Major Changes Coming to Workers’ Compensation Hearings in California This March
If you’ve been injured at work in San Bernardino County and are facing a workers’ compensation hearing this year, you’re about to experience a significant shift in how your case proceeds. Starting March 3, 2025, the California Division of Workers’ Compensation is transitioning many types of hearings from telephone conferences to the CourtCall Video Platform, marking a new era in how injured workers access justice. This change affects status conferences, mandatory settlement conferences (MSCs), priority conferences, and lien conferences – but not all hearings will go virtual. Understanding these changes and how they impact your case is crucial for protecting your rights and ensuring you’re prepared for what lies ahead.
💡 Pro Tip: Mark your calendar for March 3, 2025 – any hearing scheduled after this date may be conducted via video rather than phone, so start familiarizing yourself with video conferencing technology now to avoid last-minute stress.
Embrace the future of workers’ compensation hearings with confidence. Whether navigating the shift to video or determining your best legal path, Kampf, Schiavone & Associates is here to guide you every step of the way. Reach out at (909) 885-1522 or contact us today to ensure your rights are safeguarded in the virtual courtroom.
Your Rights in the New Video Hearing System for Workers’ Compensation
The transition to video hearings represents more than just a technological upgrade – it’s a fundamental change in how injured workers interact with the workers’ compensation system. Under California regulation 8 CCR §10815, any matter may be set for an electronic hearing, but you maintain important rights throughout this process. Most importantly, you have the right to object to an electronic hearing if you have good cause, and this objection must be filed in writing after you receive notice that your hearing will be conducted electronically. Working with a workers compensation attorney in Bernardino california becomes even more valuable during this transition, as they can help you determine whether a video hearing serves your best interests or if you should request an in-person proceeding.
The new system maintains public access requirements, meaning the Division of Workers’ Compensation must make information available about how to access these hearings. Each judge will have their own virtual courtroom on the CourtCall Video Platform, complete with a dedicated call-in number for those who cannot access video technology. This dual approach ensures that technological barriers don’t prevent injured workers from participating in their hearings. If you’re concerned about technology access or have specific needs that might make video participation challenging, a workers compensation attorney in Bernardino california can help you consult a lawyer about accommodations or alternatives that protect your right to be heard.
💡 Pro Tip: Document any technology limitations you have (slow internet, no webcam, hearing difficulties) before your hearing date – these may constitute good cause for requesting an in-person hearing instead.
What to Expect: Timeline and Process for Video Hearings in 2025
The rollout of video hearings follows a carefully planned timeline designed to ensure smooth implementation while maintaining access to justice for injured workers. Understanding this timeline helps you prepare for your case and know what to expect at each stage. The transition affects different types of hearings differently, and knowing which category your hearing falls into determines whether you’ll be appearing virtually or in person.
- March 3, 2025: Video platform goes live for status conferences, MSCs, priority conferences, and lien conferences – replacing the current telephone conference system entirely
- All trials, lien trials, and expedited hearings remain in-person throughout 2025, ensuring complex matters still receive face-to-face attention
- Hearing notices will include specific virtual courtroom links and call-in numbers for each judge, arriving with your standard hearing documentation
- If you need to object to a video hearing, you must file written objection showing good cause after receiving your electronic hearing notice
- The presiding workers’ compensation judge reviews objections and may schedule a hearing to determine format – silence means the assigned judge decides
💡 Pro Tip: Test your video setup at least one week before your hearing using the DWC Virtual Courtroom Resources – technical difficulties on hearing day won’t excuse missed appearances.
Navigating Your Workers’ Comp Video Hearing with a Workers Compensation Attorney in Bernardino California
Successfully managing a video hearing requires preparation beyond just understanding the technology. The shift to video proceedings creates both opportunities and challenges for injured workers seeking fair compensation. Video hearings can reduce travel burdens and make participation easier for those with mobility limitations or transportation challenges. However, they also require reliable internet access, appropriate technology, and a suitable environment for participating in legal proceedings. A workers compensation attorney in Bernardino california can guide you through these requirements and ensure you’re fully prepared for your virtual appearance.
Kampf, Schiavone & Associates has extensive experience helping injured workers navigate the evolving landscape of workers’ compensation proceedings. As the system transitions to video hearings, having legal representation becomes even more valuable. Your attorney can help you understand whether a video format works to your advantage, assist with any necessary objections, and ensure technical issues don’t compromise your case. They can also help you prepare for the unique aspects of presenting your case via video, from positioning documents for the camera to ensuring your testimony comes across clearly and convincingly in a virtual format.
💡 Pro Tip: Create a checklist for your video hearing day including: testing equipment 30 minutes early, having all documents within reach, ensuring a quiet environment, and having your attorney’s contact information readily available for technical emergencies.
Special Considerations for Remote Work Injuries in the Video Hearing Era
The rise of remote work has created new complexities in workers’ compensation cases, particularly when combined with virtual hearings. For workers injured while working from home, proving that an injury is work-related becomes more complicated, especially when the injury could have theoretically occurred during non-work hours. The primary considerations include whether your employer was benefiting from your actions when the injury occurred and whether your employer required you to engage in the activity that caused the injury. These questions become even more nuanced when presenting evidence through a video platform rather than in person. A workers compensation attorney in Bernardino california understands these unique challenges and can help structure your case presentation effectively in the virtual environment.
Presenting Remote Work Injury Evidence Virtually
Video hearings present unique challenges for demonstrating the work-related nature of remote injuries. Unlike in-person proceedings where physical evidence and workspace documentation can be easily shared, virtual hearings require careful preparation of digital evidence. You may need to photograph or video your home workspace, document your work schedule, and gather electronic communications that establish your work activities at the time of injury. The video format can actually work to your advantage in remote work cases, as judges may better understand your working conditions when you can show your actual home office setup during the hearing. Consider how video testimony might strengthen your case when explaining how your work duties directly led to your injury.
💡 Pro Tip: Take time-stamped photos of your home workspace from multiple angles immediately after an injury – these become crucial evidence in remote work injury cases and display well in video hearings.
Technology Requirements and Accessibility Options for CourtCall Video Platform
The CourtCall Video Platform represents a significant technological advancement from the previous telephone conference system, but it also comes with specific requirements that injured workers need to understand. The Division of Workers’ Compensation provides comprehensive resources including CourtCall manuals for both computers and mobile devices, ensuring participants can access hearings through their preferred technology. Understanding these requirements before your hearing date prevents last-minute scrambling and ensures you can focus on presenting your case effectively. A workers compensation attorney in Bernardino california can help you navigate these technical requirements and ensure you’re prepared for any contingencies.
Backup Options and Alternative Access Methods
Recognizing that not everyone has access to high-speed internet or video technology, the system maintains important backup options. Every virtual courtroom includes a call-in number, allowing audio-only participation when video isn’t feasible. This dual approach reflects the reality that injured workers come from diverse technological backgrounds and may face various barriers to video participation. The regulations found in Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 8, § 10815 – Electronic Hearings Before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board ensure that technological limitations don’t become barriers to justice. If you experience technical difficulties during your hearing, having your attorney present (either virtually or as your representative) provides an additional layer of protection for your interests.
💡 Pro Tip: Write down both the video link and call-in number for your hearing in multiple places – if video fails, you can quickly switch to audio without missing critical portions of your hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Concerns About Video Hearings in Workers’ Compensation Cases
As California’s workers’ compensation system embraces video technology, injured workers naturally have questions about how these changes affect their cases. Understanding the answers helps you prepare effectively and reduces anxiety about the hearing process.
💡 Pro Tip: Keep a written list of your questions about video hearings to discuss with your attorney during your case preparation – addressing concerns early prevents hearing day surprises.
Next Steps for Your Workers’ Compensation Video Hearing
Taking proactive steps to prepare for your video hearing ensures the best possible outcome for your case. From technical preparation to legal strategy, each element contributes to presenting your case effectively in the virtual environment.
💡 Pro Tip: Schedule a practice video session with a friend or family member using the same device and location you’ll use for your hearing – this dress rehearsal identifies and resolves issues before they matter.
1. Can I still have my san bernardino california workers compensation attorney represent me in a video hearing?
Yes, your attorney can absolutely represent you in video hearings. In fact, having legal representation becomes even more valuable in virtual proceedings. Your attorney can appear with you virtually, help manage technical issues, present documents effectively on screen, and ensure your rights are protected throughout the video hearing process. They’re familiar with the CourtCall platform and can guide you through the entire process.
2. What happens if my internet connection fails during my workers compensation video hearing in San Bernardino?
Every virtual courtroom on the CourtCall platform includes a backup call-in number specifically for these situations. If you lose video connection, immediately call the provided phone number to continue participating via audio. Notify the judge of your technical difficulties as soon as you reconnect. Having your attorney present provides additional protection, as they can explain the situation and ensure your interests are represented even during technical disruptions.
3. Which types of workers compensation hearings will remain in-person after March 2025?
All trials, lien trials, and expedited hearings will continue to be conducted in person even after the March 3, 2025 transition. Only status conferences, mandatory settlement conferences (MSCs), priority conferences, and lien conferences are moving to the video platform. This means more complex proceedings requiring extensive evidence presentation or witness testimony will still occur face-to-face in the traditional courtroom setting.
4. How do I object to having a video hearing for my workers comp case?
You must file a written objection showing good cause after receiving notice that your hearing will be conducted electronically. Good cause might include lack of technology access, disabilities that make video participation difficult, or case complexities requiring in-person presentation. The presiding workers’ compensation judge may schedule a hearing to decide whether to grant your objection. If they take no action, the decision transfers to your assigned judge.
5. Are california workers compensation video hearings recorded differently than in-person hearings?
Video hearings maintain the same official record requirements as in-person proceedings. The hearing is recorded for the official transcript, just as traditional hearings are. However, participants may not make their own recordings of the proceedings unless they obtain advance permission from the workers’ compensation judge or a written order from the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board; unauthorized recordings are prohibited and may be sanctioned. The video format may actually provide clearer audio for transcription purposes. Your attorney can help ensure important statements are clearly articulated for the record, regardless of the hearing format.
Work with a Trusted Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
As California’s workers’ compensation system evolves with new technology, having experienced legal guidance becomes increasingly important. The transition to video hearings represents just one of many changes affecting injured workers’ rights and options. Whether you’re dealing with a remote work injury, preparing for your first video hearing, or wondering if you should object to the electronic format, professional legal assistance helps protect your interests. Understanding your rights, preparing effectively for virtual proceedings, and presenting your case convincingly in any format requires both legal knowledge and practical experience navigating the workers’ compensation system.
Ready to face your workers’ compensation hearing with assurance? At Kampf, Schiavone & Associates, we’re committed to guiding you through every twist and turn the new video hearing era brings. Call us at (909) 885-1522 or contact us today to safeguard your future.