If you are not able to work because of an injury or illness that took place on the job in Alhambra, you might be qualified for workers' compensation benefits. When a workplace injury occurs, you may 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 work injuries by requiring employers to carry workers compensation insurance.
What Is Workers’ Compensation and How Does It Work?
Workers' compensation is a form of insurance that is purchased by an employer to protect their employees from job-related injuries and illness. It offers a safeguard for injured workers to ensure they are not left with no job and no money while trying to recuperate from an injury. Some jobs can be hazardous, and it shouldn't be the responsibility of the worker to manage all the consequences that come with an injury.
Under the California Workers' Compensation Act, people that are injured on the job can get different kinds of financial support to cover their injury-related expenses. This includes:
Unlike a personal injury case, workers can receive benefits despite being at fault for a work-related accident. However, injured workers can not recover compensation for damages normally awarded in a personal injury lawsuit.
Common Causes of Workplace Injuries
The top three leading causes of job-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 injured. This includes lifting, pushing, turning, holding, carrying, or throwing.
Repetitive motion caused by stress or strain on some part of the body is due to the repetitive nature of the job. Common repetitive tasks include lifting boxes, typing on a computer, using a ten-key machine, sitting for long hours, and working on a production line.
Slip and Fall Injuries
Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common on-the-job injuries. They represent 25% of annual injury claims, 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 other structures.
Injuries from Contact with Equipment and Objects
Contact with equipment and objects refers to injuries that occur when a person is hit by something or bumps into something. This can include an employee being hit by a moving object, bumping into or being pushed in front of an object, being crushed in equipment, or being caught in wire or rope. It may also include accidents like an employee being struck or crushed by collapsing structures, equipment, or materials.
Workers' Comp Can Also Cover Occupational Illnesses
Along with being hurt, employees can also get sick with an illness due to their job. When this occurs, workers compensation insurance is designed to help cover some of the expenses.
Occupational illnesses include diseases that arise from hazardous work environments or workplace exposures. Some common illnesses that happen at work include:
Cases involving work-related illness are complex for a number of different reasons. One of the main reasons is that you will have 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 several illnesses develop gradually, which makes them more difficult to recognize and to identify the origin.
What Should I Do If I Am Hurt at Work?
If you become hurt during your employment, you need to always report the incident, 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 in the beginning can become much more serious in the coming days or weeks.
For example, an injury that may feel like only a strained muscle can end up being a sign 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 assessed by a medical professional. This is the only way to find out the extent of your injury, and what can be done to recuperate. This is especially important for stress or repetitive motion injuries. Here, making changes in the ergonomic environment may not only heal the injury, but help to prevent injuries to others. Further, to preserve the long-term ability of an employee to maintain and carry on in their job.
Lastly, waiting too long to report an injury at work might foreclose your right to claim any workers' compensation benefits.
Should You Get In Touch With an Alhambra Workplace Injury Lawyer?
Consequently, if you suffer an on-the-job injury in Alhambra, contact the Alhambra personal injury attorneys at Mendez & Sanchez. Don't go through these tough times on your own. We are here to help you with your claim. We understand the causes and effects of work 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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