Many people are unaware that Fresno is the fifth largest city in California, behind Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. Located in Central California, it the largest inland city and one that is home to a diverse industry base. While there are many is agricultural businesses in the area, such as Cargill, Foster Farms, Harris Ranch beef and Stamoulis Produce Co, there are also many medical facilities in the area like Community Medical Centers, St. Anges Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, Children’s Hospital of Central California, and United health Centers. In addition, there are several logistics centers in the area with the largest being owned and operated by Amazon.
With all of these big name employers in the Fresno area, local employees have many great options for work. But it is vital they understand that there are no perfect jobs nor are there perfect employers. It is critical to understand and be prepared to face a workplace injury, no matter where you work or the job that you hold. In the perfect world, workers have savings that can help them meet their financial obligations if they suffer a Fresno workplace injury, but they should also be aware of the California Worker’s Comp Program and the services it provides. If you have recently suffered an on the job injury and are struggling to get the help and information you need about a workplace injury and claim with WC, please know that the exceptional legal team at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group, is ready to assist you and all you need to do is grab your phone and reach out to the dedicated office staff who are reachable 24/7.
When you contact California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group, you will always speak to a staff member and never be asked to leave a message and wait for a return call. Instead, the staff will answer your immediate questions, provide general information related to a WC claim and help you schedule a free consultation with a seasoned Fresno workplace injury lawyer at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group to review your case and provide more specific information that applies to your situation. They will also evaluate the case to let you know if there are other legal steps that could be taken to help you secure compensation for the losses and expenses created by your Fresno workplace injury.
With this helpful information, you will be ready to make choices and take action that will help you meet your immediate and long-term needs until you can return to work. Please also know that even after attending your free consultation, you are never obligated to hire California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group nor are you required to take any action with Worker’s Comp. Our only goal in working with you is to ensure that you can overcome the hardships of this unfortunate incident. But we do ask that you please reach out to our office staff at your earliest opportunity as the time limit for you to move forward could be more limited than you might think.
How Do I Know If I Am Covered By Worker’s Comp?
If you are employed and working in the State of California, you should be covered by the Worker’s Comp program, unless your employer provides private workplace injury coverage. In most cases, employers are legally required to participate in the California Worker’s Comp Program and cover all of the costs to enroll and provide this coverage for their employees. It is also important to note that you are never asked to pay anything for the coverage from program nor are you required to pay any part of the fees for the coverage. In addition, your Worker’s Compensation coverage will protect you in the event of any accident that takes place while you are on the clock as long as you were:
- Working at your regular job and doing tasks associated with that job
- You were not taking part in any horseplay or inappropriate actions at the time of the injury incident
- You were not under the influence of any mind-altering substances when you were hurt
Common Fresno Workplace Injury Incidents
When you think about all the injury incidents that can happen in a workplace, the list is long. From the staff in an office that suffer trip and fall or slip and fall injuries to the workers in a warehouse or on a construction site who face harm from falling objects or crushing injuries involving heavy equipment, the potential safety hazards are broad in range. But the unknown for each case is the severity of the harm caused by the incident as it can vary based on the age, overall health of the victim and many other factors. What is a minor issue for one victim could be life-altering for another because of a preexisting medical condition or more brittle bones due to their age. The most common workplace injuries are typically caused by these groups of incidents:
- Harm from falling objects
- Slip and fall or trip and fall incidents
- Burns due to contact with a hot object, electricity, or chemicals
- Crushing injuries due to a motor vehicle accident or incident involving a motorized piece of equipment
- Falls from ladders or elevated work platforms
Common Fresno Workplace Injuries
The harsh truth is that any employee working in Fresno could suffer harm at any given time because of an accident. By definition, an accident is a situation that is unexpected or unforeseen and often results in damage or harm. When tragedy strikes at a workplace, victims of these incidents often sustain severe trauma that can involve one or more of these Fresno workplace injuries:
- Severe concussion, skull fracture, brain bleed or other traumatic brain injuries
- Severe lacerations and puncture wounds that can involve damage to internal organs and internal bleeding
- Broken or shattered bones
- Partial or complete amputations
- Joint dislocations and the destruction of the soft connective tissue of the joints
- Soft tissue damage and the destruction of the nerve tissue
- Back, neck, and spinal cord damage
- Facial injuries that involve damage to the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and the delicate skin on the face
- Burns and damage to the respiratory system from inhalation of toxic or caustic chemical fumes
What Does California Worker’s Comp Offer Fresno Workplace Injury Victims?
As a worker who gets hurt on the job, the worker’s comp program provides several benefits that help you cover your expenses and lost income caused by the incident. The benefits that you receive when you open a Worker’s Comp claim will be provided as needed form the following categories:
- Medical expenses to treat any workplace injuries are paid in full by the program and you never need to pay any copay or deductible – it is also noteworthy that most medical care providers will work directly with WC to get paid so you never need to be involved in the process or cover any bills until the program reimburses you
- If the harm you suffer at work prevents you form working until you are healed and able to return to the duties of your job, the program can provide you with up to 66% of your regular weekly income
- In cases where the Fresno workplace injuries result in significant harm that will limit your ability to earn a living, you could receive temporary or partial disability payments to help offset your diminished earning potential
- When a Fresno workplace injury victim is hurt so severely that they will never be capable of returning to their job, the program provides free vocational training to prepare the worker for a new career once they are healed and ready to begin working again in a new capacity
When Can I Sue My Employer For Added Compensation?
In some cases, a Fresno workplace injury victim contacts California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group to ask if they can sue their employer for added compensation beyond what WC is providing. In most cases, the answer is that a workplace injury victim is only permitted to get the WC benefits. They cannot sue their employer for the average on the job injuries, because the employer is covering the cost of the WC program for their employees. This is the benefit that is provided to employers to help protect themselves from constant personal injury lawsuits that were filed prior to the inception of the WC program and the expenses they create.
Only in cases that involve gross negligence can a hurt worker sue their employer for added compensation. In these instances, you need to understand that gross negligence is defined as a clear disregard for the safety of employees. For example, a worker reports a piece of equipment is damaged and asks their employer to have it inspected and repaired. Instead of taking that opportunity to have the device serviced and fixed as needed, the employer refuses and tells the worker they must continue to use the potentially damaged tool. While this is not yet gross negligence, it will become gross negligence is the device is continued to be used and the result is a worker who gets hurt because of the damaged tool. If you feel that gross negligence was a factor in your Fresno workplace injury, please reach out to the California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group immediately. Our team will help you understand your options and how you can get help to recover and return to your life prior to the workplace injury incident.
How Long Do I Have To Decide The Action I Want To Take After My Fresno Workplace Injury?
Victims of an on the job injury incident need to understand that they have only 30 days from the date of the injury incident to contact the California Worker’s Comp Program to open a claim. It is also critical to know that the victim is ultimately responsible for opening the claim with the program, even if their employer tells them they claim is being processed. In some cases, the employer is not being completely honest or they are trying to mislead the victim to prevent them from opening a WC claim. While this is not permitted, many victims are unaware that their employer is not allowed to prevent them from opening a claim nor are they allowed to punish a worker for opening a WC claim. If you have faced these obstacles or are nearing the end of the 30 days to open a WC claim, please contact California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group for assistance and guidance. The time limit is strictly enforced and if you wait longer than 30 days to open the claim, it will likely be rejected and you will not get any benefits from the program.
If you have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit due to gross negligence on the part of your employer, please note that you have two years from the date of the incident to have your case prepared and filed with the court. This time limit is also strictly enforced and once it has passed, you will no longer have the right to pursue legal action related to the Fresno workplace injury incident. In addition, there are very few exceptions that would provide you with added time to file a lawsuit once the original time limit has expired. Please reach out to the compassionate office staff at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group today to explore your options.
No Added Legal Fees Or Expenses To Add To Your Stress
When you contact California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group, please know that we will never ask you for any upfront fees before helping you to understand your options and move forward in resolving your issues due to a Fresno workplace injury. Our firm is dedicated to being a part of the solution to any hardships you face and never adding to them. So, we only get paid for our services after the matter is resolved and you have the help and compensation needed to cover your expenses. In addition, if your California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group Fresno workplace injury lawyer fails to win your case and get you the compensation you deserve, you owe the firm nothing for its time and investment in building and litigating your case.
Please make the time at your earliest opportunity to get in touch with our caring and knowledgeable office staff to gather more information and begin to evaluate your options. We are here around the clock to provide you with information and peace of mind.
