Long Beach Workplace Nerve, Tendon, and Muscle Injuries Attorney

Every day, thousands of workplace injuries occur throughout California. People working in virtually every industry can suffer injuries while performing their job duties in many possible ways. While some of these victims will heal completely from their experiences, others are not as fortunate and face lifelong complications from their workplace injuries. Some injuries are more easily treated than others, and some cause long-term or permanent problems for victims. Injuries to the nerves, tendons, and muscles are some of the most commonly reported workplace injuries in Long Beach, CA, but they are also some of the most difficult to treat.

Representing Victims of Workplace Nerve, Tendon, and Muscle Injuries in Long Beach, CA

If you recently suffered any such injury at work, a Long Beach workplace nerve, tendon, and muscle injury lawyer can assist you in your efforts to recover compensation through the workers’ compensation claim process. While your claim may seem straightforward, many claimants encounter unexpected issues with their workers’ compensation claims. Some may have grounds for legal action outside of the workers’ compensation claim process that may enhance their overall recovery. Others face unfair claim denials and other problems with their employers’ workers’ compensation insurance carriers.

Pratt Williams has extensive professional experience handling workers’ compensation cases on behalf of clients in the Long Beach, CA, area. We have helped many past clients secure appropriate benefits to help them recover from their workplace nerve, tendon, and muscle injuries. We have also assisted some clients in related personal injury actions. Whatever your case may entail, you can rely on Pratt Williams to provide ongoing support and valuable legal guidance as you navigate the complexities of your case.

Why Should I Hire a Long Beach Workplace Nerve, Tendon, and Muscle Injury Attorney?

You might think you can handle your workers’ compensation claim on your own, and there is no strict legal requirement that you must hire an attorney to help you with this process. However, the average person is likely to make mistakes in handling their own claim. For example, they may fail to submit their claim forms and supporting documents correctly, resulting in delays in the insurance company’s handling of their claim. It’s also possible to overlook options for legal recourse and settle for less than you legally deserve.

Pratt Williams takes a client-focused approach to every workplace injury case we accept. We’ll take time to learn as much as possible about you and your injury to ensure we provide fully individualized legal counsel through every phase of your claim process. In addition, when you have grounds for legal actions outside of the workers’ compensation claim process, we can also assist you with these situations. Our firm has years of experience handling personal injury claims and workers’ compensation claims, so we are confident that our firm possesses the resources, skill, and experience necessary to guide you to a successful result in your injury case.

Working with a Long Beach workplace nerve, tendon, and muscle injury lawyer will dramatically increase your chances of success with your workers’ compensation claim. You are also more likely to enhance your total recovery thanks to their legal counsel, and your legal team can provide guidance and support through any civil actions you must file in addition to your workers’ compensation claim.

How Do Nerve, Tendon, and Muscle Injuries Happen?

Tendon, muscle, and ligament injuries are classified as “soft tissue injuries” for a workers’ compensation claim. Nerve damage often accompanies these and other workplace injuries, sometimes causing lifelong effects. While a soft tissue injury may seem relatively minor compared to more traumatic injuries like broken bones and brain injuries, the reality is that any soft tissue injury can be challenging to treat and cause a host of medical complications for the victim.

Soft tissue injuries can happen in many ways, including:

• Slip and fall accidents. Any fall can cause severe injuries, and soft tissue injuries are likely when the victim falls and hits a joint or if they twist during the fall and land in an awkward position. Slipped discs, dislocated joints, and other soft tissue injuries can easily occur from these incidents.
• Repetitive stress. When a worker must perform the same physical motions every day at work, this repetitive stress can injure the parts of the body they use the most. Carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and other degenerative conditions can easily entail nerve damage as well as injury to tendons, muscles, and ligaments in the affected area. Over time these injuries will worsen and cause more disruptive symptoms.
• Vehicle accidents. Many people need to drive for work, and a vehicle accident can easily cause severe soft tissue injuries throughout the body. For example, crash impact forces may cause whiplash, a condition characterized by injury to the soft tissues of the neck, shoulders, and back, and it’s possible for the victim to sustain nerve damage from soft tissue injuries and bone fractures resulting from the collision.
• Dislocation injuries. When a joint becomes dislocated, the soft tissues within and around the joint can easily sustain severe injury. For example, dislocating a shoulder can damage the muscle groups of the shoulder and back, and the soft tissues inside the joint are also likely to suffer injury.

There are many other ways workers can sustain nerve, tendon, and muscle injuries at work. However, to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits in California, the injury must have occurred at work or while performing job duties. Additionally, while it is possible to secure workers’ compensation benefits for an injury you unintentionally inflicted upon yourself, you could be prohibited from a claim if you caused your injury due to being under the influence of alcohol or drugs at work or if the injury resulted from egregious negligence, horseplay, or acting outside of the scope of your job duties.

Filing Your Workers’ Compensation Claim

The workers’ compensation claim process is much easier to complete when you have an experienced Long Beach workplace nerve, tendon, and muscle injury attorney representing you. Your legal team can assist you in completing the necessary forms you must submit to your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier. The insurance company may also require additional documentation to accompany your claim forms, and you will need to undergo a physical examination from an approved workers’ compensation doctor.

Your employer’s insurance carrier will provide you with a list of local doctors you can visit for your workers’ compensation physical evaluation. The doctor you choose will examine your injury, evaluate your symptoms, and determine the long-term complications you are likely to experience from your injury. Then, they will assign you a disability rating based on the severity of your injury and the future problems you are likely to face because of it. This disability rating will have a solid bearing on the outcome of your claim and the level of benefits you receive.

Benefits for Soft Tissue Injuries in California

There are two types of benefits available to workers’ compensation claimants in Long Beach, CA. The first is medical expense coverage. If you are hurt at work, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier will cover all medical costs you incur to heal from your injury and manage your symptoms. This coverage includes the cost of hospital treatment, surgery, rehabilitative care, prescriptions, and medical devices you may require.

The second form of your benefits is disability benefits, which are paid on a temporary or permanent basis depending on the severity of a claimant’s injury. For example, when a claimant is left permanently disabled from a workplace injury and cannot perform alternative work, they can qualify for permanent disability benefits. Most insurance carriers will attempt to settle such claims with large lump sum settlement offers, and your attorney can advise you as to whether this would better suit your needs than an ongoing payment plan.

Most claimants who suffer nerve, tendon, and muscle injuries will qualify for temporary disability benefits. These benefits are meant to replace income lost while the claimant recovers. In California, the most a claimant will receive in weekly disability benefits is two-thirds of their average weekly wages. These payments can continue for up to 104 weeks in most instances, but other factors may come into play for certain cases.

Can I Work While Receiving Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

Some workers’ compensation claimants will qualify for partial disability benefits. For example, when a claimant cannot earn as much income as they did previously due to their injury but can still handle alternative, lower-paying work, they can qualify to receive partial disability benefits to help make up the difference in income.

If you qualify for temporary partial disability benefits, you must read your claim settlement carefully and understand the rules for this type of benefit determination. You must report all your earnings to the workers’ compensation insurance carrier, and you may only accept work that you are medically fit to handle. If you are caught failing to report earnings, or if you are seen performing work duties that you claimed you were unable to perform due to your injury, you could face an accusation of workers’ compensation fraud. Consult your Long Beach workplace nerve, tendon, and muscle injury lawyer to determine the best way to continue earning income for your household without interfering with your eligibility to continue receiving workers’ compensation benefits.

Can I File a Personal Injury Claim for a Nerve, Tendon, or Muscle Injury Suffered at Work?

Many injured workers wonder whether they have grounds for legal action against their employers for their workplace nerve, tendon, and muscle injuries. In most cases, employees cannot sue their employers for injuries suffered at work due to California’s workers’ compensation laws. However, if an employer violates state law by failing to obtain workers’ compensation insurance coverage, the injured employee will have the right to file a personal injury claim for their workplace injury.

It is also possible to have grounds for a civil suit against an employer or co-worker if they intentionally caused the injury in question or if the injury occurred due to a flagrant workplace safety violation or egregious negligence. The most common personal injury case filed with a workers’ compensation claim is a third-party personal injury claim. For example, if a party outside of your workplace caused your nerve, tendon, or muscle injury, you would have the right to pursue a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury claim against the third party who injured you. For example, if you were driving to conduct a delivery for work and a drunk driver hit you, you can file a third-party personal injury claim against the drunk driver as well as a workers’ compensation claim through your employer.

A third-party personal injury claim can help you recover damages that workers’ compensation insurance doesn’t provide, such as the remainder of lost income not covered by disability benefits and compensation for your pain and suffering. Your Long Beach workplace nerve, tendon, and muscle injury lawyer can help you determine whether you have grounds for a third-party personal injury suit and will assist you in constructing this civil claim.

Time is a critical factor after any workplace injury. The sooner you report your injury and begin the claim process, the more likely you will succeed with the claim. However, it’s natural to have many questions and concerns about what you should do after a workplace nerve, tendon, or muscle injury. The right attorney on your side can limit uncertainty and help you approach your recovery process with confidence and peace of mind.

Pratt Williams has successfully represented many Long Beach, CA, clients in a wide range of workers’ compensation cases and related personal injury claims. We understand the severe problems that a workplace nerve, tendon, or muscle injury can cause and the frustrations many injured workers experience as they attempt to navigate the workers’ compensation claim process. If you are struggling with a workplace injury and need assistance with your claim, contact Pratt Williams today and schedule a consultation with an experienced Long Beach workplace nerve, tendon, and muscle injury lawyer.