Legal Question in Workers Comp in California

Re: neck and back injury

There is absolutely no way this question can be answered. W.C. permanent disability awards are based upon a schedule that gives certain percentages to described work exclusions; a limitation to doing only light work is a 50% base rating [adjusted by about a maximum of 10 points upward for number of yeas pasted the age of 39 and how important use of the back is for certain occupations --ditch digger adjusted the maximum upwards, office worker sitting at desk all day maximum downward adjustment]. That percentage is then worth a certain number of weeks of permanent disability payments times the weekly benefit rate which is determined by your actual wage rate at the time of the injury [subject to certain minimums and maximum levels].

The case value also depends upon how long it takes you to get back to work, whether you need vocational rehabilitation, and the among of medical care required for how long a time.

So all those factors are taken into account to determine the case value.