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If you are unable to work because of an injury or illness that occurred on the job in North Hollywood, 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.
Fortunately, 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 a company to protect their workers from job-related injuries and illness. It provides a safety net for injured workers so that they are not left with no job and no money while trying to recuperate from an injury. Some jobs can be dangerous, and it shouldn't be the responsibility of the employee to handle all the consequences that come with an injury.
Under the California Workers' Compensation Act, people that are hurt at work can get different 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 typically awarded in a personal injury claim.
Common Causes of Workplace Injuries
The top three leading causes of job-related injuries make up more than 84% of all nonfatal injuries on the job. This includes:
Overexertion and Repetitive Motion Injuries
Overexertion injuries can occur when a worker uses excessive physical effort to do a job and gets hurt. 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 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 yearly injury claims, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Falls at work 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 an individual is hit by something or runs into something. This can include a worker being hit by a moving object, bumping 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' Comp Can Also Cover Occupational Illnesses
In addition to 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 costs.
Job-related illnesses include diseases that arise from dangerous work environments or workplace exposures. Some typical illnesses that occur on the job include:
Cases involving job-related illness are complex for a few 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 occurred during your personal time. This is even more complicated by the fact that many illnesses develop over time, which makes them more difficult to notice and to determine the origin.
What Should I Do If I Am Injured on the Job?
If you get injured 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 important even if an injury seems minor. This, because injuries that appear small initially can end up being much more serious in the coming days or weeks.
For example, an injury that might 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 requires surgery.
Additionally, you should always have a work-related injury assessed by a medical professional. 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 may not only heal the injury, but help to prevent injuries to others. Further, to preserve the long-term ability of a worker to keep and continue in his or her job.
Finally, waiting too long to report an injury on the job may foreclose your right to claim any kind of workers' compensation benefits.
Should You Get In Touch with a North Hollywood Workplace Injury Lawyer?
Consequently, if suffer an on-the-job injury in North Hollywood, consult with the North Hollywood personal injury attorneys at Mendez & Sanchez. Do not go through these difficult times on your own. We are here to help you with your case. We understand the causes and impacts 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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