Maison Law of Tulare stands ready to help anyone hurt while on the job. We can help injured employees across Tulare 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 victims have the money to pay all medical bills 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.
Should I Call a Lawyer After Suffering an Injury On The Job in Tulare?
If you receive a serious injury at work and miss more than a few days on the job, you may require the help of a lawyer to get fair treatment through workers’ compensation. A workplace injury like a broken bone, a back injury, or brain trauma will result in more lost time at work and higher medical bills. The escalating costs might cause employers to look for ways to avoid taking responsibility.
A skilled Tulare Workers’ Compensation Lawyer secures the evidence needed to hold employers accountable and to ensure you receive the maximum support available. Talk to a lawyer if you feel you aren’t being treated fairly by your employer after an injury. Go over your options if you believe Workers’ Compensation won’t provide enough in compensation to pay all of your hospital expenses and your 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.
Workplace Accident Dangers in Tulare
Tulare residents put in long, hard hours and they deserve to return home safe after each work shift. Some work in professions that carry elevated risks, such as construction workers and those who put in hours in factories and packing plants around heavy machinery.
Our area is made up of rich agricultural lands and farm and orchard workers put themselves in harm’s way to put food on local tables and in homes across the U.S. Some people work in local restaurants or in area office parks, but painful injuries are still possible.
Employers should pay for safety equipment and training to minimize accident risks, but some can put profits over employee safety and allow workers to get seriously hurt. Victims with broken bones or head injuries can miss weeks of work and have little chance to support their families and pay off their medical debt. Thankfully they can turn to Workers’ Compensation for help. Yet, in some cases, Workers’ Comp doesn’t provide enough in financial assistance.
The Types of Workers’ Compensation Cases We Help Clients Win
Maison Law of Tulare wants to be a safeguard for victims and earn them everything needed to rebuild their lives and careers. Sometimes a strong legal battle is necessary to make sure victims are supported for as long as necessary.
These are just some of the local occupations that can lead to injuries and leave victims seeking our help:
- Support for injured construction workers
- Support for injured farmworkers, orchard laborers, and ranch workers
- 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
There are some dangers unique to different professions. These are just a few of the types of accidents we can help victims recover maximum compensation for:
- 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.
Do I Need a Lawyer When Filing a Claim with California’s Workers’ Compensation?
You don’t have to have a lawyer when you file a Workers’ Compensation claim, but if you have a serious injury, a lawyer can often help you earn more for your recovery.
When more serious injuries are involved, cases become more complex. Employers and Workers’ Compensation administrators work harder to limit what victims receive.
It can pay to have a skilled Tulare Workers’ Compensation attorney in your corner. Your lawyer can take on any lawyers your employer hires and Workers’ Comp administrators on your behalf.
These are just a few of the ways a skilled lawyer can protect your interests and secure more for your injury claim:
- A lawyer fully investigates your accident and preserves all evidence before an employer tries to change the story
- A lawyer can represent you before a Workers’ Compensation judge to make sure the truth is heard and your recovery needs are addressed
- Your lawyer can demand the most for your injury and often secure much more for you than you could win handling the case yourself
- A lawyer can help you file a lawsuit if a negligent employer should be providing support beyond what a Workers’ Compensation provides
- A lawyer takes action if you feel you are being treated unfairly by your employer
- A lawyer takes action if you feel your employer is withholding benefits
- A lawyer takes action if an employer retaliates against you for filing a claim or tries to fire you because you were injured
- A lawyer ensures you receive lifelong support if you’ve received a permanent disability
Your lawyer offers the best chance to maximize your workers’ compensation. Calculating how much you’ll lose personally and professionally due to a major injury shouldn’t be left up to court. You can walk away from a workers’ comp hearing with much less than you need to recover physically and financially and have no way to demand more.
The guidebook provided by The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) explains some of the reasons it’s a good idea to have legal representation when filing a Workers’ Comp claim.
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.
In certain instances, families can receive Workers’ Compensation support after a loved one is killed in a workplace accident. There are death benefits for families left behind, but an employer could also be sued for contributing to a fatal accident in some cases. A Tulare Wrongful Death Attorney would explore the family’s options to hold an employer financially responsible for the tragic loss of life.
The DIR Injured Worker’s Handbook goes over all the different types of support available through a Workers’ Comp claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer for California Workers’ Compensation if I’m a union member?
Yes, in some cases. Union workers still draw from Workers’ Compensation when injured, but they also receive additional benefits through union membership. A lawyer might still make a difference in how much victims receive from Workers’ Comp and will be checking to make sure employers provide all benefits and protections that must be extended to union members.
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 in support for their families.
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.
What if I can’t afford to pay a Tulare workers’ compensation lawyer?
You can always afford the help of a skilled Maison Law attorney to help you file the strongest claim possible. 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.
Contact a Tulare Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
The most important outcome is that you earn the most support possible through Workers’ Compensation and a Tulare 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.
