If you are unable to work because of an injury or illness that happened at work in Encino, CA, you may be eligible for workers' compensation benefits. When a workplace injury happens, 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 a company to protect their workers from job-related injuries and illness. It offers a safeguard for injured employees 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 should not be the responsibility of the employee to manage all the repercussions that come with an injury.

Under the California Workers' Compensation Act, individuals that are hurt at work can receive various kinds of financial support to cover their injury-related expenses. This includes:

• missed wages from time off work
• medical costs
• job training if you need to change careers
• death benefits if a worker dies in a job-related accident

Unlike a personal injury claim, workers can receive benefits regardless of being at fault for a job-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 work-related injuries account for more than 84% of all nonfatal injuries at work. This includes:

• overexertion and repetitive motion injuries
• slip and fall injuries
• injuries from contact with equipment and objects

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 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 among the most common on-the-job injuries. They make up 25% of annual injury claims, 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 happen when an individual is struck by something or runs into something. This can include a worker being hit by a moving object, running 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 a worker 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 because of their job. When this happens, workers compensation insurance is designed to help cover some of the expenses.

Occupational illnesses include diseases that develop from dangerous work environments or workplace exposures. Some typical illnesses that occur on the job include:

• Hearing loss
• Respiratory diseases
• Skin conditions
• Toxic chemical poisoning

Situations involving occupational illness are complex for a few different reasons. 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 happened during your personal time. This is further complicated by the fact that many illnesses develop over time, which makes them harder to recognize and to determine the origin.

What Should I Do if I Am Hurt on the job?

If you become injured during your employment, you need to always report the accident, injury, or illness as soon as possible to your employer. This is important even if an injury appears minor. This, because injuries that seem small initially 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 symptom of long-term 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 evaluated by a doctor. This is the only way to figure out the extent of your injury, and what can be done to recover. 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. Further, to preserve the long-term ability of an employee to keep 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 Encino Workplace Injury Lawyer?

Consequently, if sustain an on-the-job injury in Encino, contact the Encino personal injury lawyers at Drake Law Firm. Don't go through these difficult times on your own. We are here to assist you with your claim. We understand the causes and impacts of job accidents and injuries. Additionally, we understand the laws and regulations related to workers' compensation in California and will work to maximize the compensation you receive.