What is the difference between a workers’ compensation claim and a catastrophic injury claim?

The primary difference between a workers’ compensation claim and a catastrophic injury claim in California is the severity of the injury. A workers’ compensation claim is typically filed when an employee is injured at work and requires medical treatment or temporary disability payments. These types of injuries usually include sprains and strains, head and neck injuries, or broken bones. Catastrophic injury claims are usually in response to more serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, paralysis, burns, and blindness. In addition to the injury type, the process for each type of claim is also different. With a workers’ compensation claim, the injured employee notifies their employer, the employer files a claim with their insurance company, and the insurance company pays out the compensation. With a catastrophic injury claim, the injured person can bring a civil lawsuit against any party that is liable for their injury. The injured person will have to prove that the other party acted negligently or maliciously and that this behavior caused the catastrophic injury. Another difference between the two types of claims is the amount of compensation for the injury. Workers’ compensation claims are typically limited to the medical expenses associated with the injury, lost wages, and job rehabilitation, while a catastrophic injury claim can result in a much larger settlement to cover long-term medical costs, physical and mental therapy, lost wages, and pain and suffering, among other things. Overall, the difference between workers’ compensation and catastrophic injury claims in California is based on the severity of the injury and the amount of compensation.

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