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If you are unable to work as a result of an injury or illness that occurred on the job in Panorama City, you might be qualified for workers' compensation benefits. When a workplace injury occurs, 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 type 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 workers to ensure they are not left with no job and no money while trying to recuperate from an injury. Some jobs can be dangerous, and it should not be the responsibility of the employee to handle all the consequences that come with an injury.
Under the California Workers' Compensation Act, individuals who are injured on the job can receive 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 incident. However, injured employees can not recover compensation for damages normally 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 happen when a worker uses excessive physical effort to do a task and becomes 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 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 one of 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 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 hit by something or runs 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 may also include incidents like an employee being struck or crushed by collapsing structures, equipment, or materials.
Workers' Compensation Can 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.
Occupational illnesses include diseases that develop from hazardous work environments or workplace exposures. Some typical illnesses that happen on the job include:
Cases involving work-related illness are complicated for a number of 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 occurred during your personal time. This is even more complicated by the fact that several 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 injured in the course of your employment, you need to always report the incident, injury, or condition as soon as possible to your employer. This is necessary 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 instance, an injury that may feel like only a strained muscle can end up being a sign of long-term 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 work-related injury evaluated by a doctor. This is the only way to learn the extent of your injury, and what can be done to recuperate. This is particularly important for stress or repetitive motion injuries. In this case, making changes in the ergonomic environment may not only heal the injury, but help to prevent injuries to others. Further, to protect the long-term ability of a worker to keep and carry on in their job.
Lastly, waiting too long to report an injury on the job might seize your right to claim any workers' compensation benefits.
Should You Get In Touch with a Panorama City Workers' Compensation Attorney?
Consequently, if sustain an on-the-job injury in Panorama City, consult with the Panorama City personal injury attorneys at Drake Law Firm. Don't go through these tough times on your own. We are here to assist you with your claim. We know the causes and impacts of job accidents and injuries. Additionally, we understand the laws and regulations associated with workers' compensation in California and will work to maximize the compensation you receive.
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