San Bernardino is located perfectly in Southern California to leverage the nearby transportation infrastructure. With easy access to rail and air transportation as well as the proximity to the coast and significant ports in SoCal, the area is primed to welcome businesses focused on logistics, distribution, and manufacturing. In addition, the healthcare industry in the area and educational institutions and public schools employ a large number of San Bernardino residents. As you review the top employers in the area, San Bernardino sports a list of very popular and impressive names, like:
- Amazon
- Stater Bros.
- Inland Empire Health Plan
- The County of San Bernardino
- Loma Linda University Health
- Coca-Cola
- Keurig
- Dr. Pepper
- Mars
- California State University
- Walmart
- Costco
What that means for residents and others who are considering a move to relocate to the San Bernardino community is that there are many job opportunities in a wide array of industries and capacities. Workers have the ability to pick a career that appeals to them and work in an area that is known for great weather, proximity to many attractions and activities, and great public services to enjoy life in their free time. But as with all things, nothing is perfect, and workers need to keep in mind that even the best job or career path can have pitfalls. And some of the most upsetting are the ones we never consider, like a simple injury incident while at work that results in significant injuries or complex harm that requires lengthy and costly medical care.
Fortunately, if you have suffered a workplace injury, the team at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group is here to assist you in understanding how to use the California Worker’s Comp Program and the benefits it offers to aid in your recovery. To learn more about the program and our experienced staff, all you need to do is grab the phone and contact our dedicated office staff, who can be reached around the clock to provide valuable information and resources to let you relax and have confidence in your ability to overcome your current hardships. In addition, the team will help you book your free consultation with a seasoned San Bernardino WC lawyer to work with you personally to ensure your success.
After you relate the facts of your on the job injury to your California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group San Bernardino WC lawyer, they will explain the process of opening a WC claim and any other legal options you might have, such as a personal injury lawsuit. But please also understand that even after this enlightening meeting with a California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group lawyer, you are never obligated to hire the firm, nor are you required to take any of the steps our staff has outlined or recommended. The choices are always yours, and we only offer advice to ensure that all workers who suffer a San Bernardino on the job injury fully understand their options and how they can employ our services and other resources to help them cope with their lost income and expenses caused by a workplace injury. All we ask is that you reach out to our caring team swiftly, as there are time limits for you to take action and use the resources we described that might be more limited than you would expect.
What Are The Most Common San Bernardino Workplace Injury Incidents?
When you think of a workplace injury, your mind could drift to injury incidents that are job-specific, like a complicated incident where a piece of heavy equipment on a construction site fails, and there is a chain reaction incident. Or you might envision a chemical spill or leak that shuts down a facility, and several workers suffer harm. But in reality, the most common workplace injuries are the result of simple issues or incidents that can occur at any facility or even in your own home. Victims of simple trip and fall, slip and fall, or injuries from falling objects are very common in all workplaces. An office worker could trip over an electrical cord left in a walkway, or a dock worker could slip and fall due to water spilled on the pavement or hydraulic fluid that was leaking from a large crane or other piece of equipment. The truth about workplace injury accidents is that they are not always complicated issues, and they are nearly always the pure definition of an accident; they are unexpected and unforeseen incidents that occur with no intention or malice and often result in harm or damage.
Common San Bernardino Workplace Injuries
When you picture a trip and fall or a slip and fall, you also might think of the harm these incidents cause. If you were to slip and fall at your home, you could land on smooth flooring or even carpeting. However, in a work setting, there are often many other obstacles that are not present in a home. In addition, the spaces are often more cluttered with things that can contribute to your injuries from any slip and fall or trip and fall incident. As a result of the setting and nearby items, workplace injury victims often sustain one or more of these serious injuries when they are the victim of an accident at work:
- Severe lacerations or puncture wounds
- Damage to internal organs or internal bleeding
- Fractured, broken, or shattered bones
- Complete joint dislocations and the destruction of the soft connective tissue of the joints
- Soft tissue damage that caused the destruction of nerves in the area
- Back, neck, and spinal cord damage
- Injuries to the face that include harm to the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and the delicate skin on the face
- Contact burns
- Electrical burns
- Chemical burns or injuries due to the inhalation of caustic chemical fumes
- Partial or complete amputations
- Head injuries can range in severity from a skull fracture or severe concussion to a brain bleed or other traumatic brain injury
What Workplace Injuries Are Covered By WC?
As an employee in San Bernardino, you should feel comforted and confident in knowing that WC covers nearly all workplace injuries. In reality, the program covers all injuries that occur when you are performing the tasks involved in your daily job, as long as there was no horseplay involved that resulted in your injuries and that you were not under the influence of any mind-altering substances. In addition, you can rest assured that you are covered under WC because all employers in the state are legally required to participate in the program and cover their employees with this vital insurance. Furthermore, you are always entitled to open a WC claim for any on the job injuries, and your employer is not permitted to prevent you from using this service, nor are they allowed to punish you for using it by threatening to fire you, demote you, or decrease your rate of pay for opening a WC claim.
The Benefits Provided To San Bernardino Workplace Injury Victims
When you get hurt on the job, you will open a claim with WC and receive benefits as needed based on the following parameters and categories of help offered by the program:
- Complete payment of all medical expenses related to the harm suffered in the workplace incident – please know that you will not be responsible for any copay or part of the medical costs, and most medical care providers will work directly with WC to receive payment
- If you are unable to return to your job until you have healed from your workplace injuries, the program will pay you up to 66% of your regular weekly income to help offset your daily living expenses
- If the harm you sustained at work results in temporary or partial limitations in your capability that limit or reduce your earning potential, the program can pay disability to help offset that loss
- If you are hurt so severely that you will never be capable of returning to your current job, the WC program will provide you with free vocational training to help you prepare for a new career when you are healed and ready to return to the workforce
When Can I Sue My Employer For Workplace Injuries?
As a rule, employees who get hurt on the job are not permitted to file a personal injury lawsuit against their employer. The employee must open a WC claim and use the benefits provided to help them get back on their feet. The only exception to this protection for employers is when there is evidence of gross negligence on the part of the employer. Gross negligence in these cases is defined as a clear disregard for the safety and well being of an employee that results in an injury incident.
For example, imagine working for a construction company and being required to use power tools each day for your job. If you find that one of the tools is damaged and unsafe to use, you are sure to report that information to your employer and ask that the tool be replaced or repaired to restore its safety. The proper response from the employer is to repair or replace the unsafe device to ensure the safety of workers. If the employer fails to take action and the damaged tool injures you or another worker, the employer could be found grossly negligent for their failure to repair the tool or replace it before it hurts a worker. If you feel that gross negligence was a factor in your San Bernardino workplace injury, please reach out to California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group today.
How Long Do I Have To Get Help With My Expenses And Losses?
As a victim of an on the job injury, you are given 30 days from the date of the injury incident to open a claim with the WC staff. It is ultimately your responsibility to take action to open the claim or ensure that it was opened properly if your employer states they contacted WC on your behalf. If the claim is not opened within the 30 day provided, you will lose the right to use the WC program to cover your losses and expenses. In nearly all cases where the claim is presented more than 30 days after the injury incident, WC immediately denies the request and the worker gets nothing.
If you speak to a San Bernardino WC lawyer at California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group and discover that you are the victim of gross negligence, you will have two years from the date of the injuries to file your lawsuit with the court. This time limit is also strictly enforced, and once it has expired, you no longer have the option to pursue legal action related to this matter. There are also minimal exceptions that would provide you with added time to file a lawsuit once the original time limit has passed. Please reach out to California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group today to confirm these time limits and explore your options.
No Added Stress Or Expenses At California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group
When you work with California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group, you will be pleased to learn that our focus is always on the well-being of our clients. We never ask for upfront fees that could add to your hardships and cause you more stress. Instead, we only get paid when the matter is resolved, and you have gotten the help you need and deserve. Our pledge is to offer solutions and never cause you more stress with issues. In addition, if your San Bernardino WC lawyer fails to win a personal injury lawsuit involving gross negligence, you owe the firm nothing for the time and investment made to prepare and litigate the case. Please reach out to California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group today to ensure you understand the process of opening a San Bernardino WC claim and the benefits the program offers workers who got hurt on the job to ensure you make a full recovery, both physically and financially.
