Denied Workers’ Compensation

Under California law, you’re supposed to report a work-related injury to your employer within 30 days — but that doesn’t mean your claim should be denied if you missed the deadline. Many workers delay reporting because they didn’t realize the extent of their injury or feared retaliation. Insurance companies take advantage of this, hoping you’ll just give up. Don’t. We can often overcome this argument.

This is a favorite excuse. If there’s no video, no witnesses, or if the injury didn’t occur in front of a supervisor, insurers may allege that the injury happened “off the job.” But work injuries aren’t always dramatic — repetitive stress, overexertion, and even emotional trauma can qualify. We’ll help prove the injury was work-related.

If you skipped a medical visit or were delayed in seeking treatment, the insurer may say you weren’t really hurt. But life happens — and missing an appointment doesn’t cancel out an injury. We work with doctors, gather records, and help re-establish the treatment you need to keep your case moving.

Insurers often claim your injury is due to a pre-existing condition — not work. But under California law, even if your job aggravated a previous injury, you’re still entitled to workers’ comp benefits. Don’t let them blame your pain on the past. We’ll show how your job made it worse.

If no one saw the injury happen, adjusters may claim there’s “insufficient evidence” to support your claim. But medical records, work logs, expert reports, and even your own testimony can prove your case. The truth is evidence — and we know how to present it effectively before the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB).

Just because your claim was denied doesn’t mean you don’t have a case. It just means the insurance company thinks you’ll give up. At Employees First Labor Law, we fight back hard — and we win.

When pursuing a workers’ compensation claim in California, one of the first hurdles you may encounter is the insurer claiming your injury doesn’t qualify. That challenge often hinges on AOE/COE — legal shorthand that determines whether your injury is truly considered work-related under the law.

If your doctor recommends treatment for a work injury, you might assume it will be automatically approved. But in California’s workers’ comp system, even your doctor’s orders must go through Utilization Review (UR) — a process that often delays or
denies care.

If there’s a dispute in your California workers’ comp case about your injury, treatment, or disability, you may be required to see a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME).
But not all QMEs are created equal — and your choice can make or break your case