Why You Need a Worker Comp Attorney in Los Angeles
Workers compensation is one of the oldest social insurance programs in the United States, dating back to the early 20th century. InCalifornia, all employers must carry workers compensation insurance, even if they have only one employee. Under Section 3700.5 of the California Labor Code, failure to have workers compensation coverage is a criminal offense punishable by a $10,000 fine, imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year, or both.
The Division of Workers Compensation (DWC), within the California Department of Industrial Relations, has an elaborate, complex system set up to handle all aspects of workers compensation claims, reviews, and benefits. Workers who are hurt on the job or become ill as a result of unsafe work conditions are not required to have an attorney to receive workers compensation benefits. Benefits for temporary and permanent disabilities are set and awarded based on strict statutory guidelines, and medical treatments must meet a peer-reviewed standard of care.
But sometimes the job-related injury is severe and the necessary medical treatment and care are costly. Doctors picked by the workers comp insurance company could try to minimize the severity of your injuries, and insurance company case managers could delay or deny your claim as well as pressure you to accept a low-ball settlement offer.
How Los Angeles workers comp lawyers can fight for you
When you are disabled or infirmed due to a job-related accident or illness, you are not in the strongest position to navigate the workers comp system or to fight for the care and benefits you deserve. In such circumstances, it is advantageous to have a Los Angeles workers comp lawyer step in and handle all the paperwork and challenges of your case for you. Your Los Angeles workers comp lawyer can make sure you explore all your options including the following:
- Medical examination by a qualified medical evaluator (QME) or agreed medical examiner (AME) for a second opinion
- Taking your case to the Workers Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB), where a judge can decide what medical treatment should be provided to you
- Challenging unfair physical disability ratings that hurt your benefits
- Negotiating and evaluating lump-sum settlements
- Suing negligent third parties that contributed to your illness or injuries
We’ll Fight For You!
If you or a loved one was hurt on the job, we’ll fight for you. If there is no recovery, there is no fee. For workers compensation matters, we have a partnership with The Law Firm of Perona, Langer, Beck & Serbin, which is exceptionally qualified and experienced in successfully handling all types of workers comp cases.
If you have a workers compensation case in California, we have offices across the state to serve you. Please contact us today at 800-333-0000 or use our online contact form to arrange for your free initial consultation.
Situations that Require a Los Angeles Workers Compensation Attorney
Workers compensation is a trade-off between employers and employees. With workers comp, employees are entitled to receive prompt, adequate medical treatment for injuries and illnesses that occur on the job, regardless of who is at fault. In return, workers are prevented from suing their employers for damages and losses stemming from job-related accidents and illnesses.
The Division of Workers Compensation (DWC), within the California Department of Industrial Relations, has an elaborate, complex system set up to handle all aspects of workers compensation claims, reviews, and benefits. In most cases, workers compensation cases move through the system without a hitch. Workers see the doctors in the medical provider network (MPN) set up by insurance companies covering their employers and receive the treatment and benefits they deserve.
Why you need a Los Angeles workers comp attorney on your side
But sometimes, things do not go smoothly. When disagreements and disputes arise, it is extremely advantageous to enlist the help of qualified, experienced Los Angeles workers comp attorneys who are familiar with all the forms, rules, and reviews associated with California workers compensation.
Insurance carriers could deny your claim because they:
- Believe your injury was not work-related
- Do not consider your injury to be as serious as you claim
- Say you violated the company safety policy
- Do not agree with the medical treatment or care you feel you need
- Claim you were drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs at the time of the accident
If you were hurt on the job or have contracted a debilitating illness, you may not be in the best position to navigate the workers compensation system by yourself or to understand and fight for your rights under the law.
A Los Angeles workers comp attorney can move quickly to ensure that you receive prompt, adequate medical care and that all forms are filed by specified deadlines so you do not put critical benefits payments at risk. If an adequate settlement cannot be reached, your attorney can represent you at workers compensation reviews and tribunals, as well as sue negligent third parties that contributed to your injuries.
We’ll Fight For You!
If you or a loved one was hurt on the job, we’ll fight for you. If there is no recovery, there is no fee. For workers compensation matters, we have a partnership with The Law Firm of Perona, Langer, Beck & Serbin, which is exceptionally qualified and experienced in successfully handling all types of workers comp cases.
If you have a workers compensation case in California, we have offices across the state to serve you. Please contact us today at 800-333-0000 or use our online contact form to arrange for your free initial consultation.
Crocs™ Footwear Cases Illustrate the Challenges in Proving Liability
Dangerous and defective products can pose significant risk of injury to anyone who uses them. But children are often at higher risk—largely because they do not know how to recognize potential dangers before it is too late. A California family recently filed one of at least five lawsuits across the country pertaining to injuries children suffered in escalator accidents while wearing Crocs™ shoes. The complexities of proving liability
A related 2008 report by CBS News Healthwatch illustrates the potential complexity of proving liability in accidental injury cases. It also helps explain why experienced attorneys conduct thorough analyses to identify all parties who may share liability for an accident.
While Crocs, Inc. may have alleged that the escalators were to blame for the accidents, numerous similar incidents in Los Angeles,Atlanta, and Louisville indicate that the design of the shoes may have contributed to severe injuries amounting to millions of dollars in damages.
Thorough investigation is vital to ensuring personal injury lawsuits identify all parties who are responsible for an accident. In the Crocs™ case, it might appear that the escalators caused the accidents. But the accidents occurred on different escalators across the country—and all involved children wearing the same type of shoes.
In the Crocs™ cases, the soft-soled shoes lack safety features that might have prevented them from becoming entangled in the mechanism of escalators and causing injuries. And the children involved were all reported as still and well-behaved when the accidents occurred. Seek support from an experienced San Joseinjury law firm
Anyone injured in a California accident—or who lost a loved one—caused by the negligence of others needs skilled legal support to ensure all negligent parties are held liable. The San Jose injury and wrongful death attorneys at Bohn & Bohn, LLP in California have the extensive experience and resources needed to develop effective cases for their injured clients. Contact us today at 800-573-4222 for a free consultation regarding your claim.