Abogado de Compensación de Trabajadores de Santa Ana
Santa Ana Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Helping Injured Workers Recover in Santa Ana, CA
The attorneys at the Diefer Law Group have more than 60 combined years of experience representing injured clients in Santa Ana and throughout the surrounding areas of California. When a workplace injury happens, the victim is likely able to file a workers’ compensation claim through their employer. This claim can yield valuable benefits that can help them recover, but it is possible for them to encounter various challenges with their claim.
En Oficina de Estadísticas Laborales recorded more than 363,900 private industry illness and injury cases in California during 2023, and of these cases, 236,700 were considered severe. Severe work injuries and illnesses often result in missed days of work, require new job training, or result in permanent disability. Anyone in any industry can potentially experience an injury at work that leads to expensive medical bills and lost income from the inability to work during recovery.
Some of the most commonly reported workplace injuries in Santa Ana and throughout California each year include:
- Caídas. They are not only a leading cause of injury but also a leading cause of accidental death in the workplace throughout the United States each year.
- Accidentes de tráfico. Whether you are hurt in a vehicle accident while driving for work or due to an accident involving a special vehicle like a forklift or loader, you could file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits if the accident happened while you were working.
- Traumatic accidents from being struck by objects, such as dropped or falling objects.
- Electrocutions.
- Lesiones por esfuerzo repetitivo. These injuries manifest gradually over time due to the repetitive motions an employee must make while working.
Work injuries may also result in fatal harm. The Administración de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo (OSHA) reported 5,283 fatal workplace accidents in 2023, and the family of a fatally injured worker is likely to have many legal questions in the aftermath of an unexpected death in the workplace. Whether you have been hurt at work or you have lost a loved one in a fatal workplace accident, the team at the Diefer Law Group is ready to assist you with your legal efforts.
Understanding the Workers’ Compensation System in California
Workers’ compensation insurance is a requirement for most private employers in California. When an injury happens at work, the employer’s insurance policy can provide two forms of compensation to help the victim recover. First, the insurer will cover all of the victim’s medical expenses related to their work injury. Second, the insurer can pay ongoing disability benefits while the victim is unable to work during their recovery.
Filing your claim for workers’ compensation begins with notifying your employer about your injury right away. Even if it is not life-threatening, you should report it immediately, as failure to report the injury within 30 días could result in a disqualification from benefits. After reporting the injury, your employer should create an incident report and provide the forms you need to send to the insurance company.
The insurer will likely require that you undergo a functional capacity evaluation. This exam will determine the severity of your injury and the scope of the resulting disability. The workers’ compensation doctor you visit will assign a disability rating from one to 100 to indicate the severity of your condition, and this disability rating will be a major factor in the insurance company’s determination of benefits.
Most employers in Santa Ana and throughout California facilitate their injured workers’ cases in good faith. However, it is possible for an injured worker to encounter disputes with their employer and/or their insurance carrier. In extreme cases, injured workers may be wrongfully terminated in response to their injuries. Having an attorney on your side will be a crucial asset if this happens to you.
Maximizing Your Recovery From a Workplace Injury
A successful workers’ compensation claim in Santa Ana can cover the cost of the medical treatment you require and provide ongoing disability benefits while you recover. You may receive partial disability benefits if you can still work in a limited capacity but cannot earn your usual income, or you can receive total disability benefits if you are unable to work at all during your recovery.
Workers’ compensation insurance protects covered employers from civil liability for their injured workers’ damages, so you cannot sue your employer for an injury at work except under very specific conditions. You may, however, have grounds for a third-party personal injury case if someone outside of your work caused your injury. Success with this case could yield compensation for damages that workers’ compensation insurance won’t cover.
Fault may not be a factor in a workers’ compensation insurance claim, but it will be a core issue in any type of personal injury case. If you intend to file a personal injury suit in Santa Ana, you will need to prove that the defendant directly caused your injury and then show the full scope of the damages you suffered.
Find Your Santa Ana Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today
The attorneys at the Diefer Law Group are confident we can provide the compassionate and results-driven legal counsel you need in the aftermath of any type of injury at work in Santa Ana. Our firm can review the details of how your injury happened, accurately calculate the full scope of the damages you are eligible to claim, and then explain the various steps you must complete to recover fair compensation.
You have limited time to file a workers’ compensation claim in Santa Ana. After reporting the injury to your supervisor and receiving medical attention, you need to consult an attorney you trust at your first opportunity. Póngase en contacto con el Diefer Law Group hoy to schedule your free consultation with an experienced Santa Ana workers’ compensation lawyer and learn more about the legal services we offer.
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