required them to work outside the home and who contracted the novel coronavirus could be eligible for workers’ compensation.

The order includes a rebuttable presumption. This stated that first responders, health care workers, and other essential “frontline” employees who are diagnosed with COVID-19 were exposed to the virus while on the job. Therefor, these workers are eligible to receive workers’ compensation as long as they meet all other requirements.

If you or someone you love tested positively for COVID-19 after spending time as a designated essential worker, we encourage you to reach out to our Woodland Hills lawyers as soon as possible.

COVID-19 is a very new type of workers’ comp claim. Having an experienced attorney on your side can help you navigate the process with greater ease.

Contact Rodich Law online or call 818-888-3000 for a free consultation with our team. We can discuss your case and your legal options at absolutely no cost to you.

Understanding Your Rights to Workers’ Comp for COVID-19

Governor Newsom’s executive order is very specific as to who can seek workers’ compensation for contracting COVID-19 while on the job. The order also details specific processes for workers to obtain these compensation benefits.

In order to be eligible for workers’ compensation in California for COVID-19, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be an “essential worker” (as defined by executive order), meaning you were required to report to your employer’s worksite
• You reported to work between March 19, 2020 and now, through July 5, 2020
• You tested positively for COVID-19 or were diagnosed with a related illness (any condition directly caused by or connected with the novel coronavirus)

If you meet all applicable eligibility requirements, you can seek temporary disability benefits through the California workers’ compensation system.

You may seek these benefits only after exhausting all available federal and/or state paid sick leave benefits specifically related to COVID-19. After such time, you can seek temporary disability benefits for a period of no more than 104 weeks.

Additionally, in order to qualify for temporary disability benefits, you will need to be certified for temporary disability within 15 days of receiving your COVID-19/related illness diagnosis or within 15 days of the executive order (by May 21, 2020).

As with all workers’ compensation temporary disability benefits, you will stop receiving benefits when you:

• Return to work
• Are permitted to return to work by your doctor
• Reach maximum medical improvement (MMI)

It is critical that you act quickly if you are an essential worker who was diagnosed with COVID-19. Quick action will give you the best chance to recover temporary disability benefits.

Contact Rodich Law for a Free Consultation

Currently, our firm is assisting individuals affected by the novel coronavirus. Our Woodland Hills COVID-19 attorneys can help you file your workers’ compensation claim if you contracted COVID-19 while on the job as an essential worker or if you were diagnosed with a related condition.

We are prepared to act quickly in order to help you seek your rightful benefits.

At Rodich Law, we are offering legal services in compliance with current stay-at-home/safer-at-home orders. We encourage you to reach out to us today for a complimentary phone consultation. Our firm is available to assist you 24/7.