Redondo Beach Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Your job may take a significant amount of your time and attention. However, no matter the circumstances, it should never jeopardize your health or safety. If it does, there are laws and programs in place to support you as you heal from Redondo Beach Workers’ Compensation Attorney a workplace accident.

Workers’ compensation insurance should pay for a lot of your expenses if you get hurt at work. Unfortunately, the route to file your workers’ compensation claims and receive your compensation can be difficult. With the help of workers’ compensation lawyers, you can streamline the claims process and receive your money quickly and efficiently.

Pratt Law Corporation: Your Redondo Beach Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

When facing complicated cases like workers’ compensation, you need attorneys who are approachable as well as qualified. Our team at Pratt Law Corporation has several years of experience working with employees who have been hurt at work. We handle cases in both workers’ compensation and personal injury, giving you the advantage of industry expertise in both areas. If your workers’ compensation claim accompanies a personal injury scenario, which many do, we can represent you in both matters.

Our central mission is to provide personalized legal counsel for each of our clients. No matter what your circumstances may be, we can take the time to listen to your story. We use your personal situation to build a case that is compelling, solid, and tailored to your unique scenario. This gives you a much better chance of winning your claim in court.

No other employment lawyers have our level of experience and passion for this work. Pratt Law Corporation is your top choice for workers’ compensation representation in Redondo Beach, California.

What Is Workers’ Compensation?

Although most employees in California have access to workers’ compensation, many do not know what it is or how it works. Workers’ compensation insurance is a type of insurance plan that most employers are required to obtain. The employer pays a monthly premium, and the insurance company should cover the costs of any accidents or injuries that occur. This system is similar to home or auto insurance, which most people recognize.

Workers’ compensation protects both employees and employers from being responsible for costly medical bills after an accident. It also protects employers from being sued. If your employer has workers’ compensation insurance, you cannot sue them for personal injury.

As an employee, the aftermath of a workplace accident is not your responsibility. Your employer’s workers’ compensation plan should pay for your medical bills and time spent out of work while you heal. This is the case regardless of whether you were actually performing your job duties or not. If your behavior was within the realm of reasonable workplace behavior, workers’ compensation should cover you.

For example, you slip and fall on the way to the bathroom. If you break your arm, workers’ compensation needs to pay for your injuries. Although going to the bathroom is not a job duty, it is a normal and expected activity during the workday.

Workers’ compensation must pay for your injury even if you caused it, as long as it was a true mistake or accident. There are only three situations in which workers’ compensation is not responsible for an injury. They will not pay if:

• The victim was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident.
• The victim caused the accident on purpose to obtain money and time off.
• The victim was roughhousing or fighting and caused the injury.

In all other situations, they need to pay you for your medical bills after a workplace injury.

Insurance Company Conflicts

Insurance companies generally look out for their bottom line rather than their customers. This means that most insurance companies will go to great lengths to avoid paying for your injury. They will do so even if the accident was legitimate and falls under their realm of responsibility.

The most common tactic that insurance companies will use is leading questions and pressure on the phone. They know how to make you inadvertently admit fault for a situation, even if you are not at fault. These questions can be complicated and hard to understand. This makes it easy to accidentally waive your right to a workers’ compensation payout. These companies will also pressure you into speaking with them. They will also imply that you must do so within a certain amount of time. This is false. There is no requirement for you to speak with them directly right after your accident.

In some situations, especially those with high payouts, the insurance company will have you followed by a private investigator. This individual will track your activities and ensure that they are in line with your claim. If they observe you doing something that they believe is not conducive to your injury claim, they will make it more difficult to get your compensation.

Why Do I Need a Workers’ Compensation Attorney?

Having a workers’ compensation attorney represent you can help the claim process move more efficiently. We can speak to the insurance company on your behalf. Our experience allows us to navigate their questions and answer them without giving away your right to an insurance claim. Having an attorney protects your case and helps get you the settlement you deserve after a workplace accident.

Healing from an injury is a full-time job. As you recover, it is important that you focus on your health rather than trying to build and fight your own case. Legal matters are complicated and require a lot of time and attention. If you are healing from an injury, you do not have extra time or attention to spare. Allowing an attorney to represent you takes the pressure off you while you heal.

Your rights as an employee are essential, and you deserve to be treated properly. A workers’ compensation attorney from Pratt Law Corporation can ensure that your rights are protected.

Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation

The state of California requires all workplaces with one or more employees to have workers’ compensation insurance, with few exceptions. This means that your employer likely has insurance, and you are unable to file a personal injury claim against them for your injury. However, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against a third party if they caused the accident or were otherwise involved in it.

For example, your coworker fails to perform mandatory machinery checks. One of these machines malfunctions later and harms you. Your coworker’s negligence is directly responsible for your injury. As they are not your employer, the law does not prevent you from filing a personal injury claim against them. Doing so can allow you to get further compensation for what happened to you. This additional settlement may help you with key expenses and give you financial security while you heal.

How Much Can a Workers’ Comp Attorney Charge in California?

Unlike some other types of cases, workers’ compensation attorneys can only charge certain percentages of the settlement. A judge will set this percentage based on how complicated your case is. The judge will decide whether the attorney can charge 10%, 12%, or 15% of the settlement amount.

As with any legal scenario, it is wise to discuss finances with any potential attorneys that you interview. This helps ensure that you can afford consistent representation and feel confident moving forward.

Some firms, including Pratt Law Corporation, do not charge their clients if they do not win a settlement.

When Should I Hire a Workers’ Comp Lawyer?

You should hire a workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as you get hurt. Be sure to seek medical care right away, but contact a lawyer as soon as you are able to after your accident. If you can, avoid speaking with anyone other than your doctors and nurses about what happened. You do not want to say anything that may harm your claim.

If you must give a statement to your employer, do not add any extraneous details. Stick to the facts, and have a lawyer present if possible.

Does Workers’ Comp Pay for Pain and Suffering?

Pain and suffering are complicated aspects of many cases. It is difficult to quantify and is generally only awarded if something particularly gruesome or egregious has happened. Workers’ compensation insurance does not pay for pain and suffering. However, there are other routes to obtaining this kind of support. Personal injury claims are a great option if your circumstances allow them. You may also be able to get support through a temporary disability program.

For many years, our team at Pratt Law Corporation has been helping individuals and families recover after a workplace accident. We understand how frightening and intimidating these cases can be. This is why we offer high-quality legal services to all our clients. We are here to create a personalized plan for you and achieve the most optimal results in your workers’ compensation claim.

For more information, or to schedule a consultation, please contact Pratt Law Corporation online.