Maison Law of Stockton stands ready to help anyone hurt while on the job. We can help injured employees across San Joaquin County earn the most possible through Workers’ Compensation. Not every victim is treated fairly, and not everyone receives the same amount of Worker’s Comp compensation. 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 After Suffering an Injury On The Job in Stockton?
The most important reason you’d want a lawyer to handle your Workers’ Compensation claim is the real possibility a lawyer could earn you much more in support than you could earn on your own. If you suffered a serious injury at work and lose more than a few days of work, it can pay to discuss your options with an attorney.
Higher medical expenses can tempt employers to fight harder against accepting responsibility for what happened to you. A skilled Stockton Workers’ Compensation Lawyer secures the evidence needed to hold employers accountable. Your lawyer also presents your case to Workers’ Compensation administrators and makes sure they get the facts in order to make a fair decision in your case. Your lawyer then negotiates for the most in financial support possible.
Talk to a lawyer if you feel you aren’t being treated fairly by your employer after an injury. Talk to a lawyer if you believe Workers’ Compensation won’t provide enough compensation to pay all of your hospital expenses and cost-of-living expenses while you can’t work.
The guidebook provided by The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) explains a few other reasons you may want to trust your case to a lawyer.
The Types of Workers’ Comp Cases We Help Stockton Workers Win
Stockton is a place that rarely slows down. And it’s the hard work of many employees in all different fields that keep our city, our businesses, and our services running. Local workers deserve fair pay and they should also be able to count on safe working conditions. Unfortunately, employers and corporations can put profits over safety. They may even abandon employees when they get hurt and can’t return to their duties.
Employers can even stand in the way of workers getting the help they need to recover after an on-the-job accident. They may question how you got injured and deny responsibility. Companies and corporations may delay in helping you file for support or refuse to sign off on benefits. Workers’ Compensation administrators can also provide too little in support when they only hear the employer’s side of what happened.
Maison Law attorneys take aggressive action when these obstacles arise for injured workers. These are just some of the local occupations and risks that we can help injured employees earn maximum compensation for:
- Support for injured construction workers
- Support for injured farmworkers, orchard laborers, and vineyard employees
- Support for employees in the hotel, resort, and tourism industries
- Support for injured retail workers
- Support for injured office workers
- Support for workers in manufacturing, processing, and packing plants
- Support for injured city, county, or state government employees
- Support for workers hurt by collapsing shelves and overhead hazards
- Support for workers injured in and around work vehicles like trucks, forklifts, and order pickers
- Support for those workers hurt by dangerous machinery
- Support for workers injured by dangerous and defective tools
- Support for those receiving burns and electrical shock
- Support for those developing illness and injuries due to exposure to hazardous substances
- Support for victims harmed by ventilation issues
- Support for the victims of slip-and-falls on puddles or trip-and-falls on debris left in workplace
- Support for victims hurt by unmaintained stairwells
- Support for workers hurt in falls from great heights from platforms and other dangerous spots
- Support for workers injured due to exposure to elements
- Support for workers asked to lift or carry too much weight and then developing back and neck strain
- Support for employees who develop repetitive motion injuries
Visit our website to find Workers’ Comp information for employees in specific industries.
Can I Sue My Employer After Suffering an Injury On The Job?
In most cases, you could only seek support from California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation after getting hurt in the workplace. However, if an employer causes an accident through gross negligence or tries to cover up a danger in the workplace a lawsuit is possible.
Gross negligence means that owners and operators behave so recklessly, that the accident could almost be considered intentional. A skilled Workers’ Compensation Lawyer helps you determine if you could earn more by seeking support through Workers’ Comp and also filing a lawsuit against your boss.
How Can a Lawyer Help Me Win More After a Work Injury?
Your Maison Law attorney immediately begins collecting evidence of what happened in your accident. It’s the best way to prevent employers and Workers’ Compensation administrators from using their tactics to limit the support you receive.
These are only a few of the added protections your lawyer will provide:
- Investigate and collect evidence to support your claim
- Shows that an employer’s negligence was to blame
- Keeps track of deadlines
- Files your claim correctly when the case is ready
- Lists all hardships that must be compensated
- Represents 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
At Maison Law, we want to provide you with as little disruption as possible as we handle the most frustrating parts of a Workers’ Compensation Claim. We go to work earning you the most possible for what you’ve been through while allowing you time to focus on healing.
Can a Lawyer Help Me with the QME process?
At some point in the Workers’ Compensation process, victims may have to be evaluated by a Qualified Medical Examiner (QME). A QME is selected by the Employer’s Workers’ Comp insurance provider. It’s a process that allows the insurer to determine how severe your injuries are, but it can also be a very unfair process.
When you have an attorney, you don’t have to see a QME. Your attorney and the insurers both have a say in selecting an evaluator known as an Agreed Medical Evaluator (AME). A medical evaluator that you and your lawyer have some say on can make a big difference in your case. An attorney helps you prepare for the types of questions you’ll receive and makes sure you receive an honest appraisal. Your lawyer can also help you contest any findings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer for California Workers’ Compensation if I’m not a U.S. citizen?
Yes, in some cases. Workers are eligible for support under the California Workers’ Compensation system regardless of their immigration status or undocumented worker status. Maison Law can help many victims secure more support for their families.
What types of things can earn support through a Worker’s Comp claim?
Victims can seek help with all medical bills. They can receive temporary and permanent disability benefits depending on the severity of an injury. Victims should also receive money to help pay for training and education for a new career if they are unable to return to their previous jobs.
Can an employer be held responsible if a loved one dies in a fatal accident at work?
Yes, in certain instances. Workers’ compensation provides death benefits to families left behind, but an employer could also be sued for contributing to a fatal accident in some cases. A Stockton Wrongful Death Attorney would explore the family’s options to hold an employer financially responsible for the tragic loss of life.
When should I report my injury at work?
Immediately. Alert your supervisor as soon as you are injured. If you wait longer than 30 days to inform your employer of an injury, you may lose your chance to file a claim. You can find more information on how to proceed on the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) website.
How long can I wait to file a California Workers’ Compensation injury claim?
As seen above, injured workers should report their injuries to their employers as soon as possible. Then they usually have up to one year from the date of the accident to file a claim with California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation. 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 Stockton Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
The most important outcome is that you earn the most support possible through Workers’ Compensation. A Stockton Worker’s Compensation Attorney provides the best chance to do that. Workers who are injured and who lose their ability to support their families must get every benefit possible now and in the future. Maison Law can help untangle the options and get injured workers on track to rebuild their lives and their careers.
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.
If you require our help to secure fair treatment and more in compensation, you won’t need any money to hire us. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our attorney’s fee comes out of the award your receive.
