If you are not able to work as a result of an injury or illness that occurred at work in Woodland Hills, you might be qualified for workers' compensation benefits. When a workplace injury happens, you may find yourself missing 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 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 employees from job-related injuries and illness. It provides a safeguard for injured workers so that 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 employee to handle all the repercussions that come with an injury.

Under the California Workers' Compensation Act, people that are injured at work can receive various types of financial support to cover their injury-related expenses. This includes:

• missed wages from time off work
• medical costs
• job training if you need to change professions
• death benefits if a worker dies in a work-related incident

Unlike a personal injury case, workers can qualify for benefits regardless of being at fault for a job-related incident. However, injured workers can not recover compensation for damages typically granted in a personal injury lawsuit.

Common Causes of Workplace Injuries

The top three leading causes of work-related injuries make up more than 84% of all nonfatal injuries on the job. This includes:

• overexertion and repetitive motion injuries
• slip and fall injuries
• injuries from contact with equipment and objects

Overexertion and Repetitive Motion Injuries

Overexertion injuries can happen when a worker uses excessive physical effort to do a job 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 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 frequent on-the-job injuries. They represent 25% of yearly injury cases, 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 other structures.

Injuries from Contact with Equipment and Objects

Contact with equipment and objects refers to injuries that happen when a worker is hit by something or runs into something. This can include a worker being struck 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 incidents like a worker being struck or crushed by collapsing structures, equipment, or materials.

Workers' Compensation Can Also Cover Occupational Illnesses

Along with being hurt, employees 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.

Work-related illnesses include diseases that develop from dangerous work environments or workplace exposures. Some typical illnesses that happen on the job include:

• Hearing loss
• Respiratory diseases
• Skin conditions
• Toxic chemical poisoning

Situations 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 happened during your personal time. This is even more complicated by the fact that a lot of illnesses develop gradually, which makes them more difficult to notice and to determine the origin.

What Should I Do If I Am Hurt at Work?

If you become hurt 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 important even if an injury appears minor. This, because injuries that seem small at first can end up being much more serious in the coming days or weeks.

For instance, an injury that might feel like just a strained muscle can end up being a sign of permanent nerve damage. Or a sore lower back from lifting a heavy object could be a disc herniation that requires surgery.

Further, you should always have a job-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 particularly important for stress or repetitive motion injuries. In this case, making changes in the ergonomic environment may not only cure 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 their job.

Finally, waiting too long to report an injury on the job may seize your right to claim any kind of workers' compensation benefits.

Should You Contact a Woodland Hills Workplace Injury Lawyer?

Consequently, if you suffer an on-the-job injury in Woodland Hills, speak to the Woodland Hills personal injury attorneys at Drake Law Firm. Do not go through these tough times on your own. We are here to assist you with your case. We understand the causes and impacts of work accidents and injuries. Also, we understand the laws and regulations related to workers' compensation in California and will work to maximize the compensation you receive.