How to Apply for Workers’ Compensation in Los Angeles
When you get hurt at work, the last thing you should be thinking about is how you will find the money to pay for your medical costs. You should spend your time and effort focusing on getting better. You should be able to rely on getting your fair share of workers’ compensation benefits from your employer. However, navigating the workers’ compensation system can be complicated, so working with our seasoned workers’ compensation attorneys is critical. Our team knows how to apply for workers’ compensation in Los Angeles and could help you obtain your rightful benefits.
Filing a workers’ compensation claim requires close attention to detail and timeliness. A careless mistake could take away your right to file a claim, so it is essential to consult with our lawyers, who have a proven track record of helping injured employees get what they are due.
Get Medical Attention After a Workplace Injury
If a worker experiences a life-threatening or severe injury, they should immediately seek medical attention. Someone facing a dire injury should not wait for their employer’s approval before calling an ambulance or going to the emergency room for treatment.
When an injury or illness is less severe, the injured worker should try to wait until they can meet with a provider covered under their company’s insurance plan.
Regardless of whether the injury or illness requires emergency or regular medical attention, a doctor’s full evaluation can be helpful. The hurt employee should explain the cause of their injuries to the treating medical professional. The doctor’s notes and medical record of the visit can serve as evidence linking the workplace accident or incident to the injuries. If an employer later questions a worker’s injuries and tries to claim that they occurred at another time, the medical record could help prove that the injuries are job-related.
Our experienced attorneys know how to use a medical record when applying for workers’ compensation benefits in Los Angeles at the initial stage or on appeal.
Report the Injury
Injured employees need to report their injury to their employers in a timely manner. In most situations, workers only have 30 days to file written notice of their injury with their employer. If the worker does not report the injury within the required timeframe, they would most likely be unable to apply for workers’ compensation benefits, even if their injuries were work-related. However, if the worker does not discover their injuries until later, such as if a worker developed a chronic lung disorder from years of inhaling toxic chemicals at work, they would likely be able to obtain an extension until 30 days after their date of discovery.
Our seasoned attorneys in Los Angeles could help with reporting the injury.
Filing a Worker’s Compensation Claim
After receiving a report of a workplace injury, the employer must provide the injured worker with the appropriate documents. The worker should complete all required paperwork and state when and where the injury occurred. The hurt worker must also describe the injury and what body parts are affected.
Our trusted local lawyers could help ensure the accuracy and timeliness of all paperwork.
Call Our Los Angeles Attorneys About Applying for Workers’ Compensation Benefits
When you get hurt on the job, your employer should take care of you. Unfortunately, most employers are looking out more for their profit margins than they are for their injured workers. If you experienced a workplace injury, you should contact our lawyers, who know how to apply for workers’ compensation in Los Angeles.
