We hold employers and insurance companies accountable.
Find out if you have a case.
We are available 24/7 and will conduct a free consultation.
Pasadena Workers' Compensation Attorneys
The Los Angeles Advocates are a Pasadena-based workers' compensation law firm that represents injured workers across the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles County. If you were hurt on the job, or suffered an injury, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced attorney will explain the process, help you obtain treatment, and maximize your recovery, and secure the best possible resolution.
- 15+
- Years combined experience
- Free
- Consultations, always
- $0
- Upfront cost to you
- 24/7
- Reachable when it matters
Who are The Los Angeles Advocates?
We are a Pasadena workers' compensation law firm focused on getting injured workers the medical care and benefits they are entitled to. Our attorneys bring over 15 years of combined experience, including experience on the insurance-defense side, before turning to represent workers. Our attorneys represented major employers and their insurance companies — so, we know all the tactics employers and insurance adjusters use to evaluate files, why claims get denied, and how to build a case that holds up before judges.
Why Choose The Los Angeles Advocates?
- We know the insurance playbook from years on the defense side.
- Bilingual — se habla español.
- Free, honest consultation and no upfront fees.
- Local and responsive — a Pasadena firm that returns your call.
How Workers' Compensation Works
What every injured worker in California should know before talking to an insurer.
California workers' comp is no-fault.
You generally don't have to prove your employer did anything wrong to receive benefits -- but strict deadlines apply, and the process runs through the state's Division of Workers' Compensation, not the regular courts.
Benefits go far beyond a settlement.
California workers' comp can cover medical treatment, temporary disability (wage replacement), permanent disability, a Supplemental Job Displacement retraining voucher, and death benefits for families.
Denied and delayed claims are common and reversible.
Insurers dispute claims routinely, and our Pasadena Workers' Compensation Lawyers are experts in challenging denials before a Workers' Compensation Judge.
You don't pay out of pocket.
Our attorneys' fees are set and approved by the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board and are paid as a percentage of what we recover for you.
Outcomes depend on the facts of each case. This is general information, not legal advice.
How to File a Workers' Comp Claim in California
Report the injury to your employer
California generally requires you to notify your employer within 30 days of a work injury. For injuries that build up over time (cumulative trauma), the clock generally starts when you knew, or should have known, the injury was work-related.
Get medical treatment
Seek care promptly and make clear the injury happened at work so it's documented correctly from the start. Your employer should provide treatment through its Medical Provider Network.
Complete the DWC-1 claim form
Your employer must give you a DWC-1 form within one working day of learning about your injury. Fill out the employee section, return it, and keep a dated copy — this is what officially opens your claim.
File your Application for Adjudication on time
You generally have one year from the date of injury to file an Application for Adjudication of Claim with the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, though exceptions can shorten or extend this. A missed deadline can bar your claim entirely.
Don't sign anything you don't understand
Adjusters may ask you to sign documents or accept early offers. Get a copy of everything, and talk to a lawyer before agreeing to anything that affects your benefits.
This is general information about California procedure, not legal advice for your specific situation. Deadlines have exceptions — when in doubt, call the Los Angeles Advocates.
Common workers' compensation injuries
We handle all types of work injuries across every industry in the San Gabriel Valley.
Slip & Falls and Premises Liability
Injuries from wet floors, uneven surfaces, and unsafe conditions at work sites or employer-controlled property.
Lifting and Overexertion
Back, shoulder, and joint injuries caused by heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, or sustained physical strain.
Repetitive-Motion
Tendonitis, carpal tunnel, and similar injuries from repeated movements performed over weeks or months.
Cumulative Trauma
Conditions that develop gradually from the cumulative effect of work duties -- evaluated differently than acute injuries.
Stress & Psychological Injuries
Work-related mental health injuries, including post-traumatic stress and stress-induced physical conditions.
Catastrophic and Fatal Workplace Injuries
Spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, and death benefits for surviving family members.
Work Related Motor Vehicle Accidents
Injuries sustained while driving for work -- deliveries, field visits, commutes in employer vehicles.
Workplace Violence
Injuries from assaults, robberies, or threats that occur in the course of employment.
Toxic and Occupational Exposure
Respiratory illness, skin conditions, and organ damage from chemical, dust, or environmental exposure on the job.
Industries we serve
Every injured worker deserves representation -- regardless of employer size or industry.
Healthcare Workers
Nurses, CNAs, home health aides, and hospital staff face lifting injuries, needle sticks, exposure, and workplace violence.
Warehouse Workers
Forklift accidents, heavy lifting, repetitive motion, and fast-paced environments create serious injury risk.
Delivery/Transportation/Trucking Workers
Truck drivers, couriers, and rideshare drivers injured on the road or during loading and unloading.
Restaurant/Hotel/Hospitality Workers
Slip and fall, burn injuries, overexertion, and violence risks for food-service and hotel workers.
Retail & Grocery Workers
Stockroom lifting, repetitive cashier strain, and customer-related incidents are common in retail environments.
Office, Administrative Workers
Ergonomic injuries, repetitive stress, and psychological claims are valid and compensable in California.
Janitorial, Cleaning, Maintenance Workers
Chemical exposure, ladder falls, and sustained physical labor lead to some of the most serious work injuries.
Agricultural and Farming
Heat illness, pesticide exposure, machinery accidents, and overexertion in California's agricultural sector.
Entertainment and Production
On-set injuries, stunt injuries, cumulative physical strain, and stress claims in the entertainment industry.
What Workers' Compensation Covers
Workers' compensation provides five core categories of benefits. Knowing what you're entitled to is the first step to making sure you actually receive it.
Medical Care
All reasonable and necessary treatment at no cost to you.
Workers' comp covers all reasonable and necessary treatment for your work injury -- doctor visits, hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, prescriptions, and medical equipment -- at no cost to you. In California, treatment is usually delivered through your employer's Medical Provider Network (MPN), which has specific rules about which doctors you can see and how to switch.
Temporary Disability (TD)
Wage replacement while you can't work -- roughly two-thirds of your average weekly wage.
If your injury keeps you from working while you recover, TD replaces part of your lost wages -- generally two-thirds of your average weekly earnings, subject to state minimums and maximums. There are two forms: Temporary Total Disability (you can't work at all) and Temporary Partial Disability (you're on reduced or light duty).
Permanent Disability (PD)
A disability rating and payment if your injury leaves lasting impairment.
If your injury leaves lasting impairment after you reach maximum medical improvement, you may receive PD benefits, rated as a percentage under California's permanent disability schedule. The rating drives the value of this part of your claim, which is why how your injury is evaluated matters enormously.
Supplemental Job Displacement
A retraining voucher if you can't return to your prior job.
If your employer can't offer modified or alternative work consistent with your restrictions, you may receive a Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit (SJDB) voucher -- up to $6,000 for retraining or skill enhancement.
Death Benefits
Financial support for dependents after a fatal workplace injury.
If a work injury is fatal, California pays burial costs and ongoing death benefits to qualifying dependents -- the amount depends on the number of total and partial dependents.
Why injured workers choose us
Free, no-obligation consultation
We review your case at no cost. You'll talk to a real lawyer -- not a case manager -- and leave knowing your options.
No upfront fees. Ever.
Workers' comp attorneys are paid a percentage of your recovery, approved by the WCAB. You owe us nothing unless we win.
Bilingual -- se habla espanol
We serve the entire San Gabriel Valley community. Spanish-language consultations available at no extra cost.
Available 24/7
Injuries don't keep business hours. Reach us any time to start your case review.
15+ years combined experience
Our attorneys previously worked on the insurance-defense side -- so we know exactly how adjusters evaluate and deny claims, and how to counter them.
Frequently asked questions
Hurt at work? Talk to a real lawyer today.
Free consultation. No fee unless we win. Available 24/7. Se habla español.
Call (626) 899-9051Find out if you have a case.
We are available 24/7 and will conduct a free consultation.