If you get hurt at work in Los Angeles and have trouble getting the workers’ comp benefits you should, what do you do? In that case, our experienced workers compensation attorneys in Los Angeles at Koszdin, Fields & Sherry can help.
Our firm has been helping injured workers in Southern California since 1955. We have 2 offices in the United States for your convenience. Reach out for a free consultation at 323-375-5642. Our dedicated team assists you with the complexities of your workers’ comp claim.
Every day in the U.S., more than 12 people lose their lives due to work-related accidents or diseases. Annually, over 4 million individuals suffer from serious job-related injuries.
Accidents can occur unexpectedly, especially at work, where you spend a significant portion of your week. You can receive payment and take time off work to recover from the personal injury you sustained.
Unfortunately, some employers and insurance companies deny these benefits or undercut them. This can be a problematic situation for injured victims who will not be able to receive adequate medical care. Denying workers’ comp benefits in Los Angeles creates financial difficulties for disabled workers and their families. This can hinder their recovery process.
Los Angeles Workers Compensation Lawyer Fight for Your Rights
Our firm has successfully represented hundreds of injured workers throughout Los Angeles, securing compensation and medical benefits for them. If you’ve suffered an injury at work, promptly hiring the best Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorney is crucial. Securing legal representation greatly enhances your chances of successfully navigating your claim.
At Koszdin, Fields & Sherry, we are experienced in litigating workers’ compensation cases throughout Los Angeles and nearby cities. Our workers’ compensation attorney in Los Angeles specializes in assisting individuals whose work-related injuries have impacted their ability to work. With dedicated expertise in this field, we ensure that you and your loved ones receive the compensation you are entitled to under the law.
SOURCE: Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, 2022 Oregon
Workers’ Compensation Premium Rate Ranking Summary (September 2021)
California Workers’ Compensation Laws
California laws ensure that employees who are injured or disabled at work receive financial assistance. This assistance aims to help them with the financial difficulties caused by their pain and suffering. The money provided helps to cover expenses and support them during their recovery.
After an employee gets injured at work, they should hire a lawyer. The lawyer will help them with the paperwork for their compensation. The process can be complicated, so having a skilled lawyer is important. The lawyer will guide the employee through the process.
Some of the most common types of benefits covered by California’s workers’ compensation laws include:
- Medical care – This includes hospital bills, doctor visits, tests, medical equipment, X-rays, or any other possible treatment.
- Temporary disability – When someone can’t work for up to 104 weeks. Some victims may qualify for this and need time off work. During that time, you will receive temporary benefits.
- Permanent disability – Some people may need more time to recover due to their long-term physical or mental condition. Depending on the severity of their disability, they may qualify for permanent disability benefits.
The Most Common Work Injuries in Los Angeles, CA
The BLS reported 2.8 million workplace injuries and illnesses in the US in the latest data. This includes non-fatal incidents. The report covers a single year. While not all of these injuries were severe, many resulted in employees missing time from work.
Work injuries can be severe in some cases. We have extensive experience in assisting clients who sustain injuries on the job.
- Severe sprains and strains
- Broken and dislocated bones
- Lacerations and puncture wounds
- Amputations
- Crush injuries
- Open head wounds
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Respiratory illnesses
- Occupational cancers
- Hearing and vision loss
- Emotional and psychological trauma
Our team assists workers who have experienced a range of repetitive stress injuries. These injuries include carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, and hand and wrist injuries. These injuries typically occur over time in the workplace due to sub-optimal working conditions and inadequate equipment. Many workers in our area can also sustain repetitive motion injuries to their neck, back, knee, and hips.
Our Los Angeles workers comp attorney helps clients with heart and blood vessel injuries from work. They also assist those with lung problems and disabilities caused by dangerous work conditions. Many of these injuries are more complicated to prove because they develop over extended periods.
While they may be more challenging to prove, that does not mean that they are any less severe. Repetitive stress injuries and chronic health conditions can significantly impact a person’s ability to perform their work duties.
Workers’ Comp in Los Angeles For Your Injury
Here’s a summary of compensation for workplace accidents in California:
Medical Bills Covered: All medical care related to the injury, including doctor visits, therapy, surgery, and medication.
Income Replacement: Temporary disability payments if you can’t work while recovering.
Long-Term Support: Permanent disability benefits for lasting limitations from the injury.
Job Retraining: Help with retraining for a new job if your injury prevents you from doing your old one.
Benefits for Dependents: Financial support for those who rely on your income if the accident is fatal.
Cost of Workers’ Compensation Attorney
At Koszdin, Fields & Sherry, injured workers may struggle financially. Injured people may have extra medical bills on top of their usual expenses like rent and groceries.
Affording a lawyer in these situations may seem impossible. That’s why our workers’ compensation attorneys handle these cases on a contingency fee basis. This arrangement means our clients do not have to pay any upfront or out-of-pocket expenses for their cases. We only charge legal fees after successfully obtaining the compensation our clients require.
Time Limits for Filing a Los Angeles Workers’ Comp Claim
Generally, a worker who sustains an injury should report the incident to their employer as soon as possible. You have 30 days to notify your employer of a workplace injury. Failure to do so could result in you being unable to receive benefits.
Notifying your employer is not the same thing as actually filing a workers’ compensation claim. If you are injured at work, you must file a claim within one year from the date of the injury. Suppose a third party is responsible for your workplace injury.
If you are hurt, you can sue the person responsible for more money than workers’ comp allows. This is called a personal injury law. The time limit for filing a lawsuit against a negligent third party is two years from the date the injury occurred. A personal injury attorney can help in this matter.
2022 Workers’ Comp Claims Reports by Region and County
Trading Partners send First Reports of Injury (FROIs) to the Workers’ Compensation Information System (WCIS). These reports include location details of California workers’ compensation claims. The EDD in California updated the Local Area Unemployment Statistics on June 16, 2023. They then added this information to the Labor Market Information.
| CALIFORNIA COUNTY | 2022 FROI | 2022 Employment (EDD)* | Percent FROIs | Percent Employment (EDD) | Rate of Injury to Employment per 100 employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totals | 645,409 | 18,443,400 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3.5 |
| LOS ANGELES | 163,875 | 4,728,500 | 25.40% | 25.6% | 3.5 |
| ORANGE | 51,976 | 1,543,500 | 8.10% | 8.4% | 3.4 |
| SAN DIEGO | 48,854 | 1,539,600 | 7.60% | 8.3% | 3.2 |
| SAN BERNARDINO | 43,764 | 956,200 | 6.80% | 5.2% | 4.6 |
| RIVERSIDE | 36,944 | 1,091,600 | 5.70% | 5.9% | 3.4 |
| ALAMEDA | 27,508 | 797,100 | 4.30% | 4.3% | 3.5 |
| SANTA CLARA | 26,020 | 1,452,000 | 4% | 7.9% | 1.8 |
| SACRAMENTO | 23,677 | 702,600 | 3.70% | 3.8% | 3.4 |
| FRESNO | 19,368 | 430,700 | 3% | 2.3% | 4.5 |
| SAN JOAQUIN | 15,287 | 331,100 | 2.40% | 1.8% | 4.6 |
SOURCE: Workers’ Compensation Information System (WCIS) 2022 Database
What should a Worker Do After a Workplace Accident in Los Angeles?
Taking specific steps in the immediate aftermath of a workplace accident can dramatically improve your chances of recovering maximum compensation benefits. These steps include:
Reporting the Incident
If it’s not an emergency, immediately inform your supervisor or the highest-ranking team member about any workplace accident. If you cannot handle the situation, it is important to communicate the incident promptly. Reporting workplace accidents as soon as possible ensures proper handling and documentation. You need to establish that you made an official report of your accident immediately after it occurred.
Depending on where you were injured, security cameras monitoring the area might have caught footage of your accident. Ask your supervisor or the property owner if this is the case. If it is, please request to not delete the footage. You should have a witness to confirm that you requested in case someone denies it later.
Identifying Witnesses
Determine which of your coworkers might have witnessed your accident and make a list of their names. Find witnesses who are not coworkers, like customers, and get their names and contact information.
Documenting the Scene of the Accident
Take pictures of the conditions at the scene of the accident. You don’t have to prove someone was at fault to get workers’ compensation in California. But it’s a good idea to document the accident scene if it shows someone else was careless.
You may be able to sue a third party for additional compensation if they are involved in your injuries. This is in addition to what you receive from workers’ comp. Suing the person at fault can help you get more money for your injuries.
Seeing a Doctor
Avoid delaying medical treatment after experiencing a workplace accident. You must see a doctor immediately, even if you do not believe you have been injured.
You might not realize that you’ve been harmed after an accident for various reasons. For instance, symptoms of concussions may not show up until hours or days after an accident. When you have an accident, adrenaline can make it hard to feel pain right away.
Your injuries will only worsen if you do not receive treatment right away. You need to see a doctor to confirm that no immediate care is necessary.
You must also understand the role that seeing a doctor can play in your Los Angeles workers’ compensation case. Your employer’s insurance company may not pay you if you didn’t see a doctor on the day of your workplace injury. They might say there is no proof that your injuries are related to the accident. If you went to the doctor after your accident, you can prove that the accident caused your injuries.
Contact a Los Angeles Workers’ Compensation Law Firm
Your employer’s insurance may try to deny your workers’ compensation claim, which should not come as a shock. Insurance companies are businesses. The insurance company’s goal is to avoid paying you whenever possible.
If an insurer cannot deny your claim, they will still attempt to settle for as little money as possible. You should have a good Los Angeles workers’ compensation lawyer to help you get more money for your injuries. They can refuse bad offers and prove your losses to get you more money.
FAQS: Workers’ Compensation Cases
In California, if you accept workers’ compensation, you usually can’t sue your employer for work-related injuries.
To settle a work injury claim in California, you must communicate with your employer’s insurance company. You can do this through a one-time payment or through making payments over a period of time. Legal representation is essential to protect rights and secure the best settlement. Consider consulting a workers’ compensation lawyer in Los Angeles at Koszdin, Fields & Sherry for expert assistance.
California workers’ compensation lawyers typically work on a contingency basis, charging 10% to 15% of your settlement or award. The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board regulates the fee.
Under California workers’ compensation, you have the right to medical treatment, disability benefits, return to work support, and, if necessary, vocational rehabilitation. You also have the right to appeal any decision the insurance company or employer makes regarding your claim.
No, it is illegal in California for an employer to terminate an employee for submitting a workers’ compensation claim. State labor laws protect employees from retaliation for seeking compensation for work-related injuries or illnesses.
If you feel you received unfair treatment, our team at Koszdin, Fields & Sherry can help you understand your rights and explore legal options. The Koszdin, Fields & Sherry team is here to assist you if you believe someone treated you unfairly. We can help you understand your rights and explore legal options if treated unfairly.
Workers’ compensation in California does not fully pay injured workers. Instead, you typically receive about two-thirds of your average weekly wage up to a maximum limit.
Free Consultation With Los Angeles Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
If you get hurt at work, you should seek medical help immediately and document your injuries. Some symptoms may not show up immediately, so it’s crucial to keep track of everything.
Contact our legal team today for a free attorney consultation to guide you through the workers’ compensation claim process. We will help you meet important deadlines. We will assist you in completing paperwork to get the money you need for medical bills and lost income. Call us at 323-375-5642 to get started.
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