We go to work to earn money to support ourselves and enjoy a better quality of life. A work injury can derail those goals, leaving us without wages and increased expenses from medical bills and other injury-related costs.
California has workers’ compensation laws to protect workers who are injured on the job from going without income and paying staggering medical bills. A West Covina personal injury lawyer from Simmrin Law Group can help you navigate those laws and receive the benefits you rightfully deserve. If you have been injured at work or have developed a work-related illness, reach out to a West Covina workers’ compensation lawyer from our team today.
What to Do After Sustaining a Work Injury
When you suffer an injury at work, there are steps you need to take to protect your health and ensure you receive appropriate coverage through workers’ compensation.
If the injury warrants emergency care, call for that help or ask someone else to make the call if you cannot. Of course, if you are entirely incapacitated, someone else will make that call for you.
Report your work injury to a manager, supervisor, or human resources department as soon as possible. Time matters. Prompt reporting can prevent delays in receiving benefits and medical care. If you do not report your injury within 30 days, your employer may challenge your claim, saying they did not have the chance to investigate your injury, and your benefits could be at risk.
For a free legal consultation with a workers’ compensation lawyer serving West Covina, call (310) 896-2723
Connect with Medical and Legal Professionals
It is important to get medical care following a work injury. Get your injuries properly documented and diagnosed, and start a course of treatment to put you in the best position for recovery. Your employer may want you to see a company doctor, a professional contracted through their workers’ compensation insurance policy.
In some cases, you may be able to see your own doctor, but only if you have predesignated your doctor with your employer.
Contact a workers’ compensation attorney in West Covina. The team at Simmrin Law Group is equipped to guide you through the claims process and will handle any conflicts that may arise. If your work injury or illness developed over time or other elements make your case less than straightforward, we will use our knowledge of workers’ rights and workers’ compensation laws to fight for what you deserve.
West Covina Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Near Me (310) 896-2723
Injuries Covered by Workers’ Compensation
California employers are legally required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance even if they have only one employee. When employees are hurt on the job, employers are obligated to provide workers’ compensation coverage. Injuries may come from one specific event or occur over time.
For example, a construction worker may fall from a ladder and break a bone. Or, you may get in a car accident while driving for your job. Jobs involving repetitive motions can also cause injuries. For example, office workers spending hours every day typing are prone to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Some workplace environments contribute to illnesses. If there is untreated mold or consistent exposure to dangerous substances such as asbestos or toxic chemicals, these are work-related illnesses that should be covered by workers’ compensation. Further, sometimes work-related stress or other psychological conditions are covered.
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How Workers’ Compensation Helps Injured Workers
A work injury takes you out of work, meaning you lose the ability to work and earn income while facing medical costs and other expenses. It is easy to see the financial distress work injuries cause. Workers’ compensation benefits relieve some of that financial stress by providing:
- Medical care: doctor visits, tests, interventions and treatments, and related transportation costs
- Temporary disability benefits: payments off-set your lost wages, comprising two-thirds of your average weekly pay
- Permanent disability benefits: payments issued if you do not fully recover and experience permanent loss of measurable physical or cognitive function
- Supplemental job displacement benefits: a voucher to pay for new training or skills enhancement if you cannot return to your previous type of work
- Death benefits: payments to surviving family if your work injury or illness proves fatal
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Why Partnering with a West Covina Workers’ Compensation Attorney Is the Best Move
While some workers’ compensation claims are easily resolved, some hit snags. Other times, workers do not fully understand the extent of the benefits they are entitled to collect. Partnering with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in West Covina ensures you are treated fairly.
Your attorney can help you file your workers’ compensation, so it is less likely to be challenged. Your attorney will also make sure the claim is actually filed. Employers are required to submit a claim on your behalf, but some do not always honor this process. Their lack of follow-through and denial of your payments not only hurts you financially but are grounds for criminal charges under California Labor Code 3700.5.
Workers’ Compensation Claim Disputes
Employers or their workers’ compensation insurance carriers may deny your claim, and you may not know how to respond. Your attorney will. For example, your lawyer will appeal the decision and may fight to have you see doctors and specialists other than those designated by your employer to ensure an impartial assessment.
Similarly, if the insurance company delays your payments, your attorney will hold them accountable under California Codes 4650 and 5814 for penalty payments as well.
And if your employer fires you when you inform them of your plan to file a claim or after you have filed, your lawyer can present you with your legal options, which may involve further actions to reinstate your position or secure a settlement.
We Fight for Workers in West Covina
You work hard to earn your income and to make money for your employer. When you are hurt at work or become ill from working conditions, you have the right to workers’ compensation benefits. It is important to have someone on your side when you apply for those benefits, especially if you have to fight for them.
Do not fight alone and risk losing out on the compensation you are entitled to under California Law. Contact Simmrin Law Group and have a skilled West Covina workers’ compensation lawyer lead your fight for fair treatment and the benefits you deserve. Schedule a consultation today.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form