What is considered a compensable injury?

In California, a compensable injury is one that is caused by or happens during the course of employment and is eligible for benefits under the state’s Workers Compensation Law. A compensable injury can be caused by a sudden accident, such as a slip and fall on the job, or by an extended exposure to an unhealthy working environment, such as a chemical spill or an unsafe temperature. It can also include repetitive stress injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, that occur over time from continual use of the same muscles or joints. Compensable injuries are eligible for medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses, disability payments, and death benefits. Medical expenses are available for the treatment of the injury, rehabilitation expenses cover the cost of retraining and adapting to new duties, disability payments are given to those who suffer a permanent disability due to their injury, and death benefits are available for the survivors of a worker who dies due to their employment-related injury. It is important to note that not all workplace injuries are compensable. Injuries that are not related to the worker’s job, such as those incurred while engaging in recreational activities, are not eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Likewise, injuries suffered while traveling for work may not be covered if the worker deviated for personal reasons during the trip. Additionally, injuries that are a result of the worker’s own negligence are not usually compensable. In general, any injury that occurs during the scope of a worker’s job may be considered a compensable injury under California’s Workers Compensation Law.

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What is considered a compensable injury?

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