The State of California is the perfect place to live if you are a skilled carpenter who is ready to work hard and wants to earn a great living. On average, there are more than 100,000 new homes built in the state each year, and that does not even compare to the number of carpenters and other trades that work on the 100-plus commercial projects undertaken each year. There are tens of thousands of carpenters working in the state on projects that range from small residential projects to massive commercial undertakings that will span several years to reach completion. What that means is job security and ample work to earn a reasonable living. But it can also mean that there are project superintendents who are watching the clock or calendar and pushing carpenters and other trades to work as quickly as they can.
While being efficient is part of any job, it is critical to understand the inherent risks of carpentry and respect the working conditions, the tools and equipment used in this demanding job, and the physical toll it can take on the body. Knowing all of these factors, it is very easy to understand that there are times when a California carpenter will sustain a workplace injury and need to seek medical care and possibly even miss work because of the severity of their injuries. It is at these times that the hurt carpenter or their loved ones begin to wonder and worry about how they will pay medical expenses and their daily living costs if the primary income earner is unable to work because of harm suffered on the job. Fortunately, California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group is here to answer that question and many more related to the California Worker’s Compensation Program and how it can help a carpenter who was hurt while at work to overcome the hardships and challenges created by that injury.
All you need to do is reach out to the caring and dedicated staff at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group to discuss your injury incident that took place while you were working as a carpenter in California. Our team is available to take your call 24/7 to ensure you get the answers and information you need to navigate this upsetting and difficult situation that could alter the rest of your life. You will never be asked to leave a message or wait for a call back to learn more about your options and what the California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group can do to help you handle this matter.
In addition to providing you with general information about the worker’s comp program, our staff will assist you in booking your free consultation with a seasoned, California carpenter worker’s comp attorney to further discuss the incident and provide you with valuable case specific information about securing worker’s cop benefits related to your workplace injury. They will provide detailed information about opening your claim with the program, what you will need to provide to open the claim, and answer any other questions you might have, such as whether you can sue your employer for the injuries you suffered while working as a carpenter.
Once the consultation is completed, you will be prepared to make well-informed choices about how to address the expenses and losses you incurred and how you will move forward after your workplace injuries. All we ask is that you please reach out to California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group today, as there is a time limit for you to open a worker’s comp claim that could be much shorter than you might expect.
Common California Carpenter Workplace Injury Incidents
Working as a carpenter, you are using hand tools and power tools throughout the day. In addition, many of these are designed to cut massive or dense items like wood or other composite materials. So, there is a huge safety risk if you are not well trained and fully focused on safety. In addition to the safety concerns related to carpentry, there is a huge list of potential hazards that could be present on any jobsite or construction site that represent a hazard to anyone on the property. It is vital that all tradesmen and workers focus on their safety when performing their jobs as well as when simply navigating the job site. If your focus lags for only a second, you could become the next California carpenter injury statistic because of one of these accidents:
- Trip and fall or slip and fall due to rough terrain, wet or slippery surfaces, or debris in the walkway
- Injuries from a falling object
- Falling from a ladder or other elevated work area or platform
- Getting caught in beams or rafters that have collapsed
- Being hurt by a malfunctioning tool or piece of equipment
- Getting struck by a vehicle moving around the work site
These are only a few of the injury incidents that are alarmingly common on construction sites in the state and often result in a California carpenter worker’s comp claim
The Harm Caused By A California Carpenter Workplace Injury Incident
Sadly, in the settings most common to construction sites, the terrain is rough, there is clutter everywhere, and a frenzy of activities makes it tough to keep track of what is moving around you as you work. For these and many other reasons related to these strenuous jobs, it is not uncommon for a carpenter workplace injury incident to inflict multiple injuries on the victim that can include:
- Partial or complete amputations
- Broken or shattered bones
- Compound fractures
- Severe lacerations or puncture wounds
- Damage to internal organs or internal bleeding
- Back, neck or spinal cord damage
- Electrical burns, contact burns or chemical burns from contact with the fluid or from its vapors
- Damage to the face, including harm to the eyes, ears, nose, or mouth, as well as injuries to the delicate facial skin
- Dislocated joints and the destruction of the soft connective tissue of the joints
- Soft tissue injuries that result in the destruction of the nerves in that area
- Head injuries that range from a skull fracture or severe concussion to a brain bleed or other traumatic brain injuries
What You Need To Understand About California Worker’s Compensation
California worker’s comp is a program that was created to provide protection for workers from the extensive costs and hardships created when they get hurt at work. The secondary objective was to eliminate the many lawsuits being filed by hurt workers who were suing their employers. The program is fully funded by the payments or contributions made by employers to cover their workers, and every business in the state is legally obligated to participate in worker’s comp if they have employees.
- As a carpenter who was hurt at work, you are entitled to benefits as needed that fall within the following categories and limitations:
- All medical care is fully covered by the program, with a cap per workplace injury incident of $1M
- If the harm you suffered on the job prevents you from working until you are fully recovered, the program can provide up to 66% of your regular weekly income to help you cover your living expenses until you return to work
- If you suffer a partial or longer-term limitation that will inhibit your ability to work for an extended period, the program can pay disability benefits to help replace that lost revenue
In cases where the carpenter is harmed so severely that they will never be capable of returning to that career, the worker’s comp program will offer to provide free vocational training to assist the victim in finding a new career path when they are healed and ready to return to work
Please note that any injuries you sustain while you are working at your regular job and undertaking the tasks that are part of that job description are covered under the worker’s comp protection. While it is not always required, it is best to report to your employer or supervisor as swiftly as possible after an injury and seek medical treatment to fully document and diagnose the harm suffered while on the job. In the case of severe injuries, always call for emergency medical care and know that you or a co-worker can contact your employer once you are getting the emergency medical treatment you need. Finally, it is ultimately your responsibility to contact the California Worker’s Compensation program to open your claim. It is always wise to contact the staff to ensure the claim was opened, even if your employer tells you they or another worker notified worker’s comp of the incident.
When Can I Sue My Employer For My Workplace Injury?
In most cases, an injured carpenter is not permitted to file a personal injury lawsuit against their employer. Instead, you are required to open a claim with worker’s comp and use the benefits provided by the program. The only exception to this standard is when there is evidence of gross negligence on the part of your employer that caused or contributed to your workplace injuries. Gross negligence is defined as a clear disregard for the safety of an employee.
For example, imagine you reported to your employer that a power saw was not working properly or the safety guard around the blade was damaged. Your employer should at least have the saw inspected and repaired if there is damage to the safety features or if it is unsafe to operate. However, if the employer tells you that you must keep using the saw and it will not be repaired or replaced, there could be grounds for gross negligence if that defective or damaged saw then causes your workplace injuries. If you feel gross negligence is a factor in your on the job injury, please reach out to the legal staff at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group immediately to schedule your free consultation with a seasoned California carpenter worker’s comp attorney to further evaluate the case.
How Long Do I Have To Open My Worker’s Comp Case As An Injured Carpenter?
The worker’s comp program is very clear in stating that any workplace injury claim must be opened within 30 days of the injury incident. If the claim is not opened within that time, it will be immediately denied when it is submitted. Please remember that you are responsible for opening or confirming the status of your claim, and that it is opened and the program has all the critical information. If you fail to provide this information, you could be denied benefits.
In addition, if your California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group attorney has informed you that gross negligence is a factor in your case, please note that you have two years from the date of the incident to file your lawsuit with the court. This time limit is also strictly enforced, and you will lose the right to pursue legal action once it has expired.
No Upfront Legal Fees Or Added Stress At California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group
When you contact California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group, we are eager to help you by providing a free initial consultation regarding your workplace injury incident. In addition, we never demand any upfront fees or expenses to handle your case. Instead, we only get paid for our time and investment in your matter once the claim or case is resolved and you have the funds to cover any expenses or fees related to the matter. Finally, if your California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group California carpenter worker’s comp attorney fails to win your claim and get you the funds you need and deserve, you owe our firm nothing. Please reach out to our caring and compassionate office team today to learn more about the help our staff will provide so you can move forward with your life.
