Workers’ Compensation Basics
If you have been injured on the job or suffer any ongoing illness or pain because of your job or workplace environment, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. This is regardless of whether you or your employer contributed to or caused the accident. The workers’ compensation process eliminates the need to bring a personal injury claim against your employer and ensures that you are paid the full amount that it costs to treat the injury.
Workers’ compensation can be an incredibly involved and intensive process, particularly if the injury was severe. Most workers are unable to work for at least some amount of time—some permanently. They are entitled to benefits for both the cost of medical treatment (immediate and ongoing) and the wages they lost while being unable to work.
Skilled Representation for Your California Workers’ Compensation Case
At KCNS Law Group, LLP, we understand how nerve-wracking and overwhelming the workers’ compensation claim process can be, particularly as you are trying to recover from your injury and return your life to normal. When you partner with our dedicated workers’ compensation lawyers, we are here for you at every step in the process. You will always have an attorney or paralegal to contact with any question or concern you may have. As an integral part of our client-based approach, we ensure that all calls are returned quickly to ensure your peace of mind.
Other firms know our abilities to get results for clients and refer cases to us that are beyond their skill. KCNS Law Group’s extensive experience and focus on workers’ compensation enable us to quickly identify issues and correlations that less-experienced attorneys often miss. That means our clients’ claims often settle for more than those who work with attorneys less knowledgeable in workers’ compensation law.
How Long Do I Have to Report a Workplace Injury in California?
The general rule is employees must provide a written notice to their employers about a work-related injury within 30 days after being hurt. Failing to report your injury within 30 days can result in the loss of your workers’ compensation benefits. Your employer will provide an official workers’ comp claim for you to fill out being informed of your injury. If you return this form within 30 days after your injury occurred, this claim form can serve as a written notice in itself.
Note that special rules apply to occupational diseases and cumulative trauma injuries that develop over time, such as:
- Carpal tunnel
- Joint pain
- Hearing loss
- Lung problems
These injuries are equally valid under California workers’ compensation statutes, and victims are entitled to full benefits for these injuries. Talk to our experienced attorneys for help identifying the window of time for reporting your workplace injury or medical condition that’s worsened over time.
What Benefits Can I Receive for Work-Related Injuries in California?
KCNS Law Group’s workers’ compensation attorneys realize how significant these benefits are for injured workers and their families. Our driving motivation is to help workers achieve a safe and secure future without the stress of medical bills and other expenses caused by their work-related injury.
Our attorneys work tirelessly to ensure injured workers and their families receive maximum benefits that they’re entitled under California’s workers’ compensation laws, including benefits for:
- Medical costs and care
- Temporary disability benefits
- Permanent disability benefits
- Life pension benefits
- Vocational retraining expenses
- Death benefits
Our workers’ comp attorneys understand the full scope of benefits your work-related injury or illness deserves. When you partner with KCNS Law Group, you can be confident that we will use the fullest extent of our legal experience and abilities to prevent insurance companies from paying less than what your injuries or illness deserves.
Understanding Third-Party Liability: When Someone Other Than Your Employer Contributed to the Accident
In some cases, someone other than your employer or another employee contributed to or caused your accident. That person may also be liable for damages, called third-party liability. For instance, if a worker is driving as part of their job and is crashed into by a drunk driver, a third-party liability claim will apply. While the worker may recover workers’ compensation benefits, they can also file a lawsuit against the drunk driver to recover compensation for:
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages, and more.
These are handled as personal injury cases. We are equipped to handle all aspects of your injury and recover the full amount of compensation you deserve from all responsible parties.
Social Security Disability and Ongoing Benefits
Often, workplace injuries are severe enough that the worker can no longer do their job and must apply for Social Security Disability benefits. In a typical workers’ compensation case, individuals return to work after recovering from their work-related injuries. However, when injuries are severe and workers cannot return to the workforce in any capacity at all, they are eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. In addition to workers’ compensation, we will help you get the Social Security Disability benefits you deserve when the injury is severe enough to prevent you from working.
Effective Representation Following Work-Place Injuries and Work-Related Pain
At KCNS Law Group, LLP, our attorneys handle all legal aspects of your work-related injury case, recovering the full sum of benefits and compensation you deserve from all parties involved. If you or a loved one has been injured on the job, call our Glendale, California, law office to speak with a knowledgeable attorney to understand your claim and the benefits you are entitled to receive.
When you arrange a consultation, we will complete a basic intake process with you, listening to you and fully understanding the nature of your injury, your job, and how the injury occurred. Our lawyers will provide a full and clear explanation of the workers’ compensation process, including your legal rights to compensation. While you will work directly with one specific attorney, our entire team works on each case, dedicating a wealth of legal knowledge and experience in the workers’ compensation process.
Talk to a seasoned workers’ compensation lawyer in Glendale about your injury today! Schedule a free consultation today by calling (818) 937-9255 or completing our contact form.
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