Our California practice areas include wage and hour claims, animal law, and California Worker's Compensation. Under California state law and under the Federal Labor Standards Act, employers are required to pay certain employees a mandatory minimum wage along with one and a half times pay for any overtime. Employers often misclassify their employees as salaried rather than hourly, and such employees are often underpaid and entitled to proper compensation. 

California has specific Dog Breeder laws and Pet Dealer laws that require dog breeders to follow specific requirements when selling and dealing pure bred dogs.  However, dog breeders often sell animals that are not healthy, properly registered, or otherwise with incorrect or improper information. Tej Law Firm, PC handles such violations to ensure that dog owners are properly compensated for any issues that arise in the buying process. 

In California, employers are required to carry Workers' Compensation Insurance regardless of the number of employees. When a worker suffers a work-related accident or becomes ill due to work conditions, the insurance company must cover benefits for lost earnings during recovery from an injury, reimbursement of medical expenses, and compensation for any permanent impairment or disability. Determining your eligibility for these benefits and compensation can give rise to complex issues which may lead to disputes, and that is when you need an experienced California Workers' Compensation lawyer advocating for you to ensure you receive fair payment and medical care for your injuries. 

You should notify your employer as soon as you are injured or know that a work-related illness has developed. Unless you have a medical emergency, do this before seeking medical treatment on your own, as your employer may refer you to a physician who is part of its medical provider network provided by the workers’ compensation insurance company. If you fail to report your injury within 30 days to your employer, you might forfeit your right to collect benefits.

After you have obtained treatment, request and fill out a DWC (Division of Workers’ Compensation) Form 1 and give it to your employer, who will in turn give it to their workers’ compensation insurance company. You will also need to file an Application for Adjudication of Claim within one year of your injury to officially file your worker’s comp claim.

California workers’ compensation insurance companies pay for all medical expenses related to the injury, as long as the medical expenses are authorized. First, you may have to select a doctor within the medical provider network.

Temporary disability benefits are also available if you are unable to work for an extended period of time. Temporary disability pays two-thirds of your average weekly wage while you are temporarily disabled, up to a statutory weekly maximum. If your injury is covered, payments should begin within 14 days.

If your ability to work has been permanently impaired, partially or totally, you will also be eligible for permanent disability benefits. Permanent disability payments are based on the percentage of the impairment you suffered as a result of the work-related injury.

Workers' compensation benefits are not taxable. To determine the full scope of your rights, you should consult an attorney.