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California Labor Code Index for Injured Workers
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By Eman Yazdchi, Esq. · Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization · Cal Bar #285231
What California Labor Code sections matter for injured workers?
About 20 Labor Code sections decide most California work injury claims. They cover free medical care, wage checks, permanent disability money, a $6,000 retraining voucher, and key deadlines like reporting your injury within 30 days.
You got hurt at work. Now everyone speaks in numbers. The adjuster mentions "4610." A form says "5401." A letter cites "4062.2." It feels like a secret code. It is not. Each number is just a rule. Most of those rules exist to protect you.
This page is your plain-English map. We grouped the sections that matter most into four simple tables: benefits, deadlines, disputes, and protections. Find the number from your letter. Read what it means in normal words. Then you will know where you stand. Bookmark it for the next confusing envelope.
You never have to memorize any of this. That is what lawyers are for. But a little knowledge helps you spot problems early. It also makes the insurer take you seriously.
What sections pay for your care and lost wages?
Seven Labor Code sections control workers' comp benefits in California. They give injured workers free medical care, wage checks worth two-thirds of pay, permanent disability money, a $6,000 job retraining voucher, and death benefits up to $320,000 for families.
These are the money rules. Labor Code 4600 sits at the center. It makes the insurer pay for every treatment your injury needs. No copays. No deductibles. Care follows the state's medical treatment guidelines. The insurer's Medical Provider Network usually controls your doctor choices.
The rest cover your checks. Money while you heal. A payment schedule if damage is permanent. Retraining funds if you cannot go back. Support for your family after a fatal injury.
| Labor Code section | What it does in plain words |
|---|---|
| 4600 | Free medical care for your work injury, with no copays. You may name your own doctor in writing before an injury happens. |
| 4650 | Your first disability check is due within 14 days of your employer learning about the injury and lost time. Late checks add a 10% penalty. |
| 4653 | Sets temporary disability pay at two-thirds of your average weekly wage while you heal. The 2026 weekly max is $1,764.11. |
| 4656 | Caps temporary disability at 104 weeks of payments within five years of the injury date. |
| 4658 | Turns your permanent disability rating into a set number of weekly checks. A 30% rating equals 130 weeks of pay. |
| 4658.7 | Provides a $6,000 job retraining voucher when you cannot return to your old position. |
| 4702 | Pays a worker's family $250,000 to $320,000 in death benefits, depending on dependents, plus $10,000 for burial. |
What sections set your deadlines?
Five Labor Code sections set claim deadlines. You have 30 days to report a work injury and one year to file a claim. Once you file the claim form, the insurer must decide within 90 days or the claim is presumed valid.
Deadlines sink more claims than bad facts do. Tell a supervisor fast, in writing if possible. Then file the DWC-1 claim form with your employer. Every date below is a door that can close on you.
One deadline works in your favor. Once you file the claim form, the insurer has 90 days to accept or deny. Labor Code 5402 presumes the claim valid if the insurer stays silent. It also requires up to $10,000 in treatment while the claim is investigated.
| Section | What it does in plain words |
|---|---|
| 5400 | Report your injury to your employer within 30 days. A quick written report protects your claim. |
| 5401 | Requires your employer to give you the DWC-1 claim form once you report an injury. Filing that form starts your claim. |
| 5402 | The insurer must accept or deny within 90 days of your claim form. Silence means the claim is presumed valid. |
| 5405 | File your case within one year. Waiting longer can end your right to benefits. |
| 5412 | Sets the injury date for slow-building harm, like a worn-out back. It is the day lost work and knowledge of the cause meet. |
Here are the biggest dates side by side.
| Step | Deadline | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Report injury to your employer | Within 30 days | Labor Code 5400 |
| File your workers' comp claim | Within 1 year | Labor Code 5405 |
| Insurer must accept or deny | Within 90 days | Labor Code 5402 |
| First disability check | Within 14 days | Labor Code 4650 |
| Appeal a denied treatment | Within 30 days | Labor Code 4610.5 |
What sections control disputes and appeals?
Seven Labor Code sections govern workers' comp disputes. Insurers use utilization review to deny care. Workers get 30 days to appeal through Independent Medical Review. Medical disagreements go to a panel of three qualified medical evaluators, and appeals can reach the Appeals Board.
A denial is not the end. California builds an appeal path into every step. These sections decide who reviews your care, who measures your disability, and who hears the fight.
Watch the short windows. Labor Code 4610.5 gives you 30 days to request Independent Medical Review after a treatment denial. Miss the window and the denial usually stands. Calendar every date the moment a letter arrives. If you have a lawyer, both sides can also agree on one neutral doctor, called an AME.
| Section | What it does in plain words |
|---|---|
| 4610 | Utilization review. Lets the insurer have a reviewing doctor approve or deny requested treatment before paying. |
| 4610.5 | Your appeal after a treatment denial. Request Independent Medical Review within 30 days of the denial. |
| 4062.2 | The panel process for medical disputes. The state issues three qualified medical evaluator names, and each side strikes one. |
| 4663 | Apportionment. Splits permanent disability between work causes and non-work causes, like aging or old injuries. |
| 4664 | Limits the employer's bill to the share of permanent disability the job actually caused. |
| 5903 | Your appeal of a judge's decision. A petition asks the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board to reconsider. |
| 5950 | Takes a case beyond the Appeals Board to a California appellate court. |
What sections protect you from unfair treatment?
Four Labor Code sections shield California workers. Firing or punishing someone for a comp claim can bring reinstatement, lost wages, and a 50% benefit increase up to $10,000. If an employer carries no insurance, a state fund still pays benefits.
Some employers push back when workers file. That is illegal. Labor Code 132a bans punishment for a comp claim. Other sections keep you covered even when an employer cut corners on insurance.
These rules calm two common fears. First, nearly everyone on a payroll counts as an employee. Second, a state safety net pays when an employer carries no policy at all.
| Section | What it does in plain words |
|---|---|
| 132a | Bans retaliation for a comp claim. Remedies include your job back, lost pay, and a 50% penalty up to $10,000. |
| 3351 | Defines who counts as an employee. The definition is broad, so most people on a payroll are covered. |
| 3706 | Lets you sue an uninsured employer in regular civil court, on top of your comp claim. |
| 3716 | The Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fund pays benefits when an employer carried no insurance. |
Two last points bring real peace of mind. Workers' comp checks are not taxed as income. And attorney fees only come out of the award at the end, with a judge's approval.
Injured at work? Call (661) 273-1780
Tap to call →Labor Code sections read the same statewide. How they play out depends on your local judge and board. Yazdchi Law represents injured workers across the Antelope Valley, the San Fernando Valley, and Greater Los Angeles. Our home office is in Palmdale. We appear at the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board offices in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pomona, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Oxnard.
We put these sections to work daily for real people. Aerospace workers in Palmdale and Lancaster. Warehouse crews near Pomona and San Bernardino. Port and dock workers in Long Beach. Hospital staff, caregivers, and delivery drivers across the San Fernando Valley. When an adjuster quotes a code number at you, we know exactly what it means. We also know the counter move.
Eman Yazdchi is a Certified Specialist in workers' compensation law, certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California. That depth matters when your case turns on how a judge reads one line of the Labor Code.
Not sure what section fits your situation? Call (661) 273-1780 for a free consultation. We will walk through your claim in plain English. You pay nothing up front. Fees come out of the recovery at the end, and a judge must approve them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Labor Code section covers medical treatment for a work injury?
Labor Code 4600 requires the insurance company to pay for all medical care a work injury needs, with no copays and no deductibles. Treatment must follow California's medical treatment guidelines. Most injured workers must pick doctors inside the insurer's Medical Provider Network, unless they named a personal doctor in writing before the injury happened.
How long do I have to report a work injury in California?
California gives workers 30 days to report an injury to their employer, and one year to file a claim. For injuries that build up slowly, like a worn back or repetitive strain, the clock starts when lost work and knowledge of the work cause come together. Late reporting can cost benefits, so tell a supervisor in writing right away.
How much does temporary disability pay in 2026?
Temporary disability pays two-thirds of a worker's average weekly wage while a doctor keeps them off work. In 2026 the check ranges from $264.61 to $1,764.11 per week. The first payment is due within 14 days after the employer learns of the injury and lost time. Late checks add a 10% penalty. Payments can run up to 104 weeks.
What can I do if the insurer denies my medical treatment?
A worker can appeal a treatment denial through Independent Medical Review, called IMR. The request must be filed within 30 days of the denial letter. An outside doctor then reviews the case, and the decision binds the insurer. Keep the denial letter, ask the treating doctor for supporting records, and act fast. A missed deadline usually ends the appeal.
Can my employer fire me for filing a workers' comp claim?
No. Labor Code 132a makes it illegal for a California employer to fire, threaten, or punish a worker for filing a workers' comp claim. Remedies include getting the job back, repayment of lost wages, and a 50% increase in benefits up to $10,000. A worker facing retaliation should document everything and talk to a workers' comp attorney quickly.
How much does a workers' comp lawyer cost in California?
Workers' comp lawyers in California work on contingency. There is no upfront cost and no hourly bill. The fee comes out of the final award, usually about 15%, and a workers' comp judge must approve it. Consultations are typically free. Yazdchi Law offers free consultations at (661) 273-1780 for injured workers across Greater Los Angeles.
Last reviewed by Eman Yazdchi, Esq., July 2026.
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