Redding Workers’ Compensation Law Blog

If you suffer an injury on the job, especially if it is not a necessarily serious injury, you may be wondering if you should report it to your employer. Many employees choose not to report workplace injuries because they fear they may lose their job or experience other forms of retaliation by their employer. The bottom line, however, is that it is critical that you report your workplace injury in California as soon as it happens, or as soon as you become aware of the injury. Waiting to report or deciding not to report can have serious consequences for you, your health and your finances as time goes on. Time Limits And Eligibility For Benefits You may feel that your...

Many employers are understanding and responsive when it comes to workers’ compensation claims. They approach the matter from a position of trust, knowing that if they treat their employees well, their employees have less incentive to try to file a false claim. However, there are some employers, even those that appear ethical, who deny workers’ compensation claims for dubious or outright wrong reasons. Here are a top few. Your Claims Cannot Be Verified A claim such as carpal tunnel syndrome or even back pain might not arise from a single obvious triggering incident. Rather, these conditions could have built over time and even led to chronic pain, which is a complicated issue to prove in itself. So, an employer might say something...

As an employee in the Redding area, you may be under the impression that you cannot receive workers’ compensation benefits unless a workplace accident caused your injuries. It is true that injuries that occur on the job are usually compensable with workers’ comp benefits. However, if you suffer certain health conditions, fall ill or incur injuries while on the job, you may also qualify. Here is a brief overview of workers’ compensation benefits and nonaccidental workplace injuries. Some Ailments And Injuries Can Qualify For Workers’ Compensation Some injuries and illness can occur from repeated exposure to certain work conditions. For example, if you work in a high-stress environment, there is the possibility of you developing chronic heart problems, insomnia or digestive disorders,...

When you suffer an injury on the job, the first thing on your mind after seeking medical attention is obtaining financial compensation to pay for the medical bills and lost wages. You may be in such a hurry to receive the money that you forgo hiring a lawyer out of fear that doing so will make the claim take longer. However, the opposite is usually true. Not having an attorney help you generally leads to a delay in benefits. The following are even more reasons to hire a lawyer when filing a workers’ compensation claim. Complete The Process Correctly It is a fact that anything involving the government is complex and confusing. Although you can find information and paperwork online, there...

Workers’ compensation is an important benefit that should protect employees and ensure they receive the treatment they need after an injury. Unfortunately, this ideal is not always the reality when workers go to file a claim. According to the United State Department of Labor, in fact, as many as 46 percent of applications end in a denial upon first submission in the state of California. This is a startling statistic, but the thought of giving up after a denial is even more startling. Fortunately, there is an appeals process in place that allows injured workers to continue seeking compensation. There are a few steps you should take in order to continue pursuing your case. Consider Your Legal Options If you were denied...

Workplace injuries take a toll on every worker affected by them, but not all injuries are equally serious in the long term, and not all are equally visible. One injury that is more common than many employers and workers realize is traumatic brain injury. TBI has a profound effect on workers even when physical recovery seems to happen quickly, so it is important that those who are injured on the job have the right benefits and support to recover as fully as possible. Facts About On-The-Job Brain Injuries Each year, there are about 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries in the United States, but not all of them happen on the job. A healthy portion happen during recreational activities like sports,...

In every field or profession, there is a chance that you can be injured on the job. Sometimes these injuries are basic and easily treated while others can put you in the hospital and completely change the course of your life. Most companies use workers’ compensation insurance to help cover the financial costs when an employee is injured on the job, but it’s important that the employee understands the basics of how the process works. Can I Avoid Getting Hurt While Working? In California, all employers must have an illness and injury prevention program that includes workplace inspections, worker training and specific procedures for dealing with unsafe conditions quickly and promptly. All unsafe conditions should be reported quickly to your...

Even if you’ve been injured on the job, you might hesitate to file for workers’ compensation. You might worry about how filing for workers’ comp could affect your job. Will your employer be upset and take it out on you? Could your employer decide to fire you if you make a claim? You don’t need to worry: this kind of behavior is illegal under California labor law. According to the California Labor Code, employers are prohibited from discriminating against workers who are hurt on the job. This means that if you file for workers’ comp – or make it known that you intend to file for workers’ comp – it is illegal for your employer to do any of the...

Maybe you were injured in a workplace accident. Maybe you were exposed to toxic chemicals on the job. Maybe your condition is a result of repetitive stress. In any of these situations, you may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. However, the first step to getting the help you need is understanding how the system works – and how it doesn’t. Here are five common myths about workers’ compensation benefits in California: Myth #1: You Don’t Get Enough To Make Filing A Claim Worthwhile. On the contrary, workers’ compensation can provide a wide array of benefits. According to California’s Department of Industrial Relations, these benefits include medical care, paychecks to help cover temporary or permanent disability, supplemental job displacement benefits to help...

As a nursing assistant, you do a lot of very demanding work for patients. This includes tasks like lifting them in and out of bed and helping them in the bathroom. Getting injured on the job is the last thing you want. But physically caring directly for patients – especially the task of lifting them – is dangerous work. Indeed, if you are reading this, you may have already experienced an injury firsthand and be in need of workers’ compensation. In this post, we will address three common questions. Does Job Title Matter When Applying For Workers’ Comp? No. Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are also called nurses aids or nurse’s assistants. And your employer may call your position by various...