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If you are unable to work because of an injury or illness that occurred on the job in Studio City, you might be eligible for workers' compensation benefits. When a workplace injury occurs, 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.
Thankfully, 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 an employer to protect their workers from job-related injuries and illness. It offers a safeguard for injured workers 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 shouldn't be the responsibility of the worker to manage all the repercussions that come with an injury.
Under the California Workers' Compensation Act, individuals that 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 job-related incident. However, injured workers can not recover compensation for damages typically awarded in a personal injury claim.
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 occur when a worker uses excessive physical effort to do a task and gets injured. This includes lifting, pushing, turning, holding, carrying, or throwing.
Repetitive motion caused by stress or strain on some part of the body is because of 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 an assembly line.
Slip and Fall Injuries
Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common on-the-job injuries. They make up 25% of annual injury cases, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Falls on the job involve 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 happen when a person is hit by something or bumps into something. This can include an employee being struck by a moving object, bumping into or being pushed in front of an object, being crushed in equipment, or being caught in cable 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 injured, employees 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.
Work-related illnesses include diseases that arise from dangerous work environments or workplace exposures. Some typical illnesses that occur on the job include:
Situations involving job-related illness are complicated 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 any other factor like genetics or something that happened during your personal time. This is further complicated by the fact that a lot of illnesses develop gradually, which makes them more difficult to notice and to determine the origin.
What Should I Do if I Am Hurt at Work?
If you get hurt in the course of your employment, you should always report the incident, injury, or illness as soon as possible to your employer. This is necessary even if an injury appears minor. This, because injuries that appear small in the beginning can end up being much more serious in the coming days or weeks.
For example, an injury that might seem like only a strained muscle can end up being a sign of long-term nerve damage. Or a sore lower back from lifting a heavy object could be a disc herniation that needs surgery.
Additionally, you should always have a work-related injury evaluated by a doctor. This is the only way to figure 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 might not only treat the injury, but help to prevent injuries to others. Furthermore, to preserve the long-term ability of an employee to maintain and continue in his or her job.
Lastly, waiting too long to report an injury on the job might foreclose your right to claim any kind of workers' compensation benefits.
Should You Get In Touch with a Studio City Workers' Compensation Lawyer?
Consequently, if sustain an on-the-job injury in Studio City, get in touch with the Studio City personal injury lawyers at Drake Law Firm. Do not go through these hard times alone. We are here to assist you with your claim. We understand 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 maximize the compensation you receive.
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