Workplace accidents are an unfortunate part of some jobs. Fortunately, you do not have to prove liability against your employer under state workers’ compensation laws. The system is meant to cover your medical bills and temporary disability while you cannot earn wages while you recuperate and issue disability payments if you cannot return to work soon or ever.
You do not anticipate the sudden moment of shifting from being fine to suffering a debilitating injury that will keep you out of work. When it occurs, your first reaction should be to get immediate medical care by asking a co-worker or employer to call 911 or to accompany you to the hospital or your physician’s office. Our knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorneys can help you understand what to do after a workplace accident in Visalia.
All employers must offer workers’ compensation benefits to full and part-time employees under California Labor Code § 3700. The benefits cover workplace accidents, job-related illnesses that only worsen, such as asbestos-related lung disease, and stress-related outcomes, such as strokes caused by high blood pressure.
Despite the range of accidents and illnesses workers’ compensation covers, an employee who ends up injured at work should follow specific protocols to support their application for the benefits they are entitled to. A workers’ compensation lawyer in Visalia could direct a claim after a workplace accident.
After seeking medical attention, an employee should complete the following actions to receive benefits:
Most insurers require an employee to submit a claim within 30 days of the incident. When the injury or illness takes a while to manifest, an employee has two years to file a claim from when a physician diagnoses it. After reporting a workplace accident, a Visalia workers’ compensation attorney could provide additional guidance.
Workers’ compensation insurers are not in business to distribute as much money as possible to injured employees with little documentation. Retain notes about what caused the accident, the diagnosis and instructions from the attending physician, and any tests administered, such as MRIs and X-rays. More comprehensively, acquire:
Employees may want to engage an attorney to assist in filing a workers’ compensation claim because additional documentation and specific deadlines are in place, which can be confusing. If an employee is eligible for disability, an attorney can negotiate for the most beneficial amount.
Claims administrators have the discretion to deny workers’ compensation benefits applications. An attorney can appeal by filing an Application for Adjudication of a Claim.
A special judge can preside over a court hearing after a state-qualified medical evaluator assesses the claimant on appeal. A tenacious workers’ compensation lawyer in Visalia understands what to do after workplace accident claims are denied.
When you are injured in a workplace accident, you may feel shocked and confused. Seek immediate medical attention and notify your employer. Then contact a skilled attorney who could help get your medical bills paid and your wages replaced through a workers’ compensation claim. Call to learn more about what to do after a workplace accident in Visalia.
