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Alameda County Law Library Building
125 - 12th Street, 3rd Floor, Oakland, CA 94607 · 510-272-6920

Risk Management Unit, a part of the CAO

Overview

If you are injured or become ill because of your job, your employer is required by law to pay for workers' compensation benefits. The workers' compensation system is based on a trade-off between employees and employers. Employees are entitled to receive prompt, effective medical treatment for on-the-job injuries no matter who was at fault and, in return, are prevented from suing their employers over those injuries.

The County of Alameda's claims from July 1, 1997 to present are self-insured for workers' compensation benefits and administrative costs. Most claims with prior dates of injury are insured. The County's program is managed by Risk Management. The County contracts with a third-party claims administrator who is responsible for reviewing, accepting claims, and paying benefits.

If you have an on-the-job injury or illness caused by your job, you may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits. These benefits are provided at your employer's expense. The injury or illness may result from a single incident or from repeated or prolonged exposure to activities or substances at work. The process of investigating claims may take up to 90 days during which no indemnity benefits would be paid.

California Law provides for the following benefits to eligible injured workers:

  1. Medical care to cure the injury
  2. Temporary Disability
  3. Permanent Disability
  4. Vocational Rehabilitation - OR -
  5. Supplemental Job Displacement Benefits
  6. Death Benefits

* For more details, please see the FACTs brochure