Sacramento is the sixth largest city in California with a population just over half a million. In addition to these residents, the community is home to some very large employers that provide the livelihood for a great number of residents. Healthcare is a booming business in Sacramento with the leading names in the field each employing over 15k employees in the city including Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, Mercy General Hospital and many smaller facilities. In addition to medical care facilities there are a significant number of businesses focused on agriculture and technology. While these fields are very diverse, they fit the wide range of residents in the area and serve the needs of the area and consumers on a national scale.
When you are searching for a job as a resident of Sacramento or if you are looking from the outside in and are considering a relocation to the city, it is vital you understand that no job is perfect. There are risks and hazards involved in any Sacramento career path you might choose. The workers who are in office buildings, working in stores, or are delivering packages for Amazon all face common safety concerns that could cause a workplace injury incident like a trip and fall or slip and fall. Then there are the workplace potential hazards that are job specific such as an electrician who could suffer a burn from arcing electricity or a cook who could sustain a contact burn from a stove or griddle. All workplaces and jobs could be hazardous and the incident that causes you harm might be completely out of your control. But the good news for any workplace injury victim in Sacramento or the state is that the California Worker’s Compensation Program is one of the most robust and helpful programs of its kind in the United States.
However, this program is only a helpful resource for workers whoa re hurt on the job if they are well-informed about the services it offers and how to gain access to them. Sadly, not all employers are well versed in the function of the WC program nor are they able or willing to assist an employee who has suffered an injury on the clock and needs help. In these cases, the Sacramento workplace injury victim needs to reach out to California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group to seek help from a skilled and successful Sacramento Worker’s Comp lawyer to ensure they understand what to do to secure the benefits they deserve.
When you reach out to our dedicated office team, you will find that you never need to worry about leaving a message and waiting for a return call to get valuable information from California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group. Our office staff is manning our phones 24/7 to ensure all on the job injury victims get the help they need immediately. In addition, these professionals will assist each caller in scheduling their free consultation with a California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group WC lawyer to evaluate their case and assist them in understanding their Sacramento Worker’s Comp claim process and what it could provide for them.
While at the free consultation, each client will also earn more about other opportunities they have to seek help and compensation for the workplace injury they suffered. If you have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit, your California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group WC lawyer will explain why you might consider a lawsuit, the process that would require, and what you might receive if you pursue legal action. But the most vital information for you to take with you is that all the choices are up to you and there is never any obligation for you to hire California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group or take any specific action related to your workplace injuries. Our only goal is to help Sacramento workers who were injures while at work to ensure they get the medical care needed to make a full recovery and help in overcoming the financial challenges caused by the on the job injuries. Please reach out to our caring team at your earliest opportunity as there are time limits for you to access all of these options.
Common Workplace Injury Incidents And The Harm The Cause
When you consider all the actions and movements that you perform each workday, you might be shocked. Most people are constantly in motion of one kind or another while working, which means there is the potential for injuries. Even when you are sitting still, there could be hazards nearby that could fall on you or be dropped on you causing harm. Knowing this, it is vital you know that the Worker’s Comp Program is very understanding regarding the kinds of injuries they cover. For the most part, any injury incident that happens while you are on the clock and working at your regular job will be covered as long as you were not under the influence of a mind-altering substance or were acting irresponsibly such as taking part in horseplay when the incident occurred. The common injuries covered include all of these and many more:
- Trip and fall
- Slip and fall
- Injury from a falling object
- Burns from heat, electricity or chemical exposure
- Harm caused by a vehicle accident
- Injuries from an accident involving machinery or heavy equipment
- Crushing injuries
The results of your workplace injury incident could vary greatly based on your age, health, and any preexisting medical conditions. But the program will cover you if you need medical care for a minor injury like a sprained ankle, laceration that needs stitches, or a burn that needs to be cleaned and dressed. In addition, you will get all the care you need for more severe workplace injuries that could include one or more of these that were caused by the incident:
- Severe lacerations or puncture wounds that include damage to internal organs and internal bleeding
- Partial or complete amputations
- Broken or shattered bones
- Joint dislocations and the destruction of the soft connective tissue of the joints
- Back, neck, and spinal cord damage
- Head injuries that can include a severe concussion, skull fracture, brain bleed or other traumatic brain injuries
- Soft tissue damage and the destruction of nerves
- Compound fractures
- Burns from contact, electricity, or chemical exposure
- Facial injuries involving damage to the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth as well as the delicate skin on the face
What You Need To Know About California Worker’s Compensation
First, you should understand that as long as you are an employee in California, you are typically covered by this plan. Employers in the state are legally obligated to participate in the WC program and cover the cost to enroll and protect their employees. The exception to this coverage is for companies that are offering a self-insured plan that functions in the same manner as the Worker’s Comp Program. In addition, when you open a claim with WC, there are never any co-pays or expenses that you are required to pay to receive your benefits. Finally, you are free to open a Worker’s Comp claim any time you are hurt on the job and need medical care or the other benefits provided by the program and your employer is not permitted to stop you from opening a claim nor are they allowed to punish you for opening a WC claim.
The Help Provided When Workers Open A Sacramento Worker’s Comp Claim
After suffering a workplace injury and opening your Worker’s Comp claim, you will be eligible for benefits provided by the program on an as needed basis. The various areas which are focal points for the benefits include:
- Complete coverage of your medical expenses related to the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of the workplace injuries you suffered – it is also helpful to know that most medical care providers are willing to work directly with the WC program and submit bills to the program without asking you to pay anything out of pocket
- If your injuries cause you to miss work while you recover, the program can provide up to 66% of your regular weekly income to help you cover your living expenses until you return to work and earning a regular paycheck
- For workers who sustain permanent or long-term limitations that impact their earning potential, the program can provide disability payments that will help offset your diminished earnings
- In cases that result in severe injuries which prevent the victim from ever returning to their regular job, the Worker’s Comp Program will provide free vocational training to help you prepare for a new career when you are ready to return to the workforce and earning a living
Can I Sue My Employer For Added Compensation?
As mentioned previously, employers are required to cover all the cost of enrolling employees in the California Worker’s Comp Program. The benefit that they receive in return is that under the laws of the program and state, workplace injury victims are required to use only the benefits provided by WC to help resolve their losses and expenses. They are no longer permitted to file a personal injury lawsuit against their employer as was once the solution prior to the creation of the WC program.
The only exception to filing a lawsuit related to a workplace injury is when there is gross negligence on the part of the employer. In a workplace injury incident, gross negligence is considered present when the employer demonstrates a lack of care or concern for the safety and well-being of employees. As an example of gross negligence, imagine you use a large power saw each day in your job. The saw has a safety guard around the blade to protect you from injuries. One day, the safety guard gets cracked while the saw is in use. You report the damage to your employer and ask for a new saw or for your saw to have a new safety guard installed. Instead of fixing the saw by replacing the safety guard, your employer tells you to be more careful and does not repair the saw. While this is a poor choice, it is not gross negligence at this point. However, if the safety guard fails when you are using the saw and you get hurt because it was previously damaged and failed to protect you, then you could have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit involving gross negligence. If you feel gross negligence could have been a factor in your workplace injuries, please reach out to California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group today.
The Time Limits To Seek Help And Compensation For A Workplace Injury
If you suffer a Sacramento workplace injury, please keep in mind that you have only 30 days from the date of the injury incident to contact the program and open a Sacramento Worker’s Comp claim. This time limit is strictly enforced and once it has passed, any Sacramento Worker’s Comp claims you try to file will be immediately denied. In addition, there are very limited exceptions that would provide you added time to file a claim once the time limit has expired.
If you have suffered an injury on the job that involves gross negligence, please know that the court allows you to file your lawsuit for up to two years after the injury incident. This time limit is also very strictly enforced and there are limited exceptions that would provide you with added time to pursue a lawsuit once the original time limit has expired. Please reach out to the experienced legal team at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group to discuss your case, the time remaining to take action, and how our pros can help you overcome the hardships created by a Sacramento workplace injury incident.
What California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group Means For You
If you need a reliable resource to provide information and possible assistance to resolve Sacramento Worker’s Comp claims, California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group is here to help and we never charge any upfront legal fees or expenses. Instead, our team gets you the answers you need and helps you solve the issues created by your Sacramento on the job injury and possible personal injury lawsuit. And we only get paid once the matter is completed and you have the compensation needed to cover your legal fees. Finally, if your California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group Sacramento worker’s comp claim lawyer fails to win your case and deliver the funds you need, you owe the firm nothing. Please reach out to our compassionate and skilled office staff today to learn more about your options to take back the life you had before getting hurt on the job in Sacramento.
