Chico, California · Workers' Compensation
Chico Workers' Comp Lawyer
A Chico worker whose pay changes by season, such as orchard, packing house, or food plant work, can look up how California figures a weekly wage before a disability check starts. The state's DWC ZIP code locator points Chico's main ZIP codes to the Redding district office, but the locator does not decide where a specific case is handled. Yazdchi Law is based in Palmdale, has no office in Chico, and reviews each inquiry on its own facts before deciding whether to take a case.
Eman Yazdchi, Esq., Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law, California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California.
California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California
California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California
- 14+
- Years of Practice
- 2,000+
- Cases handled over 14+ years
- $50M+
- Recovered over 14+ years
- 3
- Languages: English, Español, Farsi
Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict future cases. Each case is different and results depend on specific facts and circumstances.
Prepared by Yazdchi Law
Not every Chico job runs on a steady weekly schedule. EDD's Chico-area labor report counted about 3,100 farm jobs in August 2026, out of about 80,100 total jobs across all industries in the area. Farm work often moves with the season. When your pay changes week to week, a disability check gets harder to figure out. This guide shows how California handles that math, and where Chico's DWC help is based.
Yazdchi Law is based in Palmdale and has no office in Chico. Call (661) 273-1780 or use the contact form to reach the firm. The firm can look at a California workers' compensation matter if you ask. Each inquiry gets reviewed on its own facts, and representation is never automatic.
Eman Yazdchi is a Certified Specialist in workers' compensation law, certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California. See the State Bar of California's attorney directory for his license record. His California State Bar number is 285231.
Match your pay pattern to a wage-calculation method
California does not use one formula for every paycheck. Labor Code section 4453(c) sets out four ways to figure your average weekly wage. The right one depends on how you actually worked. Find your pattern below before you accept a number from anyone.
| Your work pattern | Likely method under Labor Code section 4453(c) | Records to gather first |
|---|---|---|
| Steady schedule, 30 or more hours a week, 5 or more days | Daily wage times the number of days you worked that week | Pay stubs showing your daily rate and your schedule the week you were hurt |
| Two or more jobs at the time you were hurt | Pay from every job added together for one week; a second job counts at its own hourly rate | Pay records from each employer for that week, plus each job's hourly rate |
| Seasonal, piece-rate, or commission pay (orchard, packing house, food plant) | Your actual earnings averaged over a period of time, up to one year | A year of pay stubs, 1099s, or payroll summaries showing your real seasonal earnings |
| Under 30 hours a week, or none of the above fits | A fair weekly figure based on your real earning capacity from all jobs | Any pay records, tax records, or offer letters showing your normal earnings |
Once your weekly wage is set, a temporary disability check follows a simple rule. It pays two thirds of that figure under Labor Code section 4653. That amount stays inside a statewide weekly minimum and maximum, shown here:
| Temporary disability weekly rate | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | $252.03 | $264.61 |
| Maximum | $1,680.29 | $1,764.11 |
See the temporary disability duration guide for how long that check can continue. Sometimes your pay records do not match what the claims administrator used. That gap is worth raising early. The claim-denial guide covers what to do if the dispute grows into a denial.
A first disability check follows its own deadline once benefits start. The payment-timing guide explains that deadline. The one-year filing deadline guide explains how long you have to file a claim at all.
Results in cases like this
Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict a similar outcome.
$5,000,000
Catastrophic spinal cord injury
$1,500,000
Cervical spine injury
$425,000
Slip and fall accident
Find Out What Your Chico Case May Be Worth
Two minutes. No fee unless we win; costs may apply.
Question 1 of 5
What type of injury do you have?
Not ready to fill this out? Just call (661) 273-1780 and we’ll ask the same questions by phone.
Free Consultation
Call or send the short form. We review your case, explain your rights, and outline your options. Free, no obligation.
We Build Your Case
We gather medical evidence, handle the insurance company, and file all the workers' comp court (WCAB) paperwork for you.
We Pursue Every Benefit
Medical care, lost wages, and permanent disability benefits. No fee unless we win your case; costs may apply.
Reach Chico's actual DWC office, not just a Chico address
Chico does not have its own DWC courtroom. DWC's ZIP code locator was checked on October 13, 2026. It was checked for Chico's three main ZIP codes: 95926, 95928, and 95973. All three point to the Redding district office.
| Resource | Use it for | Current official information checked October 13, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| DWC ZIP code locator | Finding the DWC district office tied to a five-digit ZIP code | Chico ZIP codes 95926, 95928, and 95973 each return the Redding office. Enter the address that actually matters to your claim rather than assuming city limits decide it. |
| Redding district office | Current district-office address, phone, and court hours | 250 Hemsted Drive, Second Floor, Suite B, Redding, CA 96002. Main office (530) 225-2845. |
| DWC Information and Assistance Unit | General public help with workers' compensation rights, forms, and procedures | Redding Information and Assistance: (530) 225-2047. Statewide Information Services Center: 1-800-736-7401 on weekdays. |
| DWC disability accommodations | Requesting an accommodation to access a DWC program or hearing | The Redding office page lists a statewide accommodations line, 1-866-681-1459. Ask as soon as possible. |
The ZIP locator is a filing tool, not a ruling on venue. A Chico resident might work in a different town, or get hurt outside the county. Someone might already have a case number tied to another office. Keep your notice, pay records, and claim correspondence together. Then ask the Information and Assistance Unit, or a lawyer, about venue directly.
You might need broader job-search or training help while you recover. That is separate from a workers' comp question. As a Butte County resident, EDD's office-locator page can point you to the nearest America's Job Center of California.
Bring real pay records, not just one pay stub
Write down your question before you call. These help you stay specific when your pay changes week to week:
- Which wage method under section 4453 applies to you, and why?
- Did the math include pay from a second job, if you had one when you were hurt?
- If your hours were seasonal or irregular, how many weeks or months did they average? What weekly number did that produce?
- What pay stubs, 1099s, or payroll summaries have you already given them?
- If you disagree with the figure, what is your deadline to raise it?
DWC's Information and Assistance officers can help an injured worker understand the system. They do not act as anyone's attorney. The consultation checklist lists more documents worth gathering before that call. It works alongside the pay-record list above.
A practical next step for a Chico worker
Pull your pay records together first. Gather stubs, 1099s, or payroll summaries for the weeks or months around your injury. Then check the DWC resource that matches your actual question, not just the office nearest Chico. After that, call Yazdchi Law at (661) 273-1780. Or send a message through the contact form. The firm's only office is in Palmdale. There is no Chico location. Each inquiry is reviewed on its own facts, and the firm decides case by case whether representation makes sense.
Injured at work in Chico? Talk it through for free.
Most claims must be filed within one year under Labor Code section 5405. A free call tells you where your clock stands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the DWC ZIP code locator decide where my Chico case will be heard?
No. The locator only shows which DWC district office currently handles filings tied to a ZIP code. For Chico's main ZIP codes, checked October 13, 2026, that office is Redding. A specific case can still turn on your residence, your jobsite, or an existing case number, so treat the locator as a starting point, not a venue ruling.
What DWC office covers a Chico workers' comp claim, and how do I reach it?
DWC lists the Redding district office at 250 Hemsted Drive, Second Floor, Suite B, Redding, CA 96002, with a main line of (530) 225-2845 and an Information and Assistance Unit at (530) 225-2047. Confirm current hours and any virtual-courtroom instructions on DWC's own page before you go.
I work seasonal hours at a Butte County orchard, packing house, or food plant. How does that affect my wage calculation?
California treats irregular, piece-rate, or seasonal pay differently from a steady paycheck. Under Labor Code section 4453(c), your average weekly wage is based on your actual earnings averaged over a period of time, up to one year, rather than a single typical week. Pay stubs, 1099s, or payroll records covering that period are the records that matter most.
I had two jobs when I got hurt. Does only the job where I was injured count toward my wage?
No. Labor Code section 4453(c) adds together your pay from all jobs you held at the time for a single week. Pay from a job other than the one where you were hurt is counted at that job's own hourly rate, not a higher one, so bring records from every employer.
What if I worked fewer than 30 hours a week, or my schedule does not match any of the usual patterns?
Labor Code section 4453(c) covers that too. When someone works under 30 hours a week, or when none of the standard methods can fairly apply, the law uses a figure that reasonably reflects that person's average earning capacity, based on actual earnings from all sources and jobs.
What records should I bring to ask about a fluctuating-hours wage calculation?
Bring pay stubs, 1099s, or payroll summaries covering the weeks or months around your injury, a note of every employer you worked for at the time, and any letter from the claims administrator stating the weekly figure it used. The consultation checklist covers the rest of the claim file.
Does Yazdchi Law have an office in Chico?
No. Yazdchi Law's only office is in Palmdale. Call (661) 273-1780 or use the contact form to ask whether the firm can look at a Chico-area claim; each inquiry is reviewed on its own facts.
Free case evaluation
Get your free Chico case evaluation
Three fields. We respond within one business day.
Talk to a Certified Specialist
Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law, California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California.
Takes 30 seconds. No obligation.
Very thankful for everything they did for us. Always responsive, reassured us every step of the way and obtained a great result.
Eman by far exceeds the basic requirements other lawyers give to clients and surpasses all expectations.
Client testimonials. Testimonials are not a guarantee, warranty, or prediction of the outcome of your case.