Workers' Compensation Insurance

Last spring, a carpenter in Irvine fell from a ladder while installing crown molding. Fractured vertebrae. Eight months of recovery, surgery, physical therapy, and wage replacement checks every two weeks. The total claim exceeded $180,000. His employer's workers' compensation policy covered every dollar. Without it, that contractor would have faced personal liability that could have ended the business.

California requires workers' compensation for any employer, regardless of the number of employees. Even one part-time worker triggers the requirement. The Division of Workers' Compensation and Cal/OSHA enforce this aggressively. Inspectors show up at job sites. They check certificates. Contractors caught without coverage face immediate stop-work orders, penalties up to $100,000, and potential criminal charges for willful violations.

Workers' comp covers medical treatment, wage replacement during recovery, permanent disability benefits when injuries cause lasting impairment, and death benefits for surviving dependents. For employees, it's a guaranteed safety net. For employers, it's a liability shield. The exclusive remedy provision means employees covered by workers' comp generally cannot sue their employer for workplace injuries. The trade-off protects both sides.

Construction carries some of the highest workers' comp rates of any industry because construction workers get hurt at higher rates than office workers. Your premium depends on your payroll, the job classifications of your employees, and your experience modification rate. A roofer pays more per hundred dollars of payroll than an electrician. An electrician pays more than a project manager. We specialize in getting contractors properly classified and finding carriers who price construction risks fairly.