Work Injuries Among California State Employees: What Every Public Worker Should Know
California’s state employees keep the state running often under tough conditions and long hours. Whether you work behind a desk or in the field, repetitive stress, heavy lifting, and constant pressure can take a toll on your body and health.
At Lee Partners Law: Work Injury Attorneys, we represent state employees across California from Los Angeles to the High Desert, the Inland Empire, Ventura, and San Diego — who’ve been hurt on the job or worn down over time.
We’ve helped workers from nearly every agency and classification.
Who’s Covered Under Workers’ Compensation
If you work for the State of California, you’re covered under the same workers’ compensation laws as everyone else — but the process often feels more complicated because of the layers of HR, Risk Management, and State Fund adjusters.
We regularly help employees from:
CDCR (Corrections Officers, Office Assistants, Sergeants, Counselors, Kitchen Staff)
Caltrans (Maintenance Workers, Equipment Operators, Engineers, Inspectors)
CHP (Dispatchers, Office Staff, Mechanics, Evidence Techs)
DMV (Customer Service, Technicians, Supervisors)
EDD (Claims Processors, Eligibility Specialists, Call Center Agents)
DGS (Custodians, Building Maintenance, Tradespeople)
CalFire (Administrative Staff, Mechanics, Dispatchers, Support Personnel)
State Hospitals and Developmental Centers (Custodial, Security, Food Service, Techs)
CSU and UC system (Maintenance, Facilities, Grounds, Admin)
Franchise Tax Board, Department of Justice, CalEPA, and other office-based state agencies
No matter where you work, if your duties cause or worsen an injury, you’re entitled to medical care and wage loss benefits.
Common Injuries Among State Workers
We see the same patterns repeat across departments:
Back and neck pain from years of lifting, pushing, driving, or sitting in poor chairs
Shoulder and elbow injuries from repetitive motion or defensive tactics in custody settings
Knee and ankle problems from climbing, walking, or standing on concrete for years
Psychiatric stress from high caseloads, understaffing, or workplace violence
Carpal tunnel and hand injuries from constant typing or data entry
Hernias and abdominal strains from lifting heavy equipment or files
Hearing loss from long-term exposure to noise in maintenance yards or engine shops
Even if the pain built up slowly over time, it’s still compensable under a “cumulative trauma” claim.
Why Many State Employees Wait Too Long
State employees often think:
“I’ll just tough it out — filing a claim will cause problems with my supervisor.”
Or they believe that because they’ve been with the department for years, it’s “too late” to file.
That’s not true. You can file even after leaving the job, as long as the condition developed while you were employed.
We’ve helped long-time state workers — some with 15–20 years on the job — file cumulative trauma claims and finally get the medical treatment they deserve.
Settlements: You Don’t Have to Quit Your Job to Resolve Your Case
A lot of California state employees hesitate to move forward with their workers’ comp case because they think settling means they have to resign. That’s not true.
You can resolve your case and continue working for the State of California if you wish.
There are two main ways to settle a workers’ compensation claim:
Stipulated Award:
You and the insurance company agree on a permanent disability rating (based on the AMA Guides, 5th Edition) for the body parts that were injured.
You receive payments over time for that rating and — most importantly — medical care for those body parts for the rest of your life.
You can keep working and still have the right to reopen your case later if your condition worsens.Compromise & Release (C&R):
This is a full buyout. You receive a single lump-sum payment that closes out your medical rights.
Some workers choose this when they’re leaving state service or want to manage their own care privately.
Why It’s Important to Have an Experienced Work Injury Attorney
State cases can be slow and complicated. HR and State Fund don’t always explain your rights, and sometimes legitimate claims are delayed or denied.
Having an attorney means:
You get your own neutral doctor (QME) to evaluate your injury
We ensure all body parts and conditions are included
We push for TTD. penalties, and the correct disability rating under the AMA Guides 5th Edition
You get guidance on changing doctors if your current one isn’t helping
We Represent State Employees Across California
We’ve represented state workers living and working in:
Los Angeles, Van Nuys, Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, Victorville, Hesperia, San Bernardino, Riverside, Temecula, Murrieta, Ventura, Oxnard, Bakersfield, and San Diego.
Whether you work for CDCR, Caltrans, CHP, DMV, or any other agency — if you were injured on the job or your body has broken down over time, we can help.
Call or text Lee Partners Law: Work Injury Attorneys today for a free consultation. Call or Text 310-295-0822