“Eman at Yazdchi Law was extremely professional, responsive, and supportive at all times. He and his staff exceeded all of my expectations.”
Andrea Dalessandro
California Workers' Comp for Amputation Injuries
Certified Specialist (CA Bar)No Fee Unless We Win (Costs May Apply)Millions RecoveredSe Habla Español
- Years of Practice
- 14+
- Cases Handled
- 500+ over 14+ years of practice
- Recovered
- $7M+ over 14+ years of practice
- Bilingual + Farsi
- English + Español + Farsi
By Eman Yazdchi, Esq. · Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization · Cal Bar #285231
What does workers' comp pay if you lose a limb at work?
Workers' comp covers all your medical care, pays for a prosthetic for life, pays permanent disability for your loss, and adds a retraining voucher.
Losing a hand, arm, leg, or finger changes your whole life. You feel scared. You worry about work and money. That fear is real, and you are not alone.
This is one of the most serious work injuries there is. The law treats it that way. Your benefits should be large. Your medical care should last for life.
You do not have to face the insurance company by yourself. We stand with hurt workers across Greater Los Angeles. Your first call is free.
How is the loss of a limb rated for disability?
A doctor rates your lasting loss from 0 to 100 percent. The higher the rating, the more weeks of disability pay you get.
Losing a hand or an arm rates high. Losing a leg rates high too. Losing one finger rates lower. Even a partial loss counts. Lost grip, lost feeling, and weak nerves add to your rating.
Some losses rate higher than you expect. Losing your dominant hand rates higher than the other hand. Losing more than one finger adds up fast. Bad scarring can add to your rating too.
Your age and your job also change the number. The rating can move up or down. This rule comes from Labor Code 4660.1. A heavy-labor job often means a higher rating. A rating of 70 percent or higher adds a lifetime pension.
The table below turns a rating into weeks of pay. It uses the 2026 schedule in Labor Code 4658.
| PD rating | Weeks of pay | Most you get at $290 a week (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | 30 | $8,700 |
| 20% | 75 | $21,750 |
| 25% | 100 | $29,000 |
| 30% | 130 | $37,700 |
| 40% | 200 | $58,000 |
| 50% | 270 | $78,300 |
| 60% | 350 | $101,500 |
| 70% | 430 | $124,700 |
One doctor sets your rating. You and the insurer each pick from a short panel of names. If you have a lawyer, both sides can agree on one doctor instead. We make sure the rating fits your real loss.
Does workers' comp cover a prosthetic for life?
Yes. A prosthetic is medical care. The insurance company must pay for it with no copay. That coverage lasts your whole life.
A prosthetic limb is not a one-time cost. It wears out over time. It needs new parts and new fittings. The insurer must pay for all of it.
Your right to care comes from Labor Code 4600. It covers far more than the device. It pays for surgery, wound care, and physical therapy. It pays for training to use your new limb. It can pay for changes to your home or car. It even covers your mileage to and from each visit.
You should get the right device for your life. That may be a basic limb or an advanced one. The insurer must pay for what your doctor orders. You may also get a backup for when one is repaired.
A lost limb hurts your mind too. Many workers feel grief, anger, or fear. Some get phantom limb pain. Your care can cover mental health support. It can also treat that phantom pain. You do not have to suffer in silence.
Sometimes the insurer says no to care. A review nurse can deny what your doctor asks for. You can fight that denial. You have an appeal, but you must act fast. You only have 30 days to ask for review.
In most cases you pick from a set list of doctors. You can name your own doctor first. You must do that in writing before you get hurt.
What money comes in while you cannot work?
You get temporary disability while you heal. You get permanent disability for your lasting loss. You may also get a $6,000 retraining voucher.
Temporary disability replaces part of your lost pay. It is two-thirds of your weekly wage. Your first check is due fast. Under Labor Code 4650, it must come within 14 days. A late check adds a 10 percent penalty.
This pay does not last forever. The law caps it at 104 weeks. You have a five-year window to use those weeks. After that, permanent disability pay takes over.
| Benefit | What it pays (2026) |
|---|---|
| Temporary disability, weekly | $264.61 to $1,764.11 |
| Permanent disability, weekly | $160 to $290 |
| Job retraining voucher | $6,000 |
| Lifetime pension (rating 70% or higher) | Paid for life |
A job offer can change your permanent disability pay. A solid offer of steady work can lower it. No offer can raise it. So a return-to-work offer matters a lot.
What if you cannot go back to your old job? You may get a retraining voucher. It is worth $6,000 under Labor Code 4658.7. You can use it for school, tools, or job training.
Many limb-loss cases end in a settlement. You may take your permanent disability as one lump sum. A lump sum can help you plan ahead. We make sure any deal is fair before you sign.
Deadlines protect every one of these benefits. Miss one and you can lose your claim. Here are the dates that matter most.
| Step | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Tell your employer | Within 30 days |
| First disability check | Within 14 days |
| Insurer accepts or denies | Within 90 days |
| Appeal a denied treatment | Within 30 days |
| File your claim | Within 1 year |
Can you get more if the employer ignored safety?
Sometimes yes. If your employer knew of a real danger and ignored it, your whole award can go up by one-half.
Many amputations come from unguarded machines. A missing machine guard is not bad luck. A disabled safety switch is not bad luck. It is a choice your employer made.
When an employer acts that badly, the law has a name for it. It is called serious and willful misconduct. Under Labor Code 4553, your award goes up by one-half. Your employer pays that extra share, not the insurer.
An amputation often starts a safety probe. Cal/OSHA may inspect the worksite. Their findings can help your case. We use those reports to prove what went wrong.
You may have a second case too. A faulty machine can point to its maker, not your boss. That can be a separate lawsuit outside workers' comp. It may pay for pain and full lost wages.
These claims take real proof. You need records, photos, and witnesses. We know how to find them. Call us before the evidence is gone.
Injured at work? Call (661) 273-1780
Tap to call →We stand with hurt workers all over Greater Los Angeles. That includes the Antelope Valley and the San Fernando Valley. A lost limb changes your life forever. You deserve a lawyer who treats it that way. We have helped injured workers get prosthetics approved and low ratings raised. We have pushed back when an insurer dragged its feet.
We go to the workers' comp courts near you. That includes Van Nuys, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pomona, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Oxnard. We know the local doctors and the local judges. We handle the hearings and the paperwork. We deal with the insurer so you can focus on healing.
Eman Yazdchi is a Certified Specialist in workers' compensation law, certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California. That means deep, proven skill in this exact field of law. You get a specialist in your corner, not a general practice firm.
Your first call costs nothing. You pay no fee up front. Our fee is a small share of what we win. A judge must approve it. Call (661) 273-1780 today for a free consultation about your amputation claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a lost finger worth in California workers' comp?
It depends on which finger you lost and what your job is. A doctor gives your loss a rating as a percent. That rating sets how many weeks of permanent disability you get paid. The 2026 rate runs from $160 to $290 a week. A lost thumb rates higher than a lost small finger. Lost grip and nerve damage can push the rating up. We push hard for a rating that reflects your real loss, not a lowball number.
Does workers' comp pay for a prosthetic arm or leg?
Yes. A prosthetic is medical care under Labor Code 4600. The insurance company must pay for it, and you owe no copay. It must also pay to repair, refit, and replace the device over the years. A prosthetic wears out, so this matters for life. The coverage does not stop after one fitting. It lasts as long as you need it. You should never pay out of your own pocket. The cost falls on the insurance company, not on you.
What if a machine cut off my hand because the guard was missing?
That may be serious and willful misconduct by your employer. If your boss knew about the danger and ignored it, your award can go up by one-half under Labor Code 4553. Your employer pays that extra amount, not the insurer. You may also have a separate claim against the company that made the machine. These cases need strong proof, like photos, safety records, and witnesses. Call us right away so we can lock down the evidence.
How long do I have to report an amputation at work?
Tell your employer as soon as you can, even from the hospital. The law gives you 30 days to report the injury. You then have one year to file your formal claim. Please do not wait. Evidence fades and witnesses move away. The sooner you start, the stronger your case will be. We can file all the paperwork for you the same week you call. Missing a deadline can cost you your benefits.
Will I get taxed on my workers' comp benefits?
No. Your workers' comp benefits are not taxed. That includes your temporary disability checks, your permanent disability money, and your covered medical care. You do not report them as income on your state or federal tax return. This stays true even for a large permanent disability award. Keep in mind that other income, like regular wages from light-duty work, is still taxed as normal. Your benefit checks themselves stay tax-free.
Do I have to pay a lawyer up front for an amputation claim?
No. You pay nothing up front. Workers' comp lawyers work on contingency. That means we only get paid if we win money for you. Our fee is a small share of your award, usually about 15 percent, and a judge must approve it first. The free consultation costs you nothing either. So you can get strong legal help even when money is tight. Call us at (661) 273-1780 to talk through your options for free.
Last reviewed by Eman Yazdchi, Esq., June 2026.
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