California Workers' Compensation · Free Resource

Injured at work in California?
Know exactly what you're owed.

Plain-English help for injured workers — how to report your injury, file your claim, get medical care, and collect every benefit you're entitled to. And what to do if your claim is denied.

100% free — guides, tools & answers
Built specifically for California workers
You're covered regardless of fault or status
Optional free attorney consultation

Get Free Help With Your Claim

Tell us what's going on. We'll point you to the right guide and, if you'd like, connect you with a licensed California workers' comp attorney for a free, no-obligation consultation.

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$1,764/wk
Maximum weekly temporary-disability benefit (2026)
30 days
To report your injury and protect your claim
$0
To use this site — or to get connected with an attorney
No-fault
You're covered regardless of who caused the injury
Start here

Guides for every step of your claim

Pick the topic that matches where you are right now. Each guide is short, accurate, and written for workers — not lawyers.

See all guides
How a claim works

Four steps, start to finish

1

Report it

Tell your employer in writing within 30 days and ask for the DWC-1 claim form.

2

Get treated

Start medical care in the provider network. Your costs are covered for a work injury.

3

Get paid

Temporary disability replaces about two-thirds of your wages while you recover.

4

Resolve it

A final rating, a settlement, or an appeal closes your case — on your terms.

See the interactive timeline →
What you may be owed

The benefits behind a California claim

Most injured workers never claim everything they're entitled to. Here's what may be on the table.

Medical care

$0 to you

All authorized treatment for the injury, plus mileage to appointments.

Temporary disability

≈ ⅔ of wages

Tax-free wage replacement while you're unable to work and recovering.

Permanent disability

Rating-based award

Paid if your injury leaves a lasting impairment after you've healed.

Job retraining

Up to $6,000

A voucher to retrain if you can't return to your old job.

Estimate your benefits →
Why this site

Built to help you understand the system

Plain English

No legalese. We explain deadlines, benefits, and the process the way a knowledgeable friend would.

California-specific

Every guide is built around California's system — Labor Code rules, the DWC, MPNs, QME/AME, and the WCAB.

Always free

The guides, the FAQ, and both benefit calculators cost you nothing.

Help when you want it

Want advice on your own claim? We can connect you with a licensed workers' comp attorney, free.

You don't have to figure this out alone.

Tell us what happened and we'll point you to the right guide — and connect you with a free attorney consultation if you want one.

Get Free Help With Your Claim