If you are not able to work due to an injury or illness that took place at work in San Gabriel, you might be eligible for workers' compensation benefits. When a workplace injury occurs, you might find yourself losing out on paychecks, accumulating medical bills, and being overwhelmed with paperwork. This can be an extremely difficult and uncertain time. Fortunately, California law protects workers from negative fallout related to job injuries by requiring employers to carry workers compensation insurance.
What Is Workers Compensation and How Does It Work?
Workers' compensation is a type of insurance that is purchased by a company to protect their workers from job-related injuries and illness. It provides a safeguard for injured employees so that they are not left with no job and no money while trying to recover from an injury. Some jobs can be dangerous, and it should not be the responsibility of the employee to deal with all the repercussions that come with an injury.
Under the California Workers' Compensation Act, individuals that are injured on the job can receive various kinds of financial support to cover their injury-related expenses. This includes:
Unlike a personal injury case, workers can qualify for benefits regardless of being at fault for a job-related incident. However, injured workers can not recover compensation for damages typically granted in a personal injury claim.
Have You Been Hurt at work?
Accidents and injuries happen everywhere, even on the job. This is particularly true in certain occupations and industries, such as:
But the truth is, accidents can happen even in relatively tame work environments.
For instance, even an office worker can be hurt on the job. Sitting at a computer all the time can create injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome or vision issues. Or there could be a slippery floor or a staircase that can result in a fall. If these injuries lack proper medical attention, they can result in further more severe injuries down the road.
Common Causes of Workplace Injuries
The top three leading causes of work-related injuries account for more than 84% of all nonfatal injuries at work. This includes:
Overexertion and Repetitive Motion Injuries
Overexertion injuries can happen when a worker uses excessive physical effort to do a task and becomes hurt. This includes lifting, pushing, turning, holding, carrying, or throwing.
Repetitive motion triggered by stress or strain on some part of the body is because of the repetitive nature of the task. Common repetitive tasks include lifting boxes, typing on a computer, using a ten-key machine, sitting for long hours, and working on an assembly line.
Slip and Fall Injuries
Slip and fall accidents are one of the most frequent on-the-job injuries. They represent 25% of annual injury cases, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Falls on the job include falling from slippery floors, from tripping, and from heights like ladders, roofs, scaffolding, or various other structures.
Injuries from Contact with Equipment and Objects
Contact with equipment and objects refers to injuries that occur when a worker is struck by something or bumps into something. This can include an employee being struck by a moving object, running into or being pushed in front of an object, being crushed in equipment, or being caught in wire or rope. It may also include incidents like a worker being struck or crushed by collapsing structures, equipment, or materials.
Workers' Comp May Also Cover Occupational Illnesses
Along with being injured, employees can also get sick with an illness because of their job. When this happens, workers compensation insurance is designed to help cover some of the costs.
Occupational illnesses include diseases that develop from dangerous work environments or workplace exposures. Some typical illnesses that happen at work include:
Situations involving job-related illness are complex for a few different reasons. One of the main reasons is that you will need to prove that your illness was caused by your job, and not from some other factor like genetics or something that occurred during your personal time. This is further complicated by the fact that a lot of illnesses develop over time, which makes them more difficult to notice and to pinpoint the origin.
What Should I Do If I Am Hurt at Work?
If you get hurt during your employment, you should always report the accident, injury, or condition as soon as possible to your employer. This is important even if an injury appears minor. This, because injuries that appear minor initially can become much more serious in the coming days or weeks.
For instance, an injury that might seem like only a strained muscle can end up being a symptom of permanent nerve damage. Or a sore lower back from lifting a heavy object could be a disc herniation that needs surgery.
Further, you should always have a work-related injury evaluated by a medical professional. This is the only way to learn the extent of your injury, and what can be done to recuperate. This is especially important for stress or repetitive motion injuries. In this case, making changes in the ergonomic environment may not only treat the injury, but help to prevent injuries to others. Further, to preserve the long-term ability of a worker to keep and carry on in his or her job.
Lastly, waiting too long to report an injury at work might foreclose your right to claim any workers' compensation benefits.
Should You Contact a San Gabriel Workers' Compensation Lawyer?
Consequently, if you suffer an on-the-job injury in San Gabriel, get in touch with the San Gabriel personal injury lawyers at Mendez & Sanchez. Don't go through these difficult times on your own. We are here to assist you with your claim. We know the causes and effects of job accidents and injuries. Additionally, we know the laws and regulations associated with workers' compensation in California and will work to make the most of the compensation you receive.
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