When employees suffer an injury while on the job, they might be stressed about paying for their medical bills, missing work, and getting back on their feet. Fortunately, for most employees, state laws offer the option of collecting payments known as worker’s compensation benefits. This system could pay for any medical expenses and help with the other costs of recovering from an injury.
While it is true that workers can collect benefits regardless of whether an employer is responsible for the accident and injury, the process of filing a claim can be challenging. There are some roadblocks to overcome and key things to remember, which makes working with a knowledgeable legal representative key. A Victorville worker’s compensation lawyer could look at medical records to assess your injuries, prove that you qualify as an employee under state law, and explain the benefits that apply to your case.
While there are a near endless number of ways that employees could get hurt on the job, some injuries are more common than others. Typical examples of injuries seen in worker’s compensation cases include but are not limited to:
All these injuries deserve medical treatment and the attention of a dedicated lawyer. Our Victorville attorneys could fight to factor the full extent of one’s pain and suffering into a compelling worker’s compensation claim.
Companies with more than one employee must provide workers’ compensation to all staff. Per the California Labor Code Section 3351, an employee is anyone who provides a service to a company in exchange for payment. This definition could include contracted workers, regular hires, apprenticeships, and temporary hires.
Whether legally or unlawfully working for a company, every worker must have the option for benefits in the case of injury or illness. A seasoned workers’ comp lawyer in Victorville could answer questions and help someone apply for benefits, regardless of the nature of their employment.
Workers’ compensation benefits provide an injured team member with coverage for medical treatment and lost wages. Even if the employer is not at fault for the injury, the injured worker is eligible to collect payments while they recover. Specific examples of worker’s comp benefits include:
After an accident, an injured employee can usually be reimbursed for all their medical expenses, such as ambulance rides, doctor visits, rehabilitation, costly medications, or physical therapy sessions.
If an injury keeps an employee away from work for a short period, they can usually collect temporary disability benefits. These payments serve to partially cover a lost salary.
If an on-the-job injury or illness leads to a permanent disability, an incapacitated worker could collect payments for this setback.
When employees suffer fatal injuries, their families could be eligible to collect workers’ compensation benefits. Any relevant wrongful death payments would go to the employee’s spouses, children, or other dependents.
A detail-oriented Victorville attorney could assess the extent of an employee’s injuries, losses, and setbacks to determine which benefits apply to their unique workers’ compensation case.
Being hurt on the job is always stressful and overwhelming. Even when you have the medical treatment you need to recover, you might have to wait, without pay, until you can return to work. Thankfully, when you retain legal representation and file a claim correctly, you can usually collect substantial worker’s compensation repayments.
The process can be challenging, but a Victorville worker’s compensation lawyer could speak with your employer, negotiate with insurance corporations, assess your situation, and fight to protect your rights as an employee. Call today to speak with a staff member at our diverse and paperless office.