COVID-19 Workers Comp Attorneys

California COVID-19 Workers Comp Cases Surged in July 2021

The number of workers compensation claims filed for benefits due to COVID-19 surged this summer in almost every state. According to a report from the California Workers’ Compensation Institute, workers compensation claims for COVID-19 increased 282% in July 2021 from June 2021 in California.

After hitting a high in December, the number of workers compensation filed for COVID-19 had been decreasing gradually until June 2021.

But in July 2021, 2,581 workers comp claims for COVID-19 were filed in California alone.

COVID-19 Workers Comp Statistics

Overall, since the start of the pandemic 151,068 employees in California have filed COVID-19 related claims – with 1,046 workers dying of the coronavirus.

Health care workers make up the largest segment of California COVID-19 workers comp claims – accounting for 30.8% of claimants. Public safety workers were the next highest number of claimants for coronavirus worker’s comp, comprising 17.6% of all applicants.

Reasons for Increase in COVID-19 Workers Comp Cases in California

California is one of the most liberal States when it comes to workers compensation benefits for Coronavirus. On September 17, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom on signed SB 1159 which puts into law a “presumption” that an employee’s COVID-19 illness is an occupational injury and therefore is eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if specified criteria are met.

Additionally, while the coronavirus was initially thought to be an illness with a finite duration, it is now becoming evident that many coronavirus survivors are “long-haulers” who continue to suffer from COVID-related disability long after they test negative for the virus. It is estimated that up to 50% of coronavirus survivors will have at least one lingering symptom of COVID-19 a year after infection. And, about 10% of COVID-19 patients who have tested negative and can’t spread the virus to others will have debilitating and disabling symptoms that are either continuous from the time of infection, or that arise weeks or months after initially recovering.

The Delta variant has also been linked to a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in California. This month alone (August 2021) California reported 4 million coronavirus infections – a milestone that highlights the extent to which the pandemic has come back to life as the highly transmissible Delta variant continues to spread across the state.

California COVID-19 Workers Comp Attorneys

As always, our workers comp attorneys will keep abreast of the rapidly changing laws and legal guidelines pertaining to the coronavirus (Covid-19) situation.

If you were made ill in the workplace by Covid-19, or anything else, we recommend that you speak with an experienced workers’ comp attorney immediately to understand your rights in this fluid legal landscape.

An experienced workers compensation attorney can help make sure that you not only receive your benefits now, but for as long as you need them. This is especially important with an illness like Covid-19 which is now exhibiting many debilitating long-term health effects in many survivors.

Your consultation with our workers’ comp attorneys is 100% confidential, and neither your employer nor your insurance company will be notified that you requested a consultation with us. Our attorneys will help you understand your rights and work tirelessly to ensure that you receive the maximum workers’ comp benefits for which you qualify.

California COVID-19 Workers Comp Attorneys:  800-964-8047