Anyone can be injured at work. Injuries can range from a mere minor inconvenience to life-threatening. Sometimes, workers experience harm that is catastrophic to their well-being and can completely change a person’s life, putting them into a disheartening mental, physical, and emotional state. Unfortunately, catastrophic injuries happen in the workplace more often than they should.
When you have experienced a life-changing, devastating incident while on the job, you may wonder how to make ends meet or where to go next. It is essential to understand the basics of filing a workers’ compensation claim by consulting with a skilled workplace injury attorney from Glauber Berenson Vego. If you have sustained a severe injury at the workplace, a Glendale workplace catastrophic injury lawyer could tirelessly advocate for you to ensure just compensation.
Under federal law, a catastrophic injury permanently prevents an individual from performing any gainful work. These injuries are debilitating and prevent someone from being able to do their job. Some frequently seen examples include:
These incidents often involve vehicle accidents, negligent co-workers, lack of safety training, slip and falls, lack of protective equipment, and malfunctioning machinery. A worker needs a skilled team of Glendale lawyers with years of experience helping workers who have sustained a catastrophic injury to help an injured person get the benefits they deserve.
In California, the statute of limitations to file a workers’ compensation claim is one year, and a catastrophic injury lawsuit is two years. A statute of limitations is essentially a legal deadline. If a worker misses it, they lose their chance to seek damages. Further, employees must inform their employer of their injury within 30 days of the incident. Following the requisite deadlines is extremely important because an employer or their insurance company can attempt to dismiss a claim because of untimeliness.
There is no average amount that injury lawsuits settle for or win in court because every case is different. Many cases will settle with insurance companies that handle workers’ compensation. It is vital to remember that insurance companies are dedicated to protecting their interests and do not give an injured person more than the minimum amount.
An experienced legal professional is best suited to handle settlement negotiations, as insurance companies often offer lowball offers. When a person’s life has been forever changed by a catastrophic workplace injury, having a Glendale attorney could make a significant difference in a settlement offer.
California abides by a pure comparative negligence system. Unlike many other states that follow a modified comparative negligence system preventing injured people from recovering damages, if they are above 50% responsible for the incident that occurred, California’s model means that a person can receive damages in their lawsuit even if they are 99% responsible for the incident that occurred. However, their damages will be affected by their level of responsibility. The larger their percentage of fault, the smaller their recovery amount.
You are entitled to workers’ comp in California if you have experienced a harmful accident at the workplace or while performing your duties. It is wise to speak with one of our Glendale workplace catastrophic injury lawyers at the beginning of your case process so we can ensure that the proper steps are followed.
When you have been hurt at work, you do not have to go through the claims process alone. Call us today to schedule a consultation.
