Located in San Bernardino County, Adelanto, California, is also a part of the Mojave Desert. This small community was founded in 1915 and has always been viewed as business and family-friendly. Due to the proximity to Victorville, Adelanto is the area that many of the corrections workers and detention employees from Victorville chose as their home. The city also has many civilian employees of the nearby military base who appreciate the quiet and peaceful setting of Adelanto, California. The other very prevalent industry in the area is the agricultural business, with many large farms taking advantage of the mild climate and open space. In particular, the cannabis growing industry is particularly popular in the area.
The community also has many features to offer residents when they are not at work, such as outdoor activities and natural beauty of spaces such as the Mojave Narrows Regional Park, El Mirage Lake, and Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch. In an area so rich in outdoor activities, most residents are considered to be very active. But all of that enjoyment and enrichment can come to a screeching halt when someone becomes the victim of a workplace injury accident. Sadly, the person is only trying to earn a living and be a productive member of the community and society, only to get hurt while performing typical work tasks. Then, instead of enjoying a day at the park or going on a hike, the Adelanto, California resident is facing mounting medical bills, possibly an inability to work, and other hardships in paying their household bills. It can feel as if life has become unmanageable.
Fortunately, at these times, hard-working Adelanto, California employees who have sustained a workplace injury can turn to the California Workers Compensation Program for help in overcoming the struggles they face because of an on the job injury. But the benefits offered by the program are meaningless if the injury victim is not aware of the opportunity or if they face difficulty from their employer in using the WC system. In these instances, it can be vital for a workplace injury victim to contact a reliable Adelanto, California workplace injury lawyer at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group for help resolving their challenges.
The best news for a workplace injury victim is that the exceptional legal team at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group is just a phone call away. Our office staff can be reached 24/7 to help you understand your ability to use the WC program in California and how to evaluate other legal options that might offer some relief from the losses and expenses you face because you got hurt at work. During your first discussion with the staff at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group, our pros will assist you in scheduling your free consultation with an Adelanto, California workplace injury lawyer who will fully evaluate your case. Once they have all the facts and details, they will explain your options, such as using the California Workers Comp Program and taking other legal action to secure any added compensation that is owed to you. But rest assured, after that initial free consultation, you will have all the information you need to make choices that can help you resolve your issues and expenses caused by a workplace injury incident.
Please also keep in mind that even after gaining all of this guidance and help for free, you are never obligated to hire California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group, nor are you required to take any action. Our only goal is to ensure that all Adelanto, CA, workplace injury victims understand the programs and services available to them when they face these challenging events. Please reach out to our dedicated and compassionate office staff at your earliest opportunity to ensure you have the time needed to make wise and well-informed choices about the action you will take before the time limit on any actions has expired.
How Do I Have California Workers Compensation Coverage?
Many workplace injury victims reach out to California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group with questions about how they could be enrolled in the California Workers Comp Program. They never recall enrolling or paying any premium or cost to participate in the program, so they are confused about how they have coverage to help them once they get hurt at work. The answer to almost every person who reaches out to our firm is that they are covered by the program because state law requires all employers to participate in the program. That means your employer enrolls you when you are hired, and they cover the entire cost of your coverage. So, if you are an employee in California, you have WC coverage or are covered by a similar self-funded program that might be operated by a larger employer.
What Does Workers Comp Cover In California?
The California Workers Comp Program was established to help workers who get hurt on the job deal with the expenses and losses caused by their injuries. In the past, a workplace injury could create a downward financial spiral for a worker because they were unable to work and had mounting medical expenses. The program was created to offer assistance with these losses and expenses until the injury victim heals and is able to return to work. The only caveats for the use of the Workers Comp Program are:
- The injury incident must have happened while you were working at your regular job
- You must not have been taking part in horseplay or other roughhousing – meaning the injury must have been the result of an incident related to undertaking the tasks of your job
- You were not under the influence of any mind-altering substance at the time of the workplace injury accident
What Benefits Does California Workers Comp Provide To Injury Victims?
When a worker in the state is hurt on the job, they have the ability to turn to the California Workers Com Program and open a claim to seek assistance in paying for some of the bills that will cause them financial challenges. The program offers a series of benefits, each created to aid in a specific area of life that could become more complex after sustaining a workplace injury. When you open your WC claim to get help, you will be eligible for assistance in the following areas, with the benefits and level of assistance being at the discretion of the staff up to the limitations of any specific benefits, including:
- Payment of all medical care, such as diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of the injuries sustained as a result of the workplace incident. It is also vital to understand that many medical care providers such as hospitals and doctors, will work directly with the Workers Comp Program so they bill directly to WC and you are never asked to pay any copay or deductible for the care you need.
- If you are unable to work for an extended period, the program can provide you with up to 66% of your regular weekly earnings. These funds are paid directly to you and can be used as you choose to cover your monthly bills and living expenses that would have been paid by your weekly earnings.
- If the harm you sustain is severe and leaves you with a limitation or disability that results in decreased earning potential, the program can provide you with disability compensation meant to offset your decreased earning capability because of the workplace accident.
- In the event of very severe injuries that will never fully heal or allow you to return to the health and capability you had prior to the accident, the program will provide free vocational training to help you prepare for a new career once you have completed your recovery process.
When Can I Sue My Employer For My Workplace Injuries?
The Workers Comp program was created primarily to offer help to workers who suffer an on the job injury. However, because employers are legally required to cover the cost of Workers’ Comp for their employees, the program offers one significant benefit for employers. In most cases, an employee who is injured on the job is not permitted to file a personal injury lawsuit against the employer. The worker is limited to receiving the benefits from the WC program only. The exception to this rule is when the employer commits gross negligence.
In a workplace injury situation, gross negligence is defined as a disregard for employees’ safety and well-being. For example, if you are required to use a large piece of equipment each day in your job, that machine should be well-maintained and safe for proper use. If the device becomes damaged and unsafe, causing you to report the issue to your employer, they should immediately repair or replace the device. That is the responsible choice. However, if your employer tells you to keep using the unsafe device, which then malfunctions and causes you to suffer an injury, you could have a case for gross negligence. Please reach out to the California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group, Adelanto, California workplace injury lawyers to discuss your injury incident and the possibility of a lawsuit to secure added compensation if gross negligence was a factor.
How Long Do I Have To Take Action After An On The Job Injury?
As the victim of a workplace accident injury, you have only 30 days from the date of the accident to open your claim with the California Workers Compensation Program staff. If you fail to meet that time limit and attempt to open a claim after 30 days have expired, the claim will be automatically denied.
The only exception to this time limit is when the workplace injury is due to cumulative trauma. In these instances, the injury is caused most often by repetitive motion and might not be noticeable or diagnosed until long after the harm began. To open a WC claim related to cumulative trauma, the injury and cause must be diagnosed by a medical professional. Once that has occurred, the victim has one year from the date of the diagnosis or from the first day that they missed work due to the injuries they suffered. In addition, all of these time limits are strictly enforced.
Finally, if your workplace injuries were due partially or wholly to gross negligence by your employer, you have two years from the date of the injuries to file your lawsuit with the court. Again, this time limit is strictly enforced, and once it expires, you lose the right to pursue legal action related to this matter. And once the time limit has passed, there are very minimal exceptions that would allow you added time to file a lawsuit. Please reach out to the office staff at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group to schedule your free consultation with a seasoned Adelanto, California workplace injury lawyer at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group to evaluate your case and provide you with professional guidance.
Why You Need California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group To Assist With Your Adelanto, California Workplace Injury Claim
When you get hurt at work, it can feel as if your entire world begins to crumble. Money issues, painful injuries, and costly medical treatment are all stresses that can become overwhelming. That is why you need the skilled and experienced Adelanto, CA workplace injury lawyers at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group to help you resolve your issues. Our team is happy to provide you with a free consultation, answer your questions, and help you understand your options. In addition, if you have grounds for a lawsuit, our firm will handle any case with legal merit and never ask for any upfront legal fees.
California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group only gets paid for our work and the investment we make to prepare, file, and litigate your case after the matter is resolved. At that point, you will have the compensation that includes funds to cover your legal costs and other bills. Finally, if your Adelanto, CA workplace injury lawyer from Adelanto, CA workplace injury lawyers fails to win your case and get you that much-needed compensation, you owe us nothing. Please get in touch with our staff at your earliest opportunity to eliminate your stress and allow you to focus on your healing and recovery.
