Being injured when you are trying to make money to support you and your family can not only put you in the hospital, but can also prevent you from continuing to work and earn a living. When you have been injured or become ill on the job, you can turn to your employer and their workers’ compensation insurance provider for coverage of your associated costs, but you must file your claim correctly and with the proper evidence to be approved for the full amount you are entitled to.
Read on to learn about how you can receive benefits for your on-the-job injury or illness.
An experienced Monterey Park workers’ compensation lawyer has the knowledge you need to process your claim effectively.
Regularly Experienced Work-Linked Injuries
Injuries on the job are increasingly common in the modern world - in fact, there were 2.8 million nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses in a single recent year. Being injured on the job can make you unable to work for a short period of time, or you may have a permanent total or partial disability.
Common workplace injuries include those that are experienced from slip-and-falls or collisions, such as concussions and traumatic brain injury, neck and back injury, or nerve damage. Exposure to toxic or corrosive chemicals can cause injury or illness, and electricity can result in burns and shocks. While there are many common workplace injuries, there are others that are not so common or easy to identify, like repetitive stress syndrome. Repetitive stress syndrome is damage to your nerves and soft tissue from doing the same motion over and over again, which can lead to ongoing pain or even disability.
Benefits for your work-related injury may include temporary or total short-term or long-term disability. When you can no longer work a job with the same earnings potential as before, or you cannot return to work at all, you are entitled to benefits, but first, you must file.
California Workers’ Compensation: An Overview
An injury or illness that takes you out of work will cost you money in terms of medical bills and lost wages, and while workers’ compensation is in place to cover these costs, it does not kick in automatically. Workers’’ compensation benefits must be applied for and your application must be approved before you can begin to receive benefits.
The California Division of Workers’ Compensation has an established structure for the state’s workers’ compensation program, and insurers must follow the rules. This, however, is not always the case, and insurers may attempt to deny or reduce benefits in an attempt at increasing their profits.
What Workers’ Comp Benefits Can I Pursue in Monterey Park?
Workers’ compensation benefits are meant to cover your out-of-pocket costs associated with your injury, which are mainly medical bills and lost wages. Any and all medical costs associated with your injury are covered, including:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Hospitalization and surgery
- Treatment and rehabilitation
- Medication and medical devices
- Appointments with doctors and specialists
- Any ongoing treatment or at-home medical care you might require
When your injury prevents you from working, your benefits will also compensate you for your lost wages and earnings after the injury and during your recovery. If you cannot work in part or in full in the short- or long-term, you can also be entitled to disability payments, whether partial or total, or temporary or permanent benefits. The impact of your injury on your ability to work will determine the extent of the benefits available to you.
How to File Your Workers’ Compensation Claim
Filing your workers’ compensation claim begins with the initial claim and collecting whatever evidence you have available in support of your claim. This can include medical assessments and treatment records after your injury, in addition to the opinion of medical or occupational experts. Determining how your injury will impact your long-term ability to work and earn will determine the amount of compensation available to you. Working with a workers’ compensation attorney with your claim can help you collect the opinions you need to support your case and recovery from the injury or illness.
First, your portion of the application is filled out, then submitted to your employer. Always keep track of when you submit this part of the claim. Then, your employer fills out their portion and submits it to the insurance company. At the insurance company, teams of insurance adjusters and investigators will scrutinize your application to find ways in which it can be denied or the amount of benefits paid reduced.
However complete your claim might be, it could still be denied, or the amount of benefits you are approved for may not be enough to cover your costs.
Common Issues Your Claim Might Face
Insurance companies are for-profit organizations and make the most of their profit by maximizing revenues and minimizing costs. The workers’ compensation insurer generates revenue by charging employers for insurance premiums and increases profitability by decreasing costs - mostly by denying claims and paying as little as possible on those claims that are paid out. Common reasons why your claim might be denied by workers’ compensation insurance companies are:
- That the paperwork was incomplete or inaccurate
- Claiming that your injury was pre-existing
- Challenging the severity of your injury
- Requiring you to visit their doctor who might assess the injury differently
There are many reasons the insurance company might note for denying or reducing your claim, and the appeals process provides you a solution, but it can be complicated. To enable you to focus on your recovery, connecting with a workers’ compensation attorney to make the most of your settlement and take over negotiations with the insurance company will reduce your stress and make the most of your claim.
Connect with a Monterey Park Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Now
Having a workers’ compensation attorney on your side as soon as possible after the injury will support the best possible outcome and highest possible benefits from your workers’ compensation claim. To discuss options on your case, schedule a consultation today.
