Injured on the job
Hurt at work: what a claim can pay for
Most work injuries aren't one dramatic accident. They're a back that gives out on the fourth pallet, or a wrist that's been sore since the last harvest.
Workers' compensation covers injuries that happen because of your job, whether it took one moment or months of the same motion, and whoever was at fault.
Tell your supervisor in writing as soon as you can, even by text, and keep a copy. Then call us before you give the insurer a recorded statement.
Injuries we see most from Valley jobs
Back and lifting injuries
Strains and herniated discs from lifting pallets, boxes, patients or feed sacks.
Repeat-motion injuries
Wrists, elbows and shoulders worn down by sorting, cutting, pruning or scanning, shift after shift.
Falls
From ladders, trailers, loading docks and scaffolds, or on a wet floor in a plant.
Machine injuries
Crushed hands, amputations and cuts from conveyors, forklifts, presses and farm equipment.
Heat illness
Heat stroke and exhaustion in fields, orchards and trailers with no shade or water break.
Crashes while driving for work
A crash while driving a truck, a delivery van or your own car for the job.
Before you file
What if I didn't report it right away?
Report it now, in writing. A late report makes a claim harder, not impossible, and texts or messages you sent at the time can show when it happened.
Can I see my own doctor?
Sometimes. The rules on choosing a doctor depend on your state and your employer's plan. We'll tell you which doctors you can see, and how to change if the first one isn't helping.
I'm paid in cash or through a labor contractor. Am I covered?
Often, yes. Workers paid by a farm labor contractor, by the piece or in cash can still have a claim. Bring whatever shows who you worked for: pay stubs, texts, a badge.
Tell us how it happened
A short call is usually enough to know whether you have a claim.