When assigning permanent impairment for a spinal injury under the AMA Guides, 5th Edition, two primary pathways emerge: the Diagnosis-Related Estimates (DRE) method and the Range of Motion (ROM) method. The stakes are high for claims adjusters, as choosing the proper approach—and scrutinizing the results—can drastically impact claim reserves and settlement strategies. Below is a […]
California Labor Code §3600(a)(10) provides employers and insurers a valuable defense when workers’ compensation claims are filed after an employee has received notice of termination or layoff. However, this post-termination defense is not absolute. Cumulative trauma (CT) claims, particularly those hinging on the “date of injury” under Labor Code §5412, can pose unique challenges. Below […]
In California workers’ compensation law, most injuries that occur in the workplace or arise out of an employee’s job duties are considered compensable under the “arising out of and occurring in the course of employment” (AOE/COE) standard. However, certain circumstances can remove an injury from coverage—even if it happened during work hours or on the […]
