Why workers’ compensation matters
California law requires workers’ compensation insurance for any business with one or more employees, including part-time, minors, and many subcontractors. Operating without it triggers stop-work orders, fines up to $100,000, and personal liability for injury costs. Workers’ comp isn’t optional — it’s the foundation of running a compliant business.
J. Cazares & Associates has been placing workers’ comp for California employers since 1977. We know which carriers write your industry competitively, which ones bundle best with your other coverages, and which ones to avoid for your risk class code.
What the policy covers
Medical expenses from a work-related injury or illness — emergency treatment, hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, and long-term care. No deductibles for the employee.
Lost wages via temporary disability (TD) benefits. California pays two-thirds of average weekly wage, up to the state maximum.
Permanent disability if the injury results in lasting impairment.
Death benefits to the employee’s family in a fatal workplace incident.
Employer liability, which protects you from third-party lawsuits related to the injury — a related contractor’s claim, a spouse’s loss-of-consortium suit, etc.
Industry-specific rating
Your workers’ comp premium depends on your class codes, payroll, experience modification rate (X-mod), and the carrier’s filed rates. We shop 10+ carriers to find the combination that fits your industry — construction (high-rate classes), restaurants (moderate-rate), offices and professional services (low-rate).
Experience modification (X-mod) management
Your X-mod is your injury history compared to your industry peers. A mod above 1.00 raises your premium; below 1.00 lowers it. We help you understand and manage your X-mod through claims oversight, return-to-work programs, and strategic carrier placement.
How we handle claims
When an employee is injured, the first hour matters. Our office is on the phone with you and your carrier the same day, helping document the incident, file the First Report of Injury, and get the employee to approved medical care. We stay engaged through the life of the claim.
Service area
Workers’ comp is state-regulated; we place coverage in all 50 states. Our bilingual team serves English- and Spanish-speaking employers with equal care — a practical advantage when your workforce speaks Spanish and injury documentation needs to be accurate in both languages.