If you were recently fired, laid off, or quit — and now you’re injured — you might be wondering:
“Can I still file a workers’ comp claim after leaving the job?”
The answer is: yes, under the right circumstances. California law protects workers who are injured before or around the time of separation, even if their employment ends.
At Employees First Labor Law, we regularly help workers win claims after termination — especially when employers try to deny responsibility.
🔹 Are You Still Eligible for Workers’ Comp After Leaving Your Job?
Yes — but timing and documentation are key.
California Labor Code allows you to receive workers’ comp benefits if the injury occurred while you were still employed, or if it was reported close in time to your separation.
You may still qualify if:
- You were injured shortly before being fired or quitting
- You reported symptoms before or soon after leaving
- You were injured during your final shift or notice period
- Your injury is cumulative or repetitive, not a single incident
🔹 Why Employers Try to Deny Post-Termination Claims
California Labor Code § 3600(a)(10) limits workers’ comp claims made after termination — unless you meet one of these exceptions:
- The injury was reported to your employer prior to termination
- There’s medical documentation of the injury before separation
- The injury occurred after notice of layoff or during final duties
- You have a cumulative trauma claim based on long-term exposure
Employers and insurers may argue that your injury is:
- “Fake” or retaliatory
- Not timely reported
- Due to non-work-related causes
That’s why experienced legal help is essential to proving your case.
🔹 What If I Was Fired Because of My Injury?
That’s a separate — and serious — legal issue.
If you were fired after reporting an injury, you may also have a:
- Labor Code §132a retaliation claim
- Wrongful termination or disability discrimination lawsuit
- Failure to accommodate claim under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)
At EFLL, we handle both workers’ comp and civil employment cases, which means we can:
- File for workers’ comp benefits and medical care
- Pursue lost wages and emotional distress damages
- Seek reinstatement, if applicable
- Maximize your total recovery across both systems
🔹 What If I Didn’t Report the Injury Before I Left?
All is not lost.
You can still:
- File a cumulative trauma claim for repetitive injuries
- Use medical records or witness testimony to prove earlier symptoms
- Show that the injury was not immediately apparent until after separation
- Seek retroactive benefits if your injury is work-related
We help prove that the condition:
- Developed over time
- Was linked to work duties
- Was not caused by your new job or personal activities
🔹 We’ve Helped Fired Workers Win Six and seven-Figure Settlements
At Employees First Labor Law, we’ve won workers’ comp and wrongful termination cases for:
- Warehouse workers let go after reporting a back injury
- Office employees terminated for seeking modified duties
- Nurses and home health aides with repetitive use injuries
- Drivers who reported stress or heart-related incidents shortly before being fired
✅ Don’t Let Your Employer Off the Hook
Just because you don’t work there anymore doesn’t mean they’re off the hook.
If you were hurt on the job — before or even after separation — you still have rights.
But time limits apply, and your case needs to be presented strategically.
📞 Call Now
📩 Submit Your Case
Let EFLL fight to get your benefits and hold your former employer accountable.
