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    Bakersfield Assessment of Impairment Ratings

    Understanding your impairment rating is crucial to securing fair workers’ compensation benefits after a workplace injury. At Levin & Nalbandyan Trial Lawyers, our workers’ compensation attorneys help injured workers understand a Bakersfield assessment of impairment ratings to ensure they receive appropriate compensation for their permanent disabilities.

    Understanding Impairment Ratings in Workers' Compensation

    Impairment ratings represent the percentage of permanent disability resulting from a workplace injury after you have reached maximum medical improvement. These ratings are determined using the American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, which provides standardized criteria for assessing functional limitations.

    The rating considers factors such as loss of range of motion, strength deficits, sensory changes, and impact on activities of daily living. California’s rating system then adjusts these medical impairment percentages based on your age, occupation, and how the disability affects your future earning capacity.

    The Role of Qualified Medical Evaluators

    Qualified Medical Evaluators (QMEs) or Agreed Medical Evaluators (AMEs) play a critical role in determining impairment ratings. These physicians undergo specialized training and certification to evaluate injured workers and assign impairment ratings in accordance with established guidelines.

    The evaluator will conduct a comprehensive examination, review medical records, and prepare a detailed report outlining your permanent impairment percentage. Their findings significantly influence your permanent disability benefits, so you want a lawyer to ensure accuracy.

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    The Evaluation Process

    Proper preparation for your assessment of impairment ratings in Bakersfield can significantly impact the outcome. Before your evaluation, gather all relevant medical records, diagnostic test results, and documentation of your symptoms and limitations.

    Create a detailed journal that documents how your injury affects your daily activities, work capabilities, and overall quality of life.

    What to Expect During the Examination

    The impairment evaluation typically involves a comprehensive physical examination, review of your medical history, and various functional tests. The evaluator will assess your range of motion, strength, sensation, and reflexes in the affected areas.

    They may also conduct specific tests related to your particular injury, such as grip strength measurements for hand injuries or lifting assessments for back injuries. The entire process usually takes one to three hours, depending on the complexity of your case.

    Challenging Unfair Impairment Ratings

    There can certainly be errors in your ratings that limit your benefits. Always have a lawyer review findings for potential unfairness.

    Common Rating Errors

    Unfortunately, impairment ratings are not always accurate or fair. Common errors include failure to consider all body parts affected by the injury, improper application of the rating guidelines, overlooking subjective factors like chronic pain, and inadequate consideration of how multiple injuries combine to create greater disability.

    Some evaluators may also rely too heavily on objective findings while dismissing legitimate subjective complaints that significantly impact your functionality. Understanding these potential errors helps identify when an assessment of impairment ratings in Bakersfield needs to be challenged.

    Legal Remedies for Incorrect Ratings

    If you believe your impairment rating is too low, several legal options exist. You can request a supplemental medical-legal evaluation to address specific deficiencies in the original report.

    Workers’ compensation is a social insurance program that provides benefits to employees who suffer from a job-related injury. It is designed to ensure the employee receives prompt medical treatment and compensation for lost wages, regardless of who is at fault. The program was adopted in California and most other states during the early 20th century, and replaces the right of employees to sue employers over work-related injuries in exchange for benefits.
    If an employee incurs a work-related injury or illness and the employer does not have valid workers’ compensation insurance, workers’ compensation may not be available as a remedy. However, the employee can still file a civil action against their employer in addition to filing a workers’ compensation claim. Employees should reach out to their local DWC office to discuss their options further. The employee can also work with a workers’ compensation attorneto help them pursue compensation.
    The last thing you want to deal with after being hurt on the job is fighting with the insurance company just to get your wages paid or to see that your medical bills are taken care of. Has your workers’ comp claim been denied or delayed? Do you suspect some type of insurance bad faith? Our Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorneys are here to help. We can file an appeal on your behalf and continue pursuing the compensation you deserve.
    Workers’ compensation claims can be difficult to navigate, especially after you have been injured. Our Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorneys are here to guide you every step of the way and ensure you have the best chance of success.
    Many workers’ compensation claims are complicated. The best way to ensure that you obtain your full benefits after an on-the-job injury is by consulting with a Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorney. Without the help of an attorney, you may not receive the compensation you are entitled to for your medical care, disability payments, and more. An experienced attorney can help you understand your rights and responsibilities regarding your workers’ compensation claim. They can also assist you with an appeal if your claim is denied. Workers’ compensation claims require adherence to tight deadlines, failure to report an injury in a timely manner can result in your claim being rejected. It is generally in your best interest to consult with a Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorney as early in the process as possible.
    Individuals in California who are injured on the job or have a work-related illness may be entitled to several benefits through their company’s policy. Most employers in the state are required to either purchase a workers’ compensation policy from a licensed insurer or become self-insured. If you are injured at work, your employer’s workers’ compensation benefits may include payment for:
    • Medical care
    • Temporary disability benefits
    • Permanent disability benefits
    • Supplemental job displacement benefits
    • Death benefits
    It is important to discuss your case with a Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible after your injury. An attorney can help you understand how to file a claim through your employer’s policy and ensure that you receive the maximum compensation available based on your case.
    An employer cannot fire you for filing a workers’ compensation claim. It is unlawful for an employer to retaliate against an employee who has been injured on the job and is seeking workers’ compensation benefits. In addition, an employer cannot deduct a portion of your paycheck in order to help offset the cost of workers’ compensation benefits. If you filed a workers’ compensation claim and were subsequently fired from your position, you might be entitled to file a wrongful termination lawsuit. There are strict state and federal laws that protect workers from wrongful dismissal. Our attorneys can help you file the appropriate claim against your employer if you were wrongfully terminated.
    Depending on the severity of the injury, you may be unable to return to your previous job duties. If you have long-term medical problems related to your on-the-job injury, you might be entitled to permanent disability benefits. Permanent disability benefits are designed to compensate those whose injury results in a reduced earning capacity. You might still be able to collect permanent disability benefits even if you are able to return to work. In order to qualify for permanent disability benefits, a doctor must first find that your condition is not likely to change or improve. The doctor may state that your injury has reached its maximum medical improvement or has become permanent and stationary.
    If you have a work-related injury, you need to act quickly to protect your right to compensation. First, report the injury to your employer. In some cases, your injury may be caused by repeated exposure as opposed to a single accident. It is critical to report the injury immediately upon discovery, even if it occurs over time. Second, you need to seek emergency medical treatment. Any delay in treatment may directly affect your ability to receive full workers’ compensation benefits. Seek and continue treatment. Do not miss doctor’s appointments and follow through with any referrals to specialists or other recommendations. Finally, contact a Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorney. An attorney can help you file a claim for benefits and ensure that you receive fair and full compensation for your losses.
    In the unimaginable event that you have lost a loved one due to a job-related injury or illness, you might be entitled to workers’ compensation death benefits. Generally, spouses, children, and other dependents are entitled to death benefits. A Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorney can help you understand your rights and whether you qualify for death benefits. We know that no amount of money could ever fully compensate you for the loss of your loved one, but these benefits may help to relieve unexpected costs such as burial expenses.
    By law, most employers in California are expected to have workers’ compensation coverage for their employees to compensate them if they are injured on the job. Your employer is required to pay a specific amount to you; however, if a third party was involved—such as a manufacturer or someone not employed by your employer—then you may be entitled to secondary compensation.
    In California, workers’ compensation covers all of your authorized injury-related expenses, including (but not limited to) medical costs, rehabilitation costs, therapy, and any job-related retraining you may need to get back to work. You may also be eligible for temporary total or temporary partial disability benefits if your injury has put you out of commission for a time. Should your injury pose permanent limitations on your ability to do your job or eliminate your ability to work at all, you may be able to receive permanent disability benefits.
    Talk to your employer about your injury or developed illness right away. Ideally, do this as soon as you are injured or become aware of your illness so that your employer has the option to send you to a physician in their medical provider network. Seek medical attention and keep record of any diagnoses, x-rays, doctor’s notes, prescribed treatments, etc. If your injury requires you to receive immediate medical attention, do so before talking to your employer, but do not wait more than 30 days to report your injury. Make your workers’ comp claim official by filing an Application for Adjudication of Claim no more than 1 year after your injury. This is one of several forms you will need to file in order to recover costs associated with your injury or illness.
    Every employer in the state of California is required to hold a workers’ compensation insurance policy with a licensed insurer and provide related benefits to their employees when the need arises. Even small companies with only a few employees must provide workers’ compensation for their employees and have sufficient insurance.
    If your employer is not properly insured and cannot cover your injury-related costs, the state of California has what is known as the Uninsured Employer’s Benefit Trust Fund (UEBTF), which serves as a fallback and provides the funds for hurt workers.
    Levin & Nalbandyan is located in downtown Los Angeles. We can take all workers’ compensation cases based in California.

    Maximizing Your Permanent Disability Benefits

    The impairment rating percentage translates directly into permanent disability benefits according to California’s impairment rating schedule. Higher ratings result in more weeks of benefits and potentially higher weekly benefit amounts. The conversion also considers factors such as your date of injury, as different rating schedules apply to injuries occurring in various years. Understanding these conversions helps you evaluate whether a proposed rating accurately reflects your disability.

    Reach Out to Our Bakersfield Attorneys for Help with Assessment of Impairment Ratings

    If you are facing a workers’ compensation impairment evaluation or disagree with a rating you have received, the attorneys at Levin & Nalbandyan Trial Lawyers can help. Our team has extensive experience with Bakersfield assessment of impairment ratings and knows how to ensure injured workers receive fair evaluations. Contact us today to discuss your case and learn how we can protect your rights.

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