What does "permanent disability" mean?
Permanent disability, or PD, is money paid to a worker whose injury leaves a lasting mark even after medical treatment has done all it can do. It's different from temporary disability, which covers lost wages while you're actively healing. PD kicks in once your condition reaches what California law calls maximum medical improvement, also called permanent and stationary status.
At that point, your treating doctor looks at what's left: stiffness in a joint, reduced grip strength, chronic pain, limited range of motion, or a mental health condition tied to the injury. The doctor writes a report describing these lasting effects. That report becomes the foundation for figuring out how much PD you're owed.
PD isn't a reward for how hard you worked before the injury or how much you're struggling financially. It's a number tied to medical findings about your body or mind, measured against a state formula. That's why the details of the medical report matter so much.
This article is general information about California workers' compensation, not legal advice about your situation. Every case is different.
Yazdchi Law, P.C. — Eman Yazdchi, responsible attorney. Office: Palmdale, California. Attorney advertising.