California Labor Code Workers' Compensation Section Index — From §3200 to §6403.5

What are the California Labor Code definitions and coverage sections?

California §3200-§3357 define employee, employer, injury, and the presumption of employment that controls who is covered by workers' comp.

The California workers' compensation framework begins with definitions and coverage. California Labor Code §3200 sets the title scope. California Labor Code §3208 defines injury, physical and psychiatric. California Labor Code §3208.1 defines specific vs. cumulative injury. California Labor Code §3208.3 sets the six-month psychiatric employment rule. California Labor Code §3351 defines employee, including the status-neutral rule that immigration status does not control coverage. California Labor Code §3300 defines employer. California Labor Code §3357 establishes the presumption of employment when work is performed for hire. California Labor Code §3501 covers minor employees. California Labor Code §3550-California Labor Code §3551 require notice of rights at hire and at injury. The undocumented worker rights pillar covers §3351 in depth.

What are the California Labor Code no-fault and exclusive-remedy sections?

California §3600-§3602 establish no-fault liability and the exclusive-remedy rule that bars most civil suits against the employer.

California Labor Code §3600 is the foundational provision, California workers' compensation is the sole and exclusive remedy against the employer for industrial injuries, with no proof of employer fault required. California Labor Code §3601 confirms the exclusive remedy bar. California Labor Code §3602 covers spousal consortium and dual-capacity exceptions. California Labor Code §3706 carves out the uninsured-employer civil action, when an employer fails to carry workers' compensation insurance under California Labor Code §3700, the worker can sue at law and recover full tort damages. The §3601 exclusive remedy card explains the bar in depth.

What are the California Labor Code medical care sections?

California §4600-§4616 govern medical care, duty to provide, MPN networks, predesignation, utilization review, and IMR appeal.

California Labor Code §4600 establishes the employer's duty to provide all medical treatment reasonably required to cure or relieve the effects of the injury. California Labor Code §4604.5 caps chiropractic, physical therapy, and occupational therapy at 24 visits each. California Labor Code §4610 is utilization review, the prospective, concurrent, or retrospective medical-necessity review insurers conduct. California Labor Code §4610.5 is the Independent Medical Review process, the appeal route for UR denials. California Labor Code §4616 is the Medical Provider Network framework. California Labor Code §4062.1, California Labor Code §4062, California Labor Code §4062.2, and California Labor Code §4062.3 govern QME panel selection. The California workers' comp medical care pillar covers the framework.

What are the California Labor Code disability benefit sections?

California §4650-§4660 establish temporary disability, permanent disability, payment timing, the rating schedule, and life pension.

California Labor Code §4650 sets payment timing, 14 days for the first TD payment, 14-day intervals thereafter, automatic 10% on late amounts. California Labor Code §4653 is the TD rate. California Labor Code §4654 covers the TD waiting period. California Labor Code §4656 caps TD at 104 weeks within 5 years (post-2008 injuries). California Labor Code §4658 is the permanent disability payment schedule. California Labor Code §4658.1, California Labor Code §4658.5, California Labor Code §4658.7 cover return-to-work supplements and the SJDB voucher. California Labor Code §4659 is life pension for PD ratings 70-99%. California Labor Code §4660 is the rating formula; California Labor Code §4660.1 is the strict 2013-onward formula. California Labor Code §4663 governs apportionment. California Labor Code §4664 caps lifetime PD. The California workers' comp benefits pillar covers the framework.

What are the California Labor Code death benefit sections?

California §4700-§4709 establish accrued benefits, death benefit amounts by dependent status, burial expense, and the no-dependents fund.

California Labor Code §4700 provides that benefits accrued and unpaid at the time of death become payable to dependents. California Labor Code §4702 sets the death benefit amount, $250,000 (one total dependent), $290,000 (two), $320,000 (three or more), plus a $290,000 minimum when one or more minor dependent children survive. California Labor Code §4703 controls dependent classification. California Labor Code §4703.5 covers the no-dependents case, the death benefit goes to the General Fund. California Labor Code §4706 provides burial expense reimbursement. California Labor Code §4707 sets the standalone death benefit framework. California Labor Code §4709 sets the cap. The California workers' comp death benefits pillar covers the framework.

What are the California Labor Code procedural and appellate sections?

California §5400-§5950 govern claim filing, the 90-day deemed-admission, statute of limitations, reopening, reconsideration, and writ of review.

California Labor Code §5400 requires 30-day notice of injury. California Labor Code §5401 is the DWC-1 claim form. California Labor Code §5402 is the 90-day deemed-admission rule. California Labor Code §5405 is the one-year statute of limitations. California Labor Code §5410 is the five-year reopening right. California Labor Code §5412 is the discovery rule for cumulative trauma. California Labor Code §5500.5 is the last-injurious-exposure allocation. California Labor Code §5814 is the 25% late-payment penalty; California Labor Code §5814.5 sets the two-year discovery window. California Labor Code §5900 authorizes Petitions for Reconsideration. California Labor Code §5903 sets the six grounds and 25-day mailed / 20-day electronic deadline. California Labor Code §5950 is the 45-day Writ of Review deadline. The California workers' comp appeal pillar covers the framework.

What are the California Labor Code penalty and retaliation sections?

California §4553, §5814, §132a, and §244 establish the four major penalty schemes, serious-and-willful, late payment, retaliation, and status-based discrimination.

California Labor Code §4553 adds 50% to the entire award when the employer's serious and willful misconduct caused the injury. California Labor Code §5814 adds 25% (capped at $10,000) for unreasonable delay or refusal of payment. California Labor Code §132a provides $10,000, reinstatement, and lost wages for retaliation against a worker for filing a claim. California Labor Code §244 extends the retaliation framework to immigration-status-based discrimination. California Labor Code §6310 covers Cal/OSHA whistleblower protection. The California workers' comp penalties pillar covers the full penalty framework.