Fighting for the Rights of Injured Workers
California requires most employers to have workers’ compensation for any injury, illness or accident suffered on the job. Even though it is required many employers and their insurance companies will try not to compensate you for your injuries. Employees will sometimes be lead to believe that due to their medical records or history they may not be able to get compensated for their injuries. This is false. A prior history should not affect a new injury or illness. You have several options. Prior to filing a claim, contact our Los Angeles workplace injury attorneys to discuss your circumstances and have someone fighting for you. If you have already filed a claim and are running into roadblocks we can fight for you to obtain the compensation you are due. In either case, we will need to evaluate your case to determine the best course of action.
Koszdin, Fields & Sherry have Los Angeles workplace injury attorneys who have been serving injured employees in Southern California since 1955. We have board-certified workers’ compensation specialist* on our team who know the law inside and out. We have encountered every type of workplace incident from stress injuries to repetitive motion injuries. Some workers may not even be aware that their incident qualifies as a workers’ compensation claim.
Who bears the cost of worker injuries?
Types of Workplace Injuries
There are many types of workplace injury and our experienced Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorneys have handled the following:
- Repetitive Motions Injuries like carpal tunnel
- Physical Injuries including falls, machine accident, back injuries etc.
- Cardiac Injuries- Stroke, Hypertension, Heart Attacks and more
- Stress Claims like sleep disorders, anxiety and depression
- Aggravated previous injuries
- Occupational Diseases like loss of vision, exposure to chemicals and hearing damage
These types of injuries can happen in any workplace and when you least expect it. Our attorneys have represented construction workers, clerical workers, police offices and warehouse workers among many others. Some injuries may be harder to recognize and prove but our attorneys know exactly how to help clients prove that their ailments were caused by work.
Steps to Take After Sustaining a Work Injury in Los Angeles
Anytime a person sustains an injury on the job, they need to take various steps in order to ensure that they recover the compensation they are entitled to. These steps typically begin immediately following an injury and continue into the days and weeks after the incident occurs. At Koszdin, Fields & Sherry, our Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorneys recommend that work injury victims in these cases take the following steps:
- Receive prompt medical care: Workers’ compensation claims in Los Angeles are going to revolve around the work injury victim receiving medical care. It is absolutely crucial for any person who sustains an injury or illness on the job to seek medical care as soon as possible. Seeking immediate medical care accomplishes two things – first, this ensures that the person is caring for their well-being. Second, this will establish a direct link between the workplace and the injury or illness. Failing to seek prompt medical care could result in the employer or the insurance carrier delaying or denying the claim.
- Report the incident to a supervisor: Work injuries need to be reported to a supervisor as promptly as possible. Below, we will discuss the importance of workers’ compensation reporting deadlines. Failing to promptly report an injury or illness could result in the claim being delayed or denied by the employer or the insurance carrier.
- Follow all recommendations from the doctor: Securing full workers’ compensation benefits in Los Angeles will require the employee to continue all medical treatment until their doctor says they have reached maximum medical improvement. Any deviation from a doctor’s orders could result in the claim being delayed or denied. This includes going to any follow-up visits, attending all physical therapy and rehabilitation sessions, the use of appropriate medical devices, and more.
How Quickly do You Have to File a Work Injury Claim in LA?
When we recommend that work injury victims speak to an attorney as soon as possible, it is not because we are trying to be pushy. We just realize that deadlines are written into workers’ compensation laws, and we want to make sure that work injury victims take steps quickly to ensure that they receive full compensation for their losses. There are two specific deadlines that work injury victims in LA need to be aware of.
The first of these deadlines deals with reporting an injury or illness to a supervisor or an employer. Under workers’ competition laws in California, an injured employee has 30 days to report the incident to their employer. This time frame could mean 30 days from the day the injury or illness occurs or 30 days from when a worker receives a diagnosis (if they were previously unaware of the injury or illness).
After a work injury has been reported to an employer, this will typically trigger the workers’ compensation claims process if medical care is needed. However, it is not uncommon for an injury or illness to occur and a victim does not need immediate care. In some cases, the signs and symptoms of a work injury do not appear until days, weeks, or even months after the initial injury or diagnosis. The good news is that work injury victims have one year from the date the injury occurs or from the diagnosis to file a workers’ compensation claim, so long as they reported the incident within 30 days initially.
Schedule an initial consultation
You may think that your injury or accident is not covered under workers comp but that cannot be determined without consulting with a knowledgeable Los Angeles workplace injury attorney who can evaluate your circumstances and determine the best course of action. We aim to provide compassionate support and effective legal representation to injured workers. We want to protect the rights of workers in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California. We want to stand up to those insurance companies and employers who want to deny your benefits. We use an aggressive approach to place you in the best position to succeed. The first step in filing your claim is to schedule a free case evaluation with our Los Angeles workplace injury attorneys. Contact us today by phone or by using our online contact form. There are tight deadlines to be aware of that we cannot delay on.
