Covid-19 Workers’ Compensation Claims Today

Oct 26 Written By Jeff Guarrera

The Covid-19 pandemic began over a year and a half ago. The pandemic dramatically changed work for many. Except for frontline and “essential” workers, many jobs became remote to slow the spread of the infection. The pandemic also changed laws in the workers’ compensation system to protect frontline and essential workers. But now, the infection rate in California has dropped. More workers have returned to their normal worksite.

Are Covid-19 related workers’ compensation claims simply declining? Or are they also changing in nature?

Covid-19 Cases Are Trending in Decline

The Covid-19 pandemic was at its worst in California between December 2020 and January 2021, when new cases per day were as high as 40,000. In total, the state counted 3.7 million cases and over 60,000 Covid-19 related deaths.

The Delta variant was a strain of the virus that peaked cases at 26,000 per day in August 2021. Cases have since declined to 6,000 per day.

What About Covid-19 Related Workers’ Compensation Claims?

According to a September 2021 report by the California Workers’ Compensation Institute, almost 150,000 Covid-19 related claims were filed from January 2020 to June 2021. That’s over 15% of workers’ compensation claims. Over 1,000 were Covid-19 related death claims.

Reported infection and death claims peaked along with the highs in daily cases in December 2020. While infection claims a year ago were in the tens of thousands, they are presently in the hundreds. Death claims have similarly dropped dramatically since February 2021.

Claims Are Changing

The overall rate of infections and deaths from Covid-19 has declined in California, but newer workers’ compensation claims have changed.

First, certain employment sectors are reporting more claims. There has been a documented increase in education because teachers have returned to in-person lessons with unvaccinated children. Therefore, more teachers are now claiming work-related illnesses.

Second, there is the phenomenon of “long haul Covid.” In September 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a study of Covid-19 patients in Long Beach, California. It found one-third of the patients suffered from conditions two months after their initial Covid-19 infection. Patients most affected were over 40 years old, females, those with preexisting conditions, and African Americans. Therefore, Covid-19 related workers’ compensation claims may continue to be filed despite the drop in daily cases as sick patients continue to be sick.

Third, workers who have been infected with the virus do not simply have Covid-19. As a result of the virus, many are presenting to their doctors neurological, pulmonary, and cardiovascular symptoms that developed after their infections.

SoCal Workers Comp Has Experience with Covid-19 Claims

From the peak of the pandemic through the rise of the Delta variant, the attorneys of SoCal Workers Comp have represented clients sick with Covid-19 and assisted them get treatment and compensation. During the pandemic, our attorneys have helped in the following ways:

·       Assisted clients seek treatment specialists for their unique symptoms.

·       Demand employers comply with supplemental paid sick leave.

·       Petition for additional compensation against employers who violate safety orders.

·       Secure maximum payout of death benefits.

The attorneys at SoCal Workers Comp understand that Covid-19 not only risks your wellbeing but also your legal rights. Insurance companies believe they can take advantage of you when you are sick because so much remains unknown about the virus. They think this lets them get away with denying you treatment and the means to support yourself while you remain off work.

Protect yourself with an attorney. SoCal Workers Comp can make the insurance company take your claim seriously. We will help you get whole again.

Call for a free consultation: 714-886-7365.

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