Are you among the millions of workers who are injured on the job or who become ill due to job-related causes each year? If so, you owe it to yourself and your family to seek fair and just compensation from your employer and/or the employer’s insurance carrier. If you or someone you love have experienced injuries or illness due to work, reach out to the Santa Clarita on-the-job accident attorneys with Koszdin, Fields & Sherry for professional guidance now. Depending on your injury, you may be entitled to a range of compensation and benefits.
Workplace accidents in California are not uncommon. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a half-million Californians are hurt at work each year, some of them significantly so. Sadly, some workers die due to work-related causes. When a worker dies due to a workplace injury, the worker’s family has the right to seek out compensation for devastating loss felt by the worker’s passing.
On-the job-accidents
According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report, for the latest reporting year, there were 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and over 5,000 fatal work injuries. In California, from the latest California Department of Industrial Relations Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Report, and Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Report there were roughly 40 fatal work injuries and 483,000 nonfatal work injuries—which is about 17% of all U.S. incidents.
The National Safety Council has found that the top three leading causes of work-related injuries are:
- Overexertion and bodily reaction
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Contact with objects and equipment
These three causes are responsible for 84% of all nonfatal on-the-job injuries.
Workplace Accidents and Third-Party Claims
It is sometimes the case that workers’ compensation benefits come up short when it comes to providing the coverage that injured workers need. Fortunately, workers may also be able to file a personal injury claim against a responsible party for their injuries, except for those cases where the responsibility for the accident/injury/illness falls solely on the shoulders of the employer. These third-party claims can help bridge the gap between the coverage provided by the worker’s compensation policy and the true damages incurred by the claimant.
A third-party claim against an at-fault party is generally filed alongside the claim for workers’ compensation benefits. When injuries are particularly serious, third-party claims can help the claimant recover additional monetary compensation commiserate with the injuries sustained—and at a higher level than the injured worker might collect from the workers’ comp carrier. Injured employees may seek the following damages in a third-party damage claim:
- Medical expenses, including past, current, and ongoing costs for medical care.
- Lost wages, including money lost during the recovery period and future, lost earnings/diminished capacity to earn a living based on permanent disabilities or catastrophic injuries.
- Pain and suffering. Emotional distress, pain and suffering, and other non-economic damages may be included in a third-party claim.
Reaching Out to Our Santa Clarita On-the-Job Accident Attorney
At Koszdin, Fields & Sherry, our on-the-job accident attorney is ready to help you recover the benefits and settlement that is due to you under the law. Our team is well-adept at handling all types of workplace injury, illness, and accident claims—from trip-and-fall incidents to falls from ladders or exposure to toxic chemicals. We also have a strong track record handling claims involving mental stress and repetitive motion injuries, among others.
Because the law limits the amount of time that you have to report your injury to your employer and file the necessary paperwork to start the claims process, our Santa Clarita on-the-job attorney recommends reaching out to us as soon as possible once you have been hurt. Even if you have filed your claim and been denied benefits, we can help. We are ready to face down the biggest insurance companies on your behalf so that you can recover the compensation you are owed.
For a free evaluation of your case by our Santa Clarita on-the-job accident attorneys, call 818-812-5639 or 800-747-3447 or contact us online. Our staff is bilingual, and we can arrange interpreters for other languages. All cases are taken on a contingency basis, if we do not recover for you, you pay nothing.
