San Francisco Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

San Francisco Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Suffering an injury on the job can be a frightening experience and leave individuals feeling uncertain about their future. You may find yourself concerned about being able to return to work while medical bills and other necessary costs are piling up. When these situations arise, having the legal counsel and representation of a San Francisco workers’compensation lawyer can make all the difference for the outcome of aclaim.

At Bridges Law Firm, we pride ourselves on being a diverse group of individuals who are ready to help those in need. With out attorneys from Costa Rica, the Caribbean, , El Salvador, and Mexico, we are able to assist Spanish-speaking clients and are ready to put our resources and experience to work in order to fight for the workers’compensation benefits you deserve after being injured on the job. Let us handle the legal side while you focus on rest and recovery.

What Is Workers’ Compensation in California?

For those who are injured in the workplace, there are benefits available to you through an insurance system known as workers’compensation. Regardless of who is at fault for the accident or incident that has occurred, the party injured has the right to file for these necessary benefits. The system is designed to allow injured workers to get back on the job without suffering major damage to their personal finances.

When you have suffered an injury at work, there may be several benefits you are entitled to when receiving workers’compensation insurance. These benefits are meant to help with the financial burden that injured individuals face after suffering a work-related accident that leaves them unable to return to their place of employment for a period of time.

Depending on the injury, the type of work performed, and the coverage of your employer, there are multiple types of compensation you can receive. These can include the following:

• Medical Expenses: Benefits for medical costs and other related expenses can help cover any medical actions deemed necessary for the diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation performed due to your work-related injury.
• Temporary Disability: Benefits of this nature can assist individuals who must be away from work for a temporary period of time in order to heal and recover from their work-related injury.
• Permanent Disability: If you are unable to return to your place of employment due to your work-related injury for the foreseeable future, you might be entitled to receive benefits for permanent disability. Depending on the nature and severity of your injury, you might be eligible for a life pension payment. An attorney from Bridges Law Firm can help determine your eligibility.
• Supplemental Benefits or Vouchers for Job Displacement: You might be eligible to receive new training for skills or certifications that can assist you in gaining new employment if you are unable to return to the job you used to do. These situations typically include individuals who have been injured in hard labor or manual jobs and are no longer able to perform the necessary duties due to their injury.
• Death Benefits: If you have lost a loved one or family member due to a job-related accident, you might find yourself eligible for death-related benefits. These benefits typically can include coverage for final medical treatments before the deceased individual’s passing, funeral costs, and the expenses for the burial. In some cases, the family of the deceased individual may also be entitled to a portion of their wages.

It is important to make note of the fact that filing a claim for workers’compensation can be an arduous and complicated process and having tough legal representation on your side is vital.

Bridges Law Firm: Protecting Your Right to Compensation and Your Future

At the Bridges Law Firm, we understand the importance of hard labor or manual labor jobs. These occupations are necessary, and the individuals doing the hard work deserve to be compensated when they suffer an injury on the job. Our team of dedicated workers’compensation attorneys is ready to proactively and aggressively fight to obtain the medical and wage benefits our clients deserve and are entitled to under California law.

Your employer and their insurance company have their own legal teams. Therefore, you should also seek legal representation when preparing to file your claim for workers’compensation. The unfortunate reality is that many insurance companies will try to get away with offering you the least amount of benefits possible. You have worked hard and deserve to be treated fairly and with respect. At Bridges Law Firm, we can work hard to ensure this happens.

How to Determine If You Are Eligible for Workers’ Compensation in San Francisco

All California businesses are required to carry workers’compensation insurance under state law. Due to this rule, you are most likely eligible to receive benefits if you have been injured at your place of work. However, to be able to receive these benefits, you must be able to prove that your injury is work-related. Your work injury attorney from Bridges Law Firm can assist with this by helping you secure necessary evidence and interview anyone who was a witness to the accident.

Common Types of Injuries Eligible for Workers’ Compensation

Individuals who work hard labor jobs find themselves in situations that require heavy lifting, pushing, or otherwise using their strength to perform the necessary duties of their employment. These actions all carry the risk of serious injury. Injuries that can be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits can happen as a result of a one-time event or can occur over time due to repetitive motions. Common work-related injuries can include the following:

• Exposure to harmful and dangerous substances or chemicals
• Back injuries due to heavy lifting or pushing
• Hernias due to heavy lifting or pushing
• Falls, slips, or trips
• Repetitive stress injuries often occuras a result of actions such as stocking shelves, lifting objects, or pushing objects repeatedly as a part of your job
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Broken bones
• Neck injuries
• Injuries occurring to parts of the body such as hands, arms, or wrists
• Shoulder injuries
• Chronic pain conditions due to repetitive motions
• Burns resulting from fires or explosions
• Electrocution
• Muscle sprains, strains, or tears
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Being struck by objects or equipment
• Becoming stuck between objects or crushed by them
• Severe cuts and bruises
• Eye trauma

It is also important to keep in mind that there are several injuries that are not covered by workers’compensation benefits. These can include any injuries that occur off the job site, even if you are driving to or from work. However, if you were traveling for a work-related duty, such as driving to deliver products, meeting with a client or customer, picking up necessary supplies for work, or running an errand for your employer and you suffered an accident, this might be covered.

When you work with an attorney from Bridges Law Firm, you can rest assured knowing that they can do everything in their power to review the details of the accident or incident that resulted in your injury and help make a determination on the next legal steps to take in your claim for workers’compensation benefits.

The Process for California Workers’ Compensation Claims

When you suffer a work-related injury in the state of California, there is a strict process you must undergo in order to receive benefits from your employer’sworkers’compensation insurance.

Your attorney from Bridges Law Firm can help you ensure that the process is completed in the correct way by following the necessary steps at the right time. If you make even the simplest mistake, you run the risk of losing your chances to receive these benefits. That is one of the reasons why hiring a competent and skilled workers’ compensation lawyer is vital to the success of your claim. The process for filing your claim follows these steps:

• Report Your Injury: Once you have suffered a work-related injury, it is imperative that you report the incident or accident to your supervisor, management, or employer right away. They are then required to give you the correct paperwork to fill out that will protect you throughout the process. It is essential that you do not waste any time informing your employer of your injury, as this can hurt your chances for a successful claim.
• Receive Medical Treatment: Following your injury, it is crucial that you seek medical attention even if you do not feel harmed or in pain, as your accident could have caused internal damage that you cannot see or feel. Your employer is required to give you the necessary information about who to seek treatment from. Your medical records will be essential to the success of your workers’compensation claim.
• Gather Evidence: You will also want to ensure that certain evidence is gathered before you file your claim. When the injury occurs, it is important that you document the scene if you are physically able to do so by taking photographs or videos of the scene and of the injuries and damage you have sustained.
• Consult With an Attorney: At Bridges Law Firm, our attorneys have the resources necessary to evaluate your injury and determine which benefits you may be entitled to, both immediately and in the future. They can also help you organize and gather the necessary paperwork used to file your claim for workers’compensation benefits. They can also fight for your rights if your claim is denied.
• Fill Out a Claim Form: Your employer should supply you with a form to fill out and then file in order to receive workers’compensation benefits. This form is absolutely essential to establishing your claim for compensation. Your attorney can assist you in filling this out and ensuring that it is turned back into your employer within the necessary timeframe. This form will then be submitted to your employer’s insurance provider.

FAQs

How Much Do Workers’ Comp Lawyers Charge in CA?

Many individuals wonder how much a workers’compensation lawyer might charge to represent a client in the state of California. It can be difficult to assign these costs an exact number as there are many factors that can come into play in a case that will affect the final cost of your lawyer’s fee. These factors can include the severity of your injury, the complexity of the case overall, and your attorney’s education and experience.

How Much Is the Average Workers’ Comp Settlement in California?

In the state of California, it is difficult to estimate the average value of a settlement for workers’ compensation. This is because there are many elements involved in these types of claims that can affect the overall value. These elements can include the severity of your injuries, the overall complexity of the claim, and the nature of your injuries and how they affect your future ability to work.

Can You Sue If You Accept Workers’ Compensation in California?

In most cases, an employee who is covered by their employer’s workers’compensation insurance in California cannot sue their employer for the damages sustained in a civil court. When an employer’s insurance grants the employee benefits due to their injury, the employer takes on the liability of the injury, and the employee receives the necessary benefits.

Contact a Trusted San Francisco Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today

Ensuring that you have the right lawyer when filing a claim for workers’compensation in San Francisco is essential to the successful outcome of your case. You need someone on your side who is ready and prepared to fight for the compensation you deserve to cover all medical costs, disability costs, and even death costs if someone has passed away due to work-related injuries.

At Bridges Law Firm, our attorneys have countless years of experience representing individuals who have been injured on the job. We understand how difficult many manual labor jobs can be and are ready to fight to win you the compensation you deserve. Contact our offices today and let us review the details of your case in order to determine the right course of legal action.