If you’ve suffered a serious injury at work, you may be wondering what happens if you’re never able to return to your previous job—or if your body simply won’t heal the way it once did. In California’s workers’ compensation system, this is where permanent disability (PD) comes into play.
What Is Permanent Disability?
Permanent disability refers to a lasting physical or mental impairment resulting from a work-related injury or illness. In short, it means your injury has caused some level of permanent loss of function, even after you’ve reached the point of maximum medical improvement (MMI)—the stage in which your condition is not expected to improve any further with treatment.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you’re totally unable to work. Permanent disability can range from partial loss of function to total inability to return to any kind of employment.
How Is Permanent Disability Determined?
In California, once your doctor determines that you’ve reached MMI, he or she will evaluate you and assign a Permanent Disability Rating. This rating is a percentage (from 0% to 100%) that reflects how much your injury limits your ability to perform everyday tasks and earn a living.
Your PD rating takes several factors into account:
- Your medical condition
- The affected body part(s)
- Your age and occupation
- How the injury impacts your ability to work
This rating then helps determine the amount and duration of permanent disability benefits you may receive.
Examples of Permanent Disability
Here are a few real-world examples to help clarify what permanent disability looks like in practice:
Example 1: Construction Worker with Back Injury
A 45-year-old construction worker suffers a serious back injury while lifting heavy materials. After surgery and physical therapy, he’s able to walk and drive but can no longer perform physically demanding tasks. His doctor gives him a PD rating of 35%, and he’s permanently restricted from jobs that require heavy lifting. He may receive permanent partial disability benefits based on that rating.
Example 2: Office Worker with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
An administrative assistant develops carpal tunnel syndrome after years of repetitive typing. Surgery helps, but she still has limited grip strength and ongoing pain. She’s given a PD rating of 15% and receives compensation for her partial permanent disability while transitioning to a less typing-intensive job.
Example 3: Forklift Operator with Amputation
A forklift operator loses part of his hand in a workplace accident. After healing, he’s unable to operate machinery or perform jobs requiring manual dexterity. He’s rated at 60% permanent disability and may qualify for retraining and supplemental benefits, in addition to ongoing compensation.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
Navigating permanent disability claims can be complex—especially when it comes to PD ratings, benefit calculations, and fighting for fair compensation. Insurance companies may challenge your level of impairment or try to settle for less than you deserve.
That’s where Attorney Tim Bartell comes in.
With deep experience in California workers’ comp law, Tim helps injured workers understand their rights, fight for accurate PD ratings, and maximize their benefits—so they can focus on recovery and rebuilding their lives.
If you think you may have a permanent disability due to a work injury, don’t wait to get help. Contact Tim Bartell today for a consultation and learn how to protect your rights and secure the benefits you deserve.