The human body contains hundreds of ligaments and thousands of tendons, and all are crucial for allowing for a full range of movement by connecting various muscles and bones. While these connective tissues can heal from minor trauma to some degree, injuries to those tissues can still be painful and physically limiting.
When you have sustained any ligament or tendon damage from work, a Downey workplace strain and sprain injury lawyer could help you seek benefits for your injury-related losses through your employer’s workers’ compensation coverage. Whether you need help covering short-term medical bills or have sustained an injury that will last for months and require invasive surgery to correct, assistance from a seasoned workplace injury attorney could be vital to getting a positive claim outcome.
In California, workers’ compensation insurance is meant to cover all work-related injuries, regardless of what part of the body they affect, how long they are expected to last, or what long-term disability they might result in for the injured worker. In addition to accidents that occur on the job and that do not stem from horseplay, intoxication, or some other form of negligence by the injured worker, workers’ comp also covers degenerative or chronic strains and sprains caused by repetitive stress or motion, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Additionally, workers are typically only eligible to file workers’ comp claims if they are classified as employees of the company providing workers’ comp insurance coverage, as opposed to independent contractors, freelancers, or volunteers. Many companies knowingly misclassify and misinform workers regarding their employment status and eligibility for workers’ comp, so it is often worth speaking with an attorney about recovery options after any strain and sprain injury in a Downey workplace.
Workers covered by workers’ comp insurance and want to seek benefits under their employer’s policy must notify that employer in writing as soon as possible after sustaining or, in the case of chronic or degenerative conditions, first discovering a work-related injury. They must also seek medical care from an employer-approved physician and follow all their instructions for future treatment.
The injured worker will need to fill out a Workers’ Compensation Claim Form and return it to their employer as quickly as possible, as this is the step that formally opens a workers’ comp claim in the eyes of the California Division of Workers’ Compensation within the Department of Industrial Relations. A workplace strain and sprain injury lawyer in Downey could provide further guidance and support through each stage of this process and assist with resolving any disputes that arise after the claim is filed.
Straining a tendon or spraining a ligament at work can negatively impact your ability to do your job and what you can do in your personal life outside of work. While workers’ comp benefits should theoretically be available to help you cover medical bills and other losses while you recover, getting the benefits you deserve can be far from straightforward in many situations.
Fortunately, you can get help from an expert Downey workplace strain and sprain injury lawyer who could work tenaciously to get you a favorable claim result. Call today for a consultation.
