Employees in California have a right to work under safe conditions that prioritize their health and well-being. Unfortunately, minor acts and omissions from employers can easily jeopardize a person’s workplace safety in Fresno and may cause them to sustain injuries.
When you were hurt in the workplace, you can obtain payment for your medical bills and lost wages through California’s workers’ compensation system. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney could help you navigate the legal system and assist you throughout the claims process.
Many different actions and behaviors within a workplace could create a risk to the safety of employees. Some Fresno jobs require greater safety protocols than others, but an unsafe work environment can arise in any business setting, from industrial complexes to desk jobs. Some common examples of this behavior could include:
These types of acts from employers or supervisors could result from one-time lapses in oversight or be part of more systemic decisions to meet other business goals, such as cost-cutting or avoiding production delays.
Injuries from workplace safety violations can range from minor cuts or bruises to the onset of life-threatening situations. A worker could experience broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spine and back damage, and other immediate physical harm. Workplace injuries could also have a latent onset that comes from exposure to hazardous materials that cause cancers and other conditions.
It is also important to note that these injuries can often cause temporary or permanent disability that further risks a person’s ability to work and earn a living. California’s workers’ compensation program could be a crucial resource for people recovering from workplace injuries due to a lack of safety through a Fresno employer.
The injured worker must report the injury-causing event to their employer as soon as possible. It’s important to note this should happen within 30 days of the date when the workplace injury occurred. The employer should provide a standard claim form to complete this report, which starts the workers’ compensation claim process and continues with the employer’s investigation and decision on whether they will accept or deny the claim.
This process may include gathering statements from those who witnessed the incident and independent medical evaluation to verify the worker’s injuries. California workers’ compensation law presumes an employer approves a claim for benefits if they do not deny it within 90 days. Our Fresno lawyers are well-versed in the nuances of these claims and could assist a worker who was hurt due to workplace safety concerns.
We take workplace safety in Fresno seriously, and when you have been hurt on the job, our attorneys at Silberman & Lam could help you understand your available options for pursuing compensation and securing necessary benefits. This can be compensation for temporary disability, permanent disability, or supplemental job displacement benefits.
Meeting with a lawyer could help ensure that an employer is not underpaying disability compensation based on the nature of the injury. Schedule a consultation today to speak with an experienced lawyer.
