Does an Injury Qualify for Workers’ Compensation?
In California, every employer must pay for workers’ compensation benefits if someone is hurt while on the job. If an employee suffers a work-related injury, the business must cover medical costs, time off, and other expenses. Injuries may qualify if:
You Sustain a Single Injury
This is often an unexpected injury. It covers slip-and-fall accidents, severe cuts that require stitches, chemical splashes, vehicle accidents when traveling for work, and other injuries. If you need medical assistance, you must seek help immediately and let it be known that the accident occurred while you were on the job.
You Sustain Injuries Through Repeated Exposure
In an industrial workplace, there may be chemicals that you are exposed to throughout the day. If you sustain chemical burns, develop breathing problems, or a more severe illness because of chemical exposure, you may be able to seek compensation. This may also apply to injuries sustained by repetitive actions, like loss of hearing because of noise levels in the workplace or back issues from constant lifting.
PTSD or Mental Illness
In rare cases, mental illness may be covered by workers’ compensation. However, it can be challenging to get it, and a company must employ the person for at least six months.
When discussing industrial injuries, no definitive guide tells every situation that may or may not be covered. Therefore, if a person feels their industrial injury qualifies, they must follow the proper steps and get help from a Bakersfield attorney.
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