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If you are not able to work because of an injury or illness that occurred at work in Reseda, 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 a very stressful and uncertain time.
Thankfully, 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 form of insurance that is purchased by an employer to protect their workers from job-related injuries and illness. It provides a safety net for injured employees to ensure 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 worker to deal with all the consequences that come with an injury.
Under the California Workers' Compensation Act, people who are hurt on the job can get various kinds of financial support to cover their injury-related expenses. This includes:
Unlike a personal injury claim, workers can qualify for benefits regardless of 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 work-related injuries account for 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 task 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 because of the repetitive nature of the task. 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 on the job include 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 occur when a worker 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 wire or rope. It might also include incidents like a worker being struck or crushed by collapsing structures, equipment, or materials.
Workers' Comp May Also Cover Occupational Illnesses
In addition to being injured, workers can also get sick with an illness due to their job. When this occurs, 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 common illnesses that occur at work include:
Cases involving job-related illness are complex for a few different factors. One of the main reasons is that you will have to prove that your illness was caused by your job, and not from some other factor like genetics or something that happened during your personal time. This is even more complicated by the fact that many illnesses develop gradually, which makes them harder to recognize and to identify the origin.
What Should I Do If I Am Injured on the Job?
If you get hurt in the course of your employment, you need to always report the accident, injury, or illness as soon as possible to your employer. This is essential even if an injury appears minor. This, because injuries that appear minor in the beginning can end up being much more serious in the coming days or weeks.
For instance, an injury that might seem like just a strained muscle can end up being a symptom of permanent nerve damage. Or a sore low back from lifting a heavy object could be a disc herniation that needs surgery.
Further, you should always have a job-related injury assessed by a medical professional. This is the only way to learn 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 heal the injury, but help to prevent injuries to others. Furthermore, to preserve the long-term ability of a worker to keep and continue in their job.
Finally, waiting too long to report an injury on the job might foreclose your right to claim any workers' compensation benefits.
Should You Get In Touch with a Reseda Workplace Injury Attorney?
Consequently, if sustain an on-the-job injury in Reseda, speak to the Reseda personal injury lawyers at Drake Law Firm. Do not go through these hard times on your own. We are here to help you with your claim. We know the causes and impacts of job accidents and injuries. Additionally, we know the laws and regulations related to workers' compensation in California and will work to make the most of the compensation you receive.
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