Redding Workers’ Compensation Law Blog

Common traumatic injuries occur because you tried to lift something that proved to be too heavy or because you got struck by a falling piece of equipment. There will be an obvious and unquestionable triggering event that results in a physical injury. A surprising number of people working in California think that only straightforward job injuries entitle someone to workers’ compensation benefits. However, California’s workers’ compensation insurance program clearly extends protection to those who acquire a medical condition because of their jobs. In other words, coverage does not just apply to a sudden traumatic injury but also injuries that result from continuous trauma. Workers all over the state may daily add a little bit to their risk of a workplace...

Many injuries heal and end up just as strong and durable as they were before the injury occurred. If you break a bone, for instance, you will likely heal completely and not need to worry about it again. But what if you injure your back? This type of injury can put you out of work for a long time, and you may still feel nervous about reinjuring it after you do get back on the job. Is it more likely that this will happen a second time? It May Be, Though It Depends On The Injury All injuries are different. If you get hurt, you need to talk to your medical care provider, and they’ll be able to give you...

If you suffer a workplace accident and are injured, you can claim against your employer’s worker’s compensation insurance. The same applies if you become ill due to your job or workplace. Insurers do not hand out money freely and may try to settle early to minimize what they pay you. Therefore, you need to understand the full range of cover you are entitled to receive to ensure you do not lose out. Your Right To Benefits After A Workplace Injury Or Illness Here are the five things that workers’ compensation insurance can cover: Medical care: Medical bills can soon mount up. They might not be a short-term cost either, as you may require medical treatment or medicines for years to come. Temporary disability...

A report published earlier this year by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) hinted at how workplace illnesses and injuries are predictable, and thus, also preventable. The federal agency cited various reporting requirements that both employers and workers can consult to find out more about the workplace in their industries, jobs and roles. This can be helpful when trying to justify how predictable injuries are. What Injury Risk Factors Do You Face In Your Job? OSHA has a publication called a “300 log.” That list compiles the many different professions that exist and includes the most common injuries workers face in each of those industries. The data included on that list comes from injury reports submitted to OSHA by employers. The...

Workers often require convalescent leave after an injury on the job. Workers’ compensation insurance can protect injured workers by giving them disability benefits. These benefits will cover some of the workers’ missed wages when they are at home recovering. Unfortunately, even with good medical care available at no employee cost through workers’ compensation, not everyone hurt on the job fully recovers. Some employees can’t go back to the same job they did before, which means that they won’t be able to earn as much money as they did previously. How does the workers’ compensation system in California protect injured workers from the impact of decreased earning potential? There Are Supplemental Job Displacement Benefits To Help A Worker Find A New...

You know that there is always a chance that you could get injured at work. Even simple things, like changing a lightbulb or walking down the stairs, could lead to a serious accident. But what if your boss asks you to do something that really seems far too dangerous? You think it’s unwise to even try, as injury seems not just possible, but likely. Do you still have to do it? Or can you refuse? When Can You Turn Down A Job Your Boss Tells You To Do? The first thing you should do is tell your employer why you don’t want to do the task and why you think it’s too dangerous. They may be more than willing to take steps...

This is the time of year when teens across California start looking for summer jobs if they don’t already have one lined up. Many businesses of all kinds rely on teen employees and find many advantages to hiring them. Most teens are part-time workers, so businesses can save money by not having to provide the same benefits full-time employees are owed. They can fill the void left by salaried employees taking vacation time. They’re energetic, they typically learn fast and they’re willing to do just about any task – no matter menial. Teen Workers Need To Know Their Rights However, teen workers often aren’t aware of their rights in the workplace. They may not think to ask, and some employers...

Scenario: You suffered an on-the-job back injury that required medical treatment and time away from work. You took all the proper steps and followed the California workers’ compensation regulations. Soon, your condition improved, and your claim was resolved. Unfortunately, a year later, your back injury resurfaces, and now you are suffering from pain and reduced mobility. What can you do? Reopen your claim? Open up a new case? Live with your work injury without seeking additional workers’ compensation benefits? Reopening A Claim May Be Possible When job injuries and disabilities resurface or worsen, you may be able to reopen your workers’ compensation claim. Injured workers in California have five years to reopen a claim. These five years start on the date...

There is a popular saying that accidents happen. The idea is that people sometimes wind up in circumstances over which they have no control and for which they have no personal responsibility. While that may be true, many times the events that people refer to as accidents are clearly the fault of one person. Someone texting at the wheel and not watching the road around them could T-Bone another driver because they don’t notice the changing traffic signals. A chef working in a high-pressure kitchen environment could suffer a severe cut that they cause by moving their hands the wrong way while chopping. Someone in a factory could make a mistake while lifting that leads to a back injury or...

As you know, workers’ compensation helps employees obtain medical care and replace their lost wages when workplace injuries occur. Some injuries are relatively easy to prove because they are the result of specific events. For example, it is easy to show how falling and breaking your arm occurred while performing your work duties. Continuous or cumulative trauma injuries are more elusive when it comes to proof. These injuries develop over time, making it hard for the worker and a doctor to prove the injury is work-related. Types Of Cumulative Workplace Injuries If you repeat the same motions regularly while working, cumulative injuries may arise. Office workers often suffer these injuries because they type every day or perform other repetitive movements....