Torrance Workplace Slip & Fall Attorneys

Any workplace injury has the potential to cause severe medical complications for the victim and interfere with their ability to work. Slip and fall incidents are some of California’s most commonly reported workplace injuries. While this type of incident may sound minor at first, the reality is that any slip and fall can potentially result in life-changing injuries for the victim.

Helping Torrance, CA, Clients Recover From Workplace Slip and Fall Injuries

If you or a loved one is struggling in the aftermath of a workplace injury in Torrance, CA, you need legal counsel you can trust to guide you through the complex legal proceedings ahead of you as you seek benefits to help you recover. The workers’ compensation laws of California are relatively generous when it comes to the rights and compensation options available to injured workers in the state. Unfortunately, not every injured worker has an easy time with their workers’ compensation claim, and others face the need to pursue additional legal action to fully recover from severe slip and fall injuries.

Pratt Williams has an experienced team of Torrance workplace injuries attorneys with the professional resources and experience you need on your side to recover from a workplace slip and fall injury. Regardless of whether you are expected to make a full recovery and eventually return to work, or you face lifelong disabilities from your experience, we can help you navigate the workers’ compensation claim process with confidence and address any legal complications that arise with your recovery efforts.

Benefits of Hiring a Torrance Workplace Injury Attorney

Our team has helped many injured workers in the Torrance, CA, area file their workers’ compensation claims and pursue civil damages when workers’ compensation alone cannot repay their losses. Depending on how, where, and why your workplace slip and fall injury occurred, you may have more options for recovering your losses than you initially realize. Your Torrance workplace injury attorney can not only help you file your initial claim for workers’ compensation benefits but also explore any further legal recourse available to you.

California’s workers’ compensation system generally shields employers from civil liability for their workers’ injuries on the job. Therefore, as long as the employer has appropriate insurance coverage, the employee may not file a personal injury suit against the employer. However, there are exceptions to this rule, and it is also possible for the victim to have grounds for legal action against a third party responsible for their injury at work.

Whatever your situation may entail, you have the best chance of maximizing the final compensation you obtain when you have an experienced Torrance workplace injury attorney assisting with your recovery. It’s technically possible to handle your recovery efforts independently, but managing these complex legal matters while recovering from painful injuries would be exceptionally difficult after any serious slip and fall injury. Allow an experienced Torrance workplace injury attorney to handle your legal affairs so you can focus on your medical needs with peace of mind.

Potential Effects of a Workplace Slip and Fall Injury

Slip and fall incidents are some of the most commonly reported workplace injuries in California. The potential effects of a slip and fall usually depend on the victim’s overall medical condition prior to the fall, the location of the fall, and the height of the fall. For example, it’s possible for someone to fall a significant height but only suffer injuries that will heal with appropriate care and treatment. On the other hand, it is also possible for someone to slip and fall at ground level but sustain life-changing traumatic injuries. Slip and fall injuries typically include:

• Broken bones. It’s likely for a slip and fall to result in multiple bone fractures if the victim fell any significant height. It is also possible to sustain bone fractures from a short but violent fall. Some fractures can heal completely with appropriate treatment, while others will impose long-term complications like chronic pain, diminished range of motion, and increased vulnerability to future injury.
• Spinal injuries. A slip and fall could potentially result in a vertebral fracture or other back injury that damages the spinal cord. The spinal cord carries brain signals throughout the body, and any damage to these nerves is irreversible.
• Traumatic brain injuries. A slip and fall injury could easily entail the victim hitting their head on the ground or an object or surface as they fall. Any traumatic brain injury can be fatal without appropriate care, and these injuries are very unpredictable when it comes to the long-term or permanent effects they can cause.
• Facial and dental injuries. It’s possible for the victim of a slip and fall to hit their face and/or damage their teeth in this type of incident. These injuries can be painful, leave permanent scarring, and be difficult to treat. In addition, it’s common for disfiguring workplace injuries to result in psychological distress along with painful physical symptoms.

The victim of any slip and fall injury at work could face very expensive initial medical costs after their injury and a host of ongoing medical expenses for managing their symptoms, restoring lost function, and reaching maximum medical recovery.

Most workers in California are qualified to file workers’ compensation claims so long as their employers have appropriate insurance coverage. It’s important to remember that if an employee makes an honest mistake and causes their own injury, they are still able to claim workers’ compensation benefits. Fault does not necessarily factor into workers’ compensation benefits determinations, but if fault does play any role in a workplace injury, this can lead to various legal complications for the parties involved.

A workers’ compensation insurance carrier could deny a claim if the injured worker caused their own slip and fall injury through an intentional flagrant violation of a workplace safety policy, causing their injury due to working under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or if the injury happened because the employee was acting negligently or criminally and outside the scope of their job duties. It is also possible for a claim to be complicated by intentional misconduct or the actions of a third party.

If someone outside of your workplace caused your slip and fall injury, you might have not only the right to claim workers’ compensation benefits since the injury occurred at work but also the right to file a civil suit against the party responsible for your injury. The workers’ compensation laws of California typically prevent injured workers from suing their employers for workplace injuries, but this does not apply if your employer does not have appropriate insurance coverage or if they somehow intentionally caused your injury. When a third party is responsible for your slip and fall, your Torrance workplace injury attorney can help you recover as much as possible through a workers’ compensation claim before helping you build a third-party personal injury claim to recover your remaining damages.

Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim in California

The workers’ compensation claim process is relatively straightforward, but it is best to have an experienced Torrance workplace injury attorney assist you with filing it to ensure the best chances of success. Your attorney will ensure that your claim is complete, accurate, and has all necessary supporting documentation. In addition, if any disputes arise with the insurance company, your legal team will be readily available to address them on your behalf until you receive a suitable settlement offer from the insurer.

A successful workers’ compensation claim in California generally yields two main types of compensation to covered claimants. First, the insurance company should cover all the claimant’s medical treatment costs. This includes any immediate expenses incurred right after their injuries, the cost of rehabilitation, physical therapy, and other necessary ongoing treatment. Anything required to manage the claimant’s symptoms and help them reach maximum medical improvement should be covered by workers’ compensation insurance.

The second form of compensation you could receive for your slip and fall injury claim is ongoing disability benefits. Whenever a workplace injury prevents the victim from working or earning as much income as they did prior to the injury, their employer’s insurance policy can provide ongoing benefits of up to two-thirds of the claimant’s average weekly wage. This means if you typically earn $1,000 per week at work, you could receive about $750 in weekly disability benefits from a successful workers’ compensation claim.

When an injury leaves the victim able to work but they cannot earn as much because of their injury, partial disability benefits can be paid to offset their diminished earning capacity. The claimant must report all income they earn and all changes in their medical condition to the insurance company to continue receiving partial disability benefits.

Pratt Williams can significantly streamline your workers’ compensation claim after a slip and fall. First, we will review the medical report from the workers’ compensation doctor to verify their assigned disability rating is reasonable for your condition. Then, when you face long-term or permanent complications from your slip and fall, we will determine the best evidence you need to support your claim for coverage for these long-term damages.

Ultimately, every workplace injury claim is unique, and every injured worker faces different challenges in their recovery efforts. If you are ready to take legal action in response to your recent workplace slip and fall injury, contact Pratt Williams today and schedule your case evaluation with our team.