Under California law, all employers with one or more employees must self-insure or purchase workers’ compensation insurance for injuries or illnesses that occur in the workplace. If your employer is uninsured and hasn’t self-insured, then your employer may face criminal misdemeanor charges. It’s not your fault that your employer broke the law.
Fortunately, in California, workers who suffer illness or injury covered under workers’ compensation can apply for benefits from the state’s Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fund (UEBTF). The UEBTF pays benefits to injured employees and goes after your employer for reimbursement.