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.

Afortunadamente, la legislación de California protege a los trabajadores de las consecuencias negativas relacionadas con las lesiones laborales exigiendo a los empresarios que contraten un seguro de indemnización por accidentes laborales.

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:

• pérdida de salario por baja laboral
• gastos médicos
• formación laboral si necesita cambiar de profesión
• prestaciones por defunción si el trabajador fallece en un accidente laboral

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.

Causas comunes de las lesiones en el lugar de trabajo

Las tres principales causas de lesiones relacionadas con el trabajo representan más del 84% de todas las lesiones no mortales en el trabajo. Esto incluye:

• sobreesfuerzo y lesiones por movimientos repetitivos
• lesiones por resbalones y caídas
• lesiones por contacto con equipos y objetos

Sobreesfuerzo y lesiones por movimientos repetitivos

Las lesiones por sobreesfuerzo pueden producirse cuando un trabajador realiza un esfuerzo físico excesivo para realizar un trabajo y se lesiona. Esto incluye levantar, empujar, girar, sujetar, transportar o lanzar.

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.

Lesiones por resbalones y caídas

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.

Lesiones por contacto con equipos y objetos

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.

El seguro de accidentes de trabajo también puede cubrir las enfermedades profesionales

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:

• Pérdida de audición
• Enfermedades respiratorias
• Condiciones de la piel
• Envenenamiento por sustancias químicas tóxicas

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.

Por último, esperar demasiado para informar de una lesión en el trabajo puede embargarle el derecho a reclamar cualquier tipo de prestaciones de indemnización por accidente laboral.

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.