Adelanto, California, is a community of less than 40K residents who appreciate the peaceful life and less hectic traffic and community that is nestled in the Mojave Desert. The area is known for breathtaking scenery, fresh air, plenty of space to enjoy nature, and an overall inviting and welcoming place to build a life. Residents also like that while the community is smaller than the nearby big cities, there are many employment opportunities that allow them to live and work in the same city. Not only does that eliminate the cost of commuting, it also saves hours each week that are devoted to sitting in traffic and the huge stress it can create. Residents are quick to credit living and working in Adelanto with a higher quality of life and a more even work/life balance.
One of the most vital features in Adelanto that allows for the many vocations and industries in the community is the Southern California Logistics Airport, located in the city. This hub transports a massive amount of goods and components to and from the local businesses, which in turn promotes a strong economy for the area. This facility, along with the nearby corrections facility and military facility in Victorville, provides a large number of jobs in Adelanto that support local families and the lifestyle they love. But just as with any community or job, nothing is perfect, and there is always the potential for a tragedy like a workplace injury in Adelanto. If you or a loved one has recently suffered an on the job injury, you need to be aware of the services and professionals who are just a phone call away and can help you manage the challenges you are facing. Please reach out to California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group immediately to speak to a skilled Workers Compensation attorney in Los Angeles serving Adelanto.
Your call to our office will be answered by a team member to ensure you get the guidance and information you need as quickly as possible. This team can be reached 24/7, so you never need to spend another night of stress and worry about how to get the help you need and deserve after an Adelanto workplace injury. Not only will you gain peace of mind on that first call, but you will also have a free consultation appointment in place before the end of the conversation. Soon, you and your California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group Workers Comp attorney will be discussing the facts of the on the job accident, the harm you sustained, and how the California Workers Comp Program and California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group can help you regain control of your life. All we ask is that you reach out to our dedicated office staff as quickly as possible, as there are some shockingly restrictive time limits that could impede your ability to get the help you deserve.
Tell Me More About The California Workers Compensation Program
Not everyone is familiar with the Workers Comp Program in the state, or even knows that this program exists. Sadly, or maybe fortunately, they have never been hurt at work in Adelanto and never needed to investigate the program or services offered to a workplace injury victim. But the reality is that anyone can get hurt on the job due to a simple and unfortunate accident. And everyone needs to know how to best handle the issues and hardships that can arise after an Adelanto workplace injury incident. In most cases, that process begins and ends with the California Workers Compensation Program.
The state created the Workers Comp Program to address the hardships faced when an employee gets hurt on the job. All employers in the state are legally obligated to participate in the program, enroll all new employees in the WC program, and pay all the costs to cover employees with workplace injury protection. In the past, they would try to sue their employer for expenses and losses caused by the incident, which rarely helped either party involved. Sadly, many of the workplace injury victims could not afford the medical care they needed or faced a lifetime of debt because of the medical expenses and lost income. Today, the WC program is ready to provide a variety of benefits to help workplace injury victims while also protecting employers from the litany of personal injury lawsuits due to an on the job injury.
- For a worker who is hurt on the clock to qualify for assistance from the Workers Comp Program, they and the injury incident must meet only three simple criteria:
- The employee must have been working at their regular job at the time of the incident
- The employee must not have been under the influence of any mind-altering substance at the time of the on the job injury
The Adelanto workplace injury incident could not have been caused partially or wholly by roughhousing, horseplay, inappropriate activities, unprofessional behavior, or ignoring any safety guidelines or protocols
If you meet these three requirements, you have the right to reach out to the California Workers Comp Program staff and begin the process of opening a claim when you get hurt on the job and face losses and expenses. The program staff will evaluate your needs and provide assistance on an as-needed basis in the areas covered by the program.
What Benefits Are Provided By California Workers Comp?
While you might not feel lucky after sustaining an on the job injury in Adelanto, you could change your mind after learning more about the help offered by the WC program in California. This state-operated program is one of the most robust and generous of its kind in the country and provides a significant amount of help you on the job injury victims in Adelanto and across the state in the following categories:
Your Lost Wages – If your Adelanto workplace injuries prevent you from returning to work until you are fully healed, the program can provide you with up to 66% of your regular weekly earnings during your recovery and healing time. This money is paid to you much like your paycheck, and there are no limitations on the way you choose to spend it.
Disability Compensation Funds – in the event of severe injuries on the job that will leave you with long-term or life-long limitations which will impact your earning potential, the California Workers Comp Program can provide disability compensation payments. The money is meant to offset your decreased earning capability as a result of the on the job injuries sustained in Adelanto. Again, the funds are paid to you, and there are no requirements or limitations on how you choose to spend them.
Vocational Training – For workplace injury victims in Adelanto who sustain life-altering injuries that will prevent them from ever returning to their current role or job, the WC program can provide free vocational training. Learning a new job skill or trade can help to prepare you to return to the workforce in a new capacity once you are healed and cleared by your medical care providers to return to work in a new job.
Medical Expenses – Sadly, proper medical care could be the most vital factor in the success or failure of a workplace injury victim’s recovery. It can also be the item that causes the most financial hardship due to the high cost of medical care. TO ensure that all on the job injury victims get the medical care they need and deserve, the California Workers Compensation Program will pay all medical expenses related to an on the job injury, with a limit of $1,000,000 per workplace injury incident. This coverage includes expenses like bills from the doctors and hospital, the cost of treatment such as surgery, rehabilitation, or therapy, and the cost of essential medication and durable medical equipment. Equally valuable is the knowledge that most medical care providers in the state are prepared to work directly with the WC program, so you are not asked to make payments, co-pays, or meet a deductible. Instead, the bills go directly to the WC program, and you never deal with the added stress of the medical expenses for your treatment of a workplace injury.
Can I Sue My Employer For More Money?
While the California Workers Comp Program is generous, it does not pay for all the expenses faced by some Adelanto workplace injury victims. Some of them reach out to the California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group to ask if they can file a lawsuit to get their employer to cover the other losses and expenses not covered by WC. The short answer is that in most cases, an injured employee cannot file a personal injury lawsuit against their employer. The state demands that they use only the benefits of the WC program to recover financially.
The Workers Comp Program has created this rule because employers are covering all the costs to operated the WC program. However, there is a single exception that does allow a very small number of workplace injury victims to also pursue legal action against their employer. In these cases, there must be an indication of gross negligence on the part of the employer for the employee to file a personal injury case with the court. In these instances, gross negligence is typically defined as a complete disregard for the safety and well-being of employees. For example, the employer knew of a safety hazard or issue but refused to address or correct it. Later, an employee was hurt because of the ignored safety issue. In these cases, the hurt employee can pursue a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for the losses and expenses not reimbursed or covered by the WC benefits.
If you feel that your Adelanto workplace injury incident was caused partially or completely by gross negligence, please reach out to California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group immediately to meet with a seasoned Workers Compensation attorney in Los Angeles serving Adelanto. If gross negligence was a factor, you will have two years from the date of the workplace accident and your injuries to have your case prepared and filed with the court to seek compensation from your employer.
What Is The Time Limit For Me To Take Action After An Adelanto Workplace Injury Incident?
Most people are shocked to learn that after getting hurt at work, they have only 30 days from the date of the injury incident to open a claim with the California Workers Comp Program. But that is the time provided by the program, and it is strictly enforced. Once that time limit has passed, you will no longer be permitted to secure benefits from the program, and your request will likely be immediately rejected. The only exception to this strict time limit is when the injuries sustained in the workplace are the result of cumulative trauma. For example, your work requires you to constantly be using the same tool, making repetitive motions, or often lifting or moving heavy objects, and that action causes an injury to develop over time.
In the case of a cumulative trauma injury, the injury and cause must be diagnosed by a medical professional prior to opening a claim with the WC program. Once the diagnosis is completed, you will have one year from the date of the diagnosis or the first time that you missed work due to the cumulative trauma injury to open your claim with the program. If you have concerns or questions related to cumulative trauma or the time allotted to open a claim with the California Workers Compensation Program, please reach out to the office staff at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group today for more information and professional guidance from a Workers Compensation attorney in Los Angeles serving Adelanto.
Why You Need A California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group Workers Compensation Attorney In Los Angeles Serving Adelanto
When you get hurt on the job, there are sure to be many concerns weighing heavily on your mind. That added worry and stress can slow or even stop the healing process, making everything worse. The team at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group is here to provide you with reliable information, resources, and guidance to resolve the financial hardships you face because of an Adelanto on the job injury. If there is an indication of gross negligence, our staff will handle any lawsuit with legal merit and never require any upfront legal fees or expenses from you. We only get paid after the matter is resolved, and you have the funds to cover your legal costs. Finally, if your California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group Workers Compensation attorney in Los Angeles serving Adelanto fails to win your case and get you the help you need, you owe the firm nothing for its time or investment in the case. Please contact our caring and helpful office staff today to learn more and book your free consultation with a California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group Workers Compensation attorney in Los Angeles serving Adelanto workplace injury victims.
