Irvine Workplace Burn Injury Lawyer
Irvine Workplace Burn Injury Attorney
When you receive a burn injury while working at your place of employment, the costs that are associated with that injury should not be your responsibility. In most cases, your employer has workers’ compensation insurance, which should cover the medical bills, wage replacements, and other costs that you incur. Working with an Irvine workplace burn injury lawyer from Diefer Law Group, P.C., can often be critical to navigating the workers’ compensation claims process.
What an Irvine Workplace Burn Injury Lawyer Does
A workers’ compensation lawyer can be crucial for seeing that you get the compensation you need for your injuries. One of the primary ways we can help is by navigating the workers’ compensation process. It can often be difficult to understand the different paperwork and documentation, along with knowing where it will need to be submitted. Having an experienced lawyer helping with this process can avoid delays and rejections that come from procedural errors.
Our experienced and knowledgeable attorneys can also help you if your claim is rejected or there are disputes regarding it. This can often lead to a complex sequence of hearings and legal proceedings. We can represent you through this process and advocate for your interests. It’s a lawyer’s job to see that every option available to you is taken to seek a proper workers’ comp settlement.
Common Kinds of Workplace Burns
Workplace burns in Irvine, CA can be caused by a wide variety of sources and come in different levels of severity. Generally, there are some situations where a burn is a greater risk because of the nature of the position, the type of work being done, and the tools and substances that workers are exposed to. Some of the more common types of burns include:
- Thermal Burns – Burns of this kind are typically a result of significant heat, whether from flame, hot liquids, steam, or another hot substance. Jobs that involve heat or fire are at greater risk for these kinds of burns.
- Chemical Burns – Certain chemicals and combinations of chemicals could cause burns when coming into contact with skin, getting into someone’s eyes, or being inhaled. Industries that have heavy exposure to these kinds of chemicals, whether cleaning, manufacturing, or laboratory work, are going to have a greater chance of these kinds of burns.
- Electrical Burns – An electrical current passing through someone can cause burns. This can often cause internal damage to tissues and be very painful. Work that’s done with and near exposed wires, such as the tasks of an electrician, can have a higher risk of these kinds of burns.
- Radiation Burns – There are some circumstances, such as some laboratory work and some medical testing, that involve regular exposure to radiation and could result in burns.
- Cold Burns – Extreme cold exposure can cause burn-like damage (frostbite), and those in jobs with regular, extended time in the cold or freezers are at greater risk of these injuries.
When a burn happens, it is typically categorized by doctors according to its severity. The least harmful is a first-degree burn, while a fourth-degree burn is the most severe. The significance of the injury could be as mild as some redness and slight pain that goes away in a few days, or it could be as severe as causing deep tissue and bone damage, possibly even death. Some burns require no treatment, whereas others could require multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and other medical interventions.
Irvine Workplace Burn Injury FAQs
Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
A: If you are injured at work, you will generally need to notify your employer within 30 days of the injury or within 30 days of becoming aware of the injury. However, this typically isn’t an issue with a burn, as it is usually evident rather quickly. If you wish to file a legal claim, you should do so within one year, although there are some minor exceptions in certain circumstances.
Q: What Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?
A: Workers’ compensation could cover a number of different costs, depending on the situation and the severity of the injury. One of the most important expenses that workers’ compensation covers is the medical costs related to your burn injury. For example, doctor’s visits, treatment, medication, surgeries, and other medical costs are covered.
If your injuries cause you to miss work, wage replacement within certain limitations may also be included. If your injuries are so severe that you need to change careers, the cost of training and education also could be covered.
Q: What Employers in California Are Required to Have Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
A: With very limited exceptions, almost every employer in California, whether private or government, is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. There are significant penalties for those who fail to do so, including fines and even potential criminal charges. If you believe that your employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance, you should contact an employment lawyer to discuss the situation.
Q: What Should I Do If I Get Burned at Work?
A: If you get burned at work, it’s important that you seek medical help and notify your employer. They will often inform you of the next steps involved in beginning the workers’ compensation process. It can often be helpful to contact a lawyer soon, as they can help you understand what you should expect from the process.
Get Workers’ Compensation Help From an Irvine Workplace Burn Injury Lawyer
We understand how frustrating the workers’ compensation process can be. These are protections that are supposed to be easily available for workers who are injured in the course of doing their work. You also shouldn’t have to deal with the hassle of a workers’ compensation claim while you are trying to heal from and manage your injuries. That’s why working with an Irving workplace burn injury lawyer can be critical to getting the compensation that you’re owed.
At Diefer Law Group, P.C., we represent our clients through the complicated workers’ compensation process and advocate for them to receive the compensation that they need. If you are ready to discuss your workplace burn injury and how we may be able to help, contact us today.
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