Specific criteria and requirements must be met to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits in California, and the list is not short. The workers’ compensation attorneys at Eason & Tambornini can provide valuable guidance and legal support if you’ve been injured on the job or become ill due to your job.
Having a competent, aggressive workers’ compensation attorney who is always working in your best interests is crucial, and one of the main reasons is that California’s workers’ compensation system is not easy to navigate. Here is a snapshot of certain parts of the process and why having an attorney helping you is so important.
- California workers’ compensation law is complex; there are exceptions and special circumstances that an experienced workers’ compensation attorney can sort out, allowing you to focus on healing from your work-related injury.
- Workers’ compensation attorneys understand the nuances of employment status. Many categories of employees exist today, and it is hard to keep up: virtual, hybrid, in-person, freelance, and independent contractor. For every category of employee, various rules and guidelines may apply. An attorney’s job is to understand them all.
- Meeting deadlines for notifying your employer that you’ve been injured or have become sick and filing paperwork are vital to receiving workers’ compensation benefits. An attorney will make sure you aren’t missing important dates.
- Specific timelines of injuries or illnesses are sometimes tricky to determine, especially whether they happened during your employment. If a dispute arises about the timeline associated with your injury, an attorney will make sure important details are noted that could affect the outcome of the benefits you receive.
This partial list covers a few variables that an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can assist with. It also helps to know what type of injuries and illnesses are most commonly associated with workers’ compensation.
Common Workers’ Compensation Injuries
California’s most common workplace injuries can vary depending on the industry and occupation. However, some of the commonly reported include:
- Slips, Trips, and Falls: These highly common workplace injuries can happen anywhere in any industry. They are often due to wet or slippery floors, uneven surfaces, obstacles, or poor lighting.
- Strains and Sprains: Lifting more than you should, not lifting correctly, and repetitive motions can lead to muscle strains and sprains, torn tendons, and injured ligaments.
- Overexertion: Workplace injuries from excessive physical effort, such as when lifting, pulling, or carrying heavy loads, can cause back injuries and other musculoskeletal problems.
- Cuts and abrasions: Using sharp tools, machinery, or handling materials may result in cuts, bruises, or puncture wounds. These injuries are common in construction, manufacturing, and food service.
- Toxic substances exposure: Dangerous chemicals and other hazardous substances can lead to injuries and short- and long-term illnesses. Healthcare and agriculture see injuries of this type frequently.
- Electrical Shocks and Burns: Equipment or high-voltage systems can cause electrical shocks and burns, resulting in serious injury.
Safety measures, like those that the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) mandate in the workplace, help decrease the chance of injuries.
If you become ill because of your job or have a work-related incident or accident, your first step is to report it to your employer. Then, contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney like those at Eason & Tambornini, who can help you navigate the system and help you receive the maximum benefits allowed by law.
Our consultations are risk-free, so we don’t accept payment until your case is settled. Call today at 916) 438-1819.
