There are many well-known and much-loved communities in Southern California. From the glitz and glamor of Hollywood to the high society in Los Angeles, these areas are very popular focal points when someone is thinking about visiting or moving to the region. For the beach goers, there are a few names bigger than Santa Monica, San Diego, and Orange County. But what you will also discover in these places is a massive amount of traffic and stress when you are trying to maintain a schedule. What is fine when you are vacationing will quickly become your nemesis if you live in the area and are joining in the hour or more long commute that is common for residents of these areas. But all that you want for your work/life balance and more can be found in a mid-size community right in Orange County.
When you take a look at Aliso Viejo, California , you will be impressed by countless factors like the population of around 50,000, the proximity to the San Joaquin Hills, and the ease of getting to and from work when you get a job in the same community where you live. While it is not a huge city by California standards, Aliso Viejo is known for having the perfect blend of suburban and urban components. There are great places to live and enjoy green spaces and community events while also having nearby areas featuring thriving businesses, local shops, and all the big-name businesses you have seen across the country. Options abound as you decide if your passion is to be a part of a family-owned and operated small business, you favor working for a larger state-wide company, or if you will be happy at the headquarters of one of the dozen or more firms that are running in the area. Names like AND1, Pacific Life, Buy.com, 3Tera, Quest Software, Nimbus Data, and Ketel One all call Aliso Viejo home, and so can you.
Life is great when you regain one or more hours a day during your work week because your commute is not measured in minutes, and a wreck on the freeway system does not send your schedule into a tailspin. But there are still a few hazards that could arise and cause you to instantly begin searching for professional legal help. Sadly, even in a community as welcoming and ideal as Aliso Viejo, California, there is the possibility of sustaining a workplace injury that could turn your life upside down. And when that happens, you need to immediately contact California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group, the premier California workplace injury lawyers in Aliso Viejo, California. On your very first call to our office staff, you will gain valuable information and insight into the function of our law firm, the services we offer, and how the California Workers Compensation Program can assist you in overcoming the hardships, expenses, and losses caused by a workplace injury incident.
In addition to this helpful information and the reassurance that there are resources to help you overcome the trouble you face with mounting medical expenses and lost income, you will schedule your free consultation with a California workplace injury lawyer in Aliso Viejo at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group. At that meeting, you will relate the facts of your workplace injury incident, the harm you suffered, and the issues you now face to your workplace injury lawyer. Once they have all the facts, they will provide you with much more case-specific information about opening a claim with the WC program and any other legal action you might take to secure compensation or benefits to help you past the challenges created when you got hurt on the job. With this information, you will be far more confident in your ability to regain control of your life and return to the happy and rewarding existence you had before getting hurt on the job. All we ask is that you please reach out to the office staff at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group as soon as possible, as there are strict time limits for you to take action and get the help you deserve.
Who Is Covered By The California Workers Compensation Program?
It is very common for the first concern or question discussed with a new client in Aliso Viejo to revolve around who is covered by the California Workers Comp Program and how one obtains that coverage. Most workplace injury victims fear that they are not eligible to receive benefits from this program because they never signed up or enrolled in the insurance-based system. So, they reach out to the California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group, thinking that there might be some other legal action they could take, like suing their employer to get help covering losses like their lost income and medical expenses.
The simple fact is that the clients who reached out to California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group did not sign up for coverage under the WC program. But they are most likely enrolled and covered because Workers Compensation Program participation is a legal requirement for all employers in the state. When you were hired by your current employer, they were obligated to add you to their WC policy and ensure that the coverage remained intact throughout your employment. So, while you never signed up or paid any premiums for the coverage, your employer provided the coverage and made the payments on your behalf. Simply put, if you work for a company in California as an employee, you are covered by the California Workers Comp Program.
What Injuries Are Covered By The Workers Compensation Program
The second most common question from a workplace injury victim is answered by a California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group workplace injury lawyer: which incidents and injuries are covered by the program? Part of what makes this such a valuable package for participants is that it covers nearly all injuries that can occur at work. You can open a claim to get help covering medical care costs if you need something as simple as a few stitches or a more severe injury that will need intensive medical care and treatment. The only requirements that you and the incident need to meet are:
- The accident must have occurred when you were working at your regular job in Aliso Viejo, California
- The incident must not have been caused by roughhousing, inappropriate activities, taking unnecessary risks, or any kind of horseplay
- You must not have been under the influence of any mind-altering substance at the time of the workplace injury incident
As long as you meet these simple criteria, you have the right to open a Workers Comp claim to get help covering your losses and expenses.
What Help Can I Expect From The California Workers Comp Program After My Aliso Viejo, California Workplace Injury?
The great news for you is that the California Workers Comp Program is one of the most robust in the country as far as benefits provided to injury victims. When you contact the WC staff to open your claim, they will provide more case-specific information about the benefits you could receive in the following areas:
Lost Income: When you get hurt on the job and need to miss work to recover or heal, the California Workers Comp Program can provide you with up to 66% of your regular weekly income until you are ready to return to work. The money is paid directly to you, and there are no restrictions on how it can be used.
Disability Compensation: If the injuries sustained on the job are severe and will leave you with a limitation or disability that will impact your earning potential, the program can provide you with disability compensation. The funds will help you remain independent as you continue to progress with no limitations or be able to secure a new job that will eliminate the need for this assistance meant to offset diminished earnings.
Job Skill Training: If the harm you sustained in your workplace injury incident will prevent you from ever returning to your current job, the WC program can provide you with free vocational training to help you prepare for a new career. The training will be offered when you are ready to undertake the process and can be while you recover or after your medical care providers have cleared you to return to work or activities in a new capacity.
Medical Care Coverage: The most helpful benefit provided by the WC program in California is medical coverage. This aspect of the benefits program will pay all of the medical expenses you incur because of your workplace injury incident, with a per-work accident cap of $1M. In addition, it is vital that you know that most medical care providers in the state will work directly with the program, so you are never asked to pay any deductible or co-pay. In addition, you are not tasked with processing or forwarding bills to the program or paying the care provider, and waiting for the Workers Comp Program to reimburse you.
What Is The Time Limit To Open A Workers Comp Claim In Aliso Viejo, California?
Many workplace injury victims are shocked to discover that they have only 30 days from the date of their on the- ob injury to open their claim with the WC program. If they wait longer than 30 days to try to seek help from the program, the request is denied, and they get no help or benefits. The only exception is when the workplace injury is due to cumulative trauma.
In the case of on the job cumulative trauma, the injury you suffer is caused over an extended time, often because of repetitive motion or using the same item or tool for long periods of time. In these cases, the cumulative trauma and cause must be diagnosed by a medical professional before you can open your WC claim. Once you have that diagnosis, the California Workers Comp Program gives you one year from that date or from the first day that you missed work because of the cumulative trauma to open your claim.
When Can I Sue My Employer For More Compensation For A Workplace Injury?
Some workers who get hurt on the job in Aliso Viejo reach out to California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group to ask if they can sue their employer for more help than is provided by the WC program, or instead of opening a claim with Workers Comp. In most cases, the answer is that injured workers who were victims of a workplace injury are not permitted to file a personal injury lawsuit against their employer. Instead, the state requires all employees to use the Workers Comp Program that is provided by employers to help them overcome these challenges. Only in very limited cases are workplace injury victims permitted to pursue a personal injury lawsuit.
In the event of gross negligence, when the employer has shown complete disregard for the safety of employees, is it legal to file a personal injury lawsuit based on a workplace injury? In these instances, it is typically the employer’s failure to take action to correct a known safety issue that results in a worker getting hurt that constitutes gross negligence. If you feel that gross negligence was a factor in your Aliso Viejo, California workplace injury incident, please reach out to the team at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group. If you have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit, you have two years from the date of the injury incident to have your case prepared and filed with the court.
You Deserve The Best California Workplace Injury Lawyer In Aliso Viejo, California From California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group
When you sustain an injury at work, you need to focus on your healing and recovery process. The added stress of trying to figure out the complexities of the Workers Comp Program can feel overwhelming. Instead of taking on that task, please reach out to California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group and know that our team will handle any case with legal merit and never ask for any upfront payments should you decide to take legal action. In addition, you will get all the facts upfront and at no cost to allow you to make this decision during your free consultation with a California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group workplace injury lawyer. Finally, if your California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group workplace injury lawyer fails to win your case and get you the compensation you need, you owe the firm nothing for its time and expenses. Please reach out today to learn more and eliminate the stress caused by your workplace injuries and the losses and expenses they created.
