The workers’ compensation system in California can be very confusing. For people who have not had to deal with it before, the process of filing a claim after they experience an injury on the job can seem daunting. There are many details to keep track of and important deadlines to observe. Some paperwork must be filed immediately after an injury, while other documents are not due until weeks or even months after the accident. The entire process can be a headache.
Hiring a quality attorney for your workers’ compensation claim is one of your best resources when it comes to getting the compensation you deserve. An experienced lawyer or law firm can help you obtain damages, appeal an insurance company’s ruling, and much more. California is a workers’ compensation state, and as such, every worker that is injured in the line of duty may file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation claims may vary based on a number of factors and it is necessary to understand how to file a workers’ compensation claim for a successful result.
If you are not in any immediate danger, or if your injury is not severe or life-threatening, one of your first duties should be to seek out a manager or attending supervisor on staff and let them know about the incident. You can inform your coworkers and other employees to help you contact the manager or a medical professional, but informing a higher-up on your team is a necessary part of having a successful workers’ compensation claim.
One of the main reasons for this is that the manager on duty will be able to begin the process of alerting the company’s insurance of the incident. Opening the case regarding your accident early is key in developing a strong case. In addition, telling a supervising team member about the incident is another way to build witnesses who can testify to the injury you sustained.
Unfortunately, many individuals who experience accidents while on the job in California are not able to inform their supervisor or manager about the incident because of the severity of their injury. If this is the case, an employee in this situation should always seek immediate medical attention as their first priority. There are certain injuries that can be sustained while at work that may cause long-term damage if a medical professional does not attend to them quickly, including:
After an injury has been sustained and the company has been made aware, it is important to attend all medical appointments. Insurance companies are likely to assume that any individual who filed a claim for an accident and then missed a medical appointment is not as injured as they claim or that they have healed, which gives them substantial grounds to terminate your coverage.
Amidst medical appointments and complicated paperwork, injured workers are required to let any financial providers know that they sustained their injury while on the job. This is beneficial for the individual who has been hurt since it provides a solid basis of proof when bringing the claim before the court. Without informing an insurance provider that an injury was sustained while at work, the company’s worker’s comp insurance provider may be able to claim that there is not enough proof to state that the damage occurred while on the job.
If you have sustained an injury or suffered serious harm as a result of negligence at your place of work, don’t let yourself be taken advantage of by your employer’s insurance company. The experts at KCNS Law Group can help you develop a strong case that will get you the compensation you deserve.
When you’re ready to move forward with your case, make sure you hire an attorney you can trust. Give us a call at (818) 937-9255 or reach out online to schedule a free consultation with one of our trusted legal professionals.
Our client-based approach is concentrated on our commitment to providing individual and strategic representation tailored to our client’s specific needs.