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If you are not able to work as a result of an injury or illness that took place on the job in Calabasas, you might be qualified 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 a very difficult 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 type of insurance that is purchased by an employer to protect their employees from job-related injuries and illness. It provides a safety net for injured employees so that they are not left with no job and no money while trying to recuperate from an injury. Some jobs can be hazardous, and it shouldn't be the responsibility of the worker to deal with all the repercussions that come with an injury.
Under the California Workers' Compensation Act, people who are injured on the job can receive different types of financial support to cover their injury-related expenses. This includes:
Unlike a personal injury case, workers can qualify for benefits despite being at fault for a work-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 hurt. 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 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 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 various other structures.
Injuries from Contact with Equipment and Objects
Contact with equipment and objects refers to injuries that happen when a worker is struck by something or bumps 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 might also include accidents like an employee being struck or crushed by collapsing structures, equipment, or materials.
Workers' Compensation May Also Cover Occupational Illnesses
Along with being injured, workers 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 costs.
Occupational illnesses include diseases that develop from dangerous work environments or workplace exposures. Some typical illnesses that happen on the job include:
Cases involving work-related illness are complicated 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 gradually, which makes them more difficult to recognize and to determine 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 seem 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 turn out to be 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.
Furthermore, you should always have a work-related injury examined by a medical professional. This is the only way to find 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. Furthermore, to protect the long-term ability of an employee to keep and carry on 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 Calabasas Workers' Compensation Attorney?
Consequently, if sustain an on-the-job injury in Calabasas, consult with the Calabasas personal injury attorneys at Drake Law Firm. Do not go through these difficult times on your own. We are here to help you with your case. We know the causes and effects of job accidents and injuries. Also, we know 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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