Redondo Beach Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Most workplace injuries are covered by workers’ compensation. Under California law, every employer must carry workers comp insurance to cover their employees. An employer who fails to do so can face serious civil–and even criminal–penalties.

But just because your employer is required to cover you, that does not mean your claim will always be paid without a fight. Employers and their insurance companies frequently reject or attempt to minimize their liability for a work-related injury. That is why if you are the injured employee, it is in your best interest to work with a skilled Redondo Beach workers’ compensation lawyer. At Litigation, P.C., we assist many workers in the Los Angeles area in filing workers comp claims and pursuing appeals on their behalf. We can help if your employer is unfairly or illegally denying you the benefits that you are entitled to under the law.

What Benefits Can I Receive Under California Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation provides you with medical and wage replacement benefits if you are injured, or contract an illness, arising out of or in the course of your employment. This means that workers’ comp does not just protect you if you are injured at your office or job site. You may also be covered if you are injured while traveling to a specific work site (although your daily commute does not count). Workers comp is a no-fault system, so you do not have to prove that your employer’s negligence caused your accident or illness in order to receive benefits.

Workers’ compensation benefits can include:

• Medical treatment – Workers’ comp covers any medical treatment related to the injury or illness. Employees must typically select a provider in their employer’s provider network, and your doctor must request approval for treatments.
• Temporary disability – If you are unable to return to work right away, workers’ compensation will pay two-thirds of your weekly wages for up to 104 weeks (or 2 years).
• Permanent disability – If you have suffered a permanent change in your medical condition–i.e., your doctor concludes further improvement is unlikely–workers comp provides you will receive a specified amount of money for that permanent disability based on a number of factors.
• Job training – If your injury means you are unable to return to your previous line of work, workers comp can provide you with funds for job training classes.
• Death benefits – In cases where a worker is killed on the job, the surviving family members will receive a one-time death benefit.

Do You Need Help Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim?

By law, you must notify your employer within 30 days of an injury. Your employer is then required to provide you with a workers’ compensation claim form. After you complete this form, your employer then sends it to their workers’ compensation insurance carrier. The insurer has 90 days to accept or deny the claim. The insurer does have the right to question you under oath about your claim and to subpoena your medical records. If the insurance company denies your workers’ compensation claim, you then have one year to file an appeal, starting from the date of the denial letter.

This process can seem daunting, especially when you are struggling to recover from your job-related injury or illness. So if you need legal advice or representation from a qualified Redondo Beach workers’ compensation lawyer, contact Litigation, P.C., today to schedule a free initial consultation.