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If you are unable to work due to an injury or illness that happened on the job in Burbank, you might be qualified for workers' compensation benefits. When a workplace injury happens, you might find yourself missing out on paychecks, accumulating medical bills, and being overwhelmed with paperwork. This can be an extremely stressful and uncertain time.
Fortunately, California law protects workers from negative fallout related to job injuries by requiring companies 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 employees from job-related injuries and illness. It offers 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 hazardous, and it should not be the responsibility of the employee to manage all the repercussions that come with an injury.
Under the California Workers' Compensation Act, people who are hurt on the job can get various types 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 granted in a personal injury lawsuit.
Common Causes of Workplace Injuries
The top three leading causes of job-related injuries make up more than 84% of all nonfatal injuries at work. This includes:
Overexertion and Repetitive Motion Injuries
Overexertion injuries can occur when a worker uses excessive physical effort to do a job and becomes injured. This includes lifting, pushing, turning, holding, carrying, or throwing.
Repetitive motion triggered 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 among the most common on-the-job injuries. They represent 25% of yearly injury cases, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Falls at work 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 hit by something or bumps into something. This can include a worker 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 an employee being struck or crushed by collapsing structures, equipment, or materials.
Workers' Compensation May Also Cover Occupational Illnesses
Along with being hurt, workers can also get sick with an illness due to their job. When this happens, workers compensation insurance is designed to help cover some of the expenses.
Job-related illnesses include diseases that arise from hazardous work environments or workplace exposures. Some typical illnesses that occur at work include:
Cases involving job-related illness are complicated for a few different factors. One of the main reasons is that you will need to prove that your illness was caused by your job, and not from any other factor like genetics or something that occurred during your personal time. This is further complicated by the fact that several illnesses develop over time, which makes them harder to notice and to identify the origin.
What Should I Do If I Am Injured at Work?
If you become hurt in the course of your employment, you need to always report the accident, injury, or condition as soon as possible to your employer. This is essential even if an injury appears minor. This, because injuries that appear minor at first can become much more severe in the coming days or weeks.
For instance, an injury that might feel like just a strained muscle can end up being a sign of long-term nerve damage. Or a sore low back from lifting a heavy object could be a disc herniation that needs surgery.
Furthermore, you should always have a work-related injury evaluated 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 cure 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 his or her job.
Lastly, waiting too long to report an injury at work may seize your right to claim any kind of workers' compensation benefits.
Should You Consult with a Burbank Workers' Compensation Attorney?
Consequently, if sustain an on-the-job injury in Burbank, get in touch with the Burbank personal injury attorneys at Drake Law Firm. Do not go through these hard times alone. We are here to help you with your case. We know the causes and effects of work accidents and injuries. Also, we understand 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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