Workplace accidents happen often in California, and they can happen to anyone. These accidents are often caused by manufacturer or workplace negligence, and injuries resulting from a slip-and-fall or handling heavy goods can cause lasting damage to victims.
An accident can feel overwhelming, and can sometimes impact your life for the long haul. From arranging visits with your physician, contacting your insurance company, and filing a claim for a workplace injury, there is a great deal of stress that comes with being hurt at work. It can be challenging to know where to start. Take a look below as we cover some of the most necessary steps that workers in California should take after being injured on the job.
Depending on the nature of your injury, you should seek medical treatment immediately following an accident at work. Conditions that have developed as a result of repetitive motion, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, may not require a trip to the ER, but they can still result in severe and lasting damage if not properly treated. Some accidents are more damaging than others, including:
Many of these injuries are more dangerous than they initially seem. Being struck by an object or falling onto a hard surface can cause brain damage and broken or fractured bones that might not be immediately obvious to the person who was hurt, which is why it is imperative that you seek medical treatment right away once you have been injured in the workplace.
Most workplace accidents occur while an employee is on the clock, which means that informing a supervisor about the incident can happen soon after. However, you may not be in the right state of mind to inform them of the accident, especially if you have suffered a serious injury or a concussion.
If this is the case, after you have taken steps to seek treatment from a medical professional, you will need to contact your employer and tell them about the accident. During this conversation, they will likely ask for details related to the incident in order to gather necessary information for their records.
In the State of California, there is a window of 30 days to report a workplace injury if the victim hopes to secure financial compensation. The timeframe for this injury is not always easy to determine, however, if the damage is related to a repetitive motion or muscle strain that worsened over time. The recommended course of action is to report the injury as early as possible—ideally as soon as the issue is detected.
California requires that employers supply their injured team members with a workers’ compensation claim form one day after they suffer an accident. This claim is filled out by both the employee and the company, and it is then sent to the insurance claims administrator who represents the employer.
Claims should be submitted as soon as possible in order to avoid a delay in compensation, which is vital when tackling medical bills following an accident. If you miss more than three days of work or stay overnight in a hospital as a result of your workplace injury, you could be entitled to temporary disability benefits, which means that the earlier the insurance company has your claim, the better.
When you experience a work-related injury, your main focus should always be on your health and continued safety. Why create more stress for yourself when you could work with an experienced team of legal professionals that can save you both time and money? Here at KCNS Law Group, we specialize in helping victims who have been harmed or injured on the job. We work with our clients to get them the necessary compensation that they deserve.
When you’re ready to move forward with your workplace accident case, give us a call at (818) 937-9255 or reach out to us online to schedule your free consultation with one of our trusted legal experts.
Our client-based approach is concentrated on our commitment to providing individual and strategic representation tailored to our client’s specific needs.