Maison Law of California stands ready to help anyone injured while on the job. We can help union workers earn Workers’ Compensation support and make sure employers provide any negotiated benefits for injured workers established through a Union contract. Workers’ Compensation helps those hurt at work, but not every victim is treated fairly, and not everyone receives the same amount of support. We want to make sure every victim has the money to pay every medical bill and support their families.
Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about your options that may go beyond standard workers’ comp benefits.
Do I Need a Lawyer to Get Workers’ Compensation Benefits After Suffering an Injury on a Union Job?
If you receive only a minor injury and only miss a few days of work, you may not require the help of a lawyer to get fair treatment through workers’ compensation. However, a workplace accident that results in a more serious injury and extended medical bills may force you to fight to get all recovery costs covered.
A skilled California Workers’ Compensation Lawyer can often help you secure more for complex cases, including those that involve Union protections and higher medical bills.
The guidebook provided by The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) explains that you should consider hiring a lawyer in these and other situations:
- You believe your employer or the claims administrator is treating you unfairly or withholding benefits; or
- You have a permanent impairment/disability that limits you or causes pain; or
- You’re not sure how to proceed with your case, and no one else will help.
You should contact a lawyer if you feel you might have to file a lawsuit against your company in order to hold them accountable beyond what workers’ compensation will cover.
You can also work with an attorney to make sure an employer meets agreed-upon terms for any labor agreement involving additional support and job security for injured workers.
Maison Law fights to get 100% of medical expenses, lost wages, and rehab covered if you’re hurt at work.
Union Worker Accident Dangers in California
Workers across California keep local businesses and city and state services running properly. In some cases, those workers form unions to guarantee fair pay and treatment. Union protections also kick in when members get hurt on the job and need support to cover medical bills and lost paychecks. Union assurances also mean workers don’t have to worry about losing their jobs if they are out of work for weeks or months.
When they get hurt on the job, Union Workers are also entitled to their fair share of Workers’ Compensation benefits. Unfortunately, not everyone receives the same level of support, and fighting for what’s right is often the only way to get all medical bills covered. It’s only fair when workers are injured while sacrificing so much for their employers and companies.
These are just a few of the professions that can leave Union Members in need of fast and complete assistance during recovery:
- Teachers
- State Employees
- Farmers
- Cannery Workers
- Packing Workers
- Processing Plant Workers
- Sheetmetal Workers
- Courtroom Clerks
- Warehouse and Longshore Workers
- Teamsters Unions representing careers such as police, truck drivers, and pilots
- Hotel Workers
- Engineers
- Construction Workers
- Nurses
- Firefighters
- Miners
- Factory Workers
A skilled Workers’ Compensation Lawyer can help victims seek compensation and also ensure that Union Members get the added benefits their labor agreements guarantee.
Can a Lawyer Help Me Earn More for a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Workers’ Compensation protects all workers in California, but not all workers will receive the same level of support. The amount on a settlement check you receive can vary greatly depending on the evidence you present, your negotiating skills, and many other factors.
Some cases are decided by a Workers’ Compensation judge and your ability to accurately explain and show documentation for the hardships you’ve been through will affect how much that judge awards.
Allowing a skilled attorney to handle this process can often help you walk away with much more for your injury. A California Union Worker Injury Lawyer won’t let you miss out on benefits that you may not have been informed of. Your lawyer also acts when your employer’s lawyers try to blame you for an accident or question how badly you are hurt.
These are only a few of the added protections your lawyer will provide:
- Protects your rights
- Investigate and collect evidence to support your claim
- Collecting proof that an employer’s negligence was to blame
- Handling cases involving Workers’ Comp and Union benefits that can lead to more complex negotiations
- Keeping track of deadlines
- Files your claim correctly when a case is properly prepared
- List all hardships that must be compensated
- Represent the victim before a workers’ compensation judge
- Negotiate for the maximum support available based on similar past cases
- Makes sure you receive every benefit available
- Protects you from retaliation by your employer
- Protects you if you are fired unjustly after an injury
- Holds employers to the strong protections included in your union contract
- Handles this entire frustrating process while you are allowed to focus on healing
Winning Compensation for Injured California Union Workers
Your attorney would be negotiating for the maximum in support for your physical damages and the financial crisis that missing work can cause. The employer would also be obligated to provide additional benefits promised to union members.
Union benefits could include things like:
- Higher compensation rates
- Medical coverage that lasts longer
- Job protection while injured workers are recovering
- Some unions also provide additional benefits for families who lose loved ones to tragic workplace accidents
Your lawyer works on your claim to make sure it includes every hardship you’ve suffered during your recovery. That can include any medical care that may be necessary in the years to come. This is a critical step because anything you leave off your claim would be something the California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation could ignore. Anything you don’t report becomes a bill your family must cover.
Workers’ Compensation support would also be available to workers suffering from injuries:
- Support for every healthcare bill you receive. This includes the physical therapy and additional surgeries you could require in the future. The medical equipment you depend on and the medication you’ll need should also be covered.
- Money to support yourself and your family while you miss work. This is financial support to replace paychecks and benefits you lose while you can’t perform your job duties. Known as Temporary Disability Benefits.
- Workers’ Compensation benefits for patients if you don’t recover completely and your injury causes a permanent loss of physical or mental function that a doctor can measure. Known as Permanent Disability Benefits.
- Support to family members if a loved one is tragically killed on the job. Death benefits can be awarded to children, stepchildren, and a spouse. In some cases, grandchildren, parents, and siblings could all be eligible. This support could rise to over $300,000 for multiple family members to divide.
- Support to help you find a new job if necessary. Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit provides money to help pay for retraining or skill enhancement if you are eligible to receive permanent disability benefits, your employer doesn’t offer you work, and you don’t return to work for your employer.
The DIR Injured Worker’s Handbook goes over all the different types of support available through a claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I can’t afford to pay a California workers’ compensation lawyer?
You can always afford the help of a skilled Maison Law attorney. We work on a contingency fee basis. It means we cover all upfront costs and you owe us nothing unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the workers’ compensation check you receive.
How much does a worker’s compensation lawyer earn?
If successful, the lawyer would usually receive between 9% and 15% of the award the client received. The complexity of the case would usually determine the exact fee. This can hinge on whether an employer accepts responsibility or if fault will need to be proven through investigation and evidence collection. A Workers’ Compensation judge checks over the fee to determine if it’s fair and has to approve it. Make sure to ask your potential attorney about how much they charge and how they get paid before making a hire for your case.
How long can I wait to file a California Workers’ Compensation injury claim?
Injured workers usually have one year from the date of the accident to file a claim. In some cases, the one-year deadline counts down from the day the worker learns of an injury or illness. The deadline could be extended if the victim is under the age of 18.
Contact a California Union Worker Accident Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
The most important outcome is that the injured and those who lose their ability to support their families get the full support they require for as long as necessary. Deciding which legal option is right for your situation can be difficult, but you don’t have to make the decision alone. Some injured workers may be eligible for Workers’ Compensation and Union benefits. Maison Law can help untangle this mess.
There’s an easy way to find out which path offers you the fastest route to the support you and your family desperately need. Speak to Maison Law in a free, no-obligation consultation. We want to hear about what happened to you and then help you determine the best course of action for your family.
