Maison Law of Santa Barbara stands ready to help anyone injured while on the job. We can help Santa Barbara workers earn the most possible through Workers’ Compensation after they’ve been hurt. 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 an Injury at Work?
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. A lawyer may not be able to help you secure more from Workers’ Compensation.
However, when more serious injuries are involved, cases become more complex. Employers and Workers’ Compensation administrators also work harder to limit what victims receive. It can pay to have a skilled Santa Barbara Workers’ Compensation attorney in your corner who can build evidence in your favor and negotiate for more for you and your family.
These are just a few of the reasons you should speak to a lawyer in a free consultation:
- A lawyer can fully investigate your accident and document what happened before an employer tries to twist the facts
- A lawyer can represent you before a Workers’ Compensation judge to make sure your story 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 secure handling your case yourself
- A lawyer can help you file a lawsuit if a negligent employer should provide 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 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.
Accident Dangers for Santa Barbara Workers
Thousands of people will be hurt in work-related accidents across the state. The DIR reports that in 2023 there were around 3.5 victims per 100 workers who suffered non-fatal illness or injury in California. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) documented over 500 deadly workplace accidents in California in 2023.
Santa Barbara workers shouldn’t have to put their lives in danger as they clock in to complete their shifts. But far too often, employers don’t do everything they can to protect workers. Some jobs, like construction work or work on a farm can be dangerous enough, but employers can still fail to provide safety equipment and proper training to prevent injuries. In some cases, it’s a lack of maintenance on office buildings and stairwells that can cause a dangerous fall.
These are just some of the local occupations and risks that might force an injured employee to file a Workers’ Compensation claim:
- Business property dangers, fall hazards inside offices and outside in parking lots
- Construction dangers
- Farm and orchard work dangers
- Manufacturing plant and packing plant dangers
- Employees in the Hotel, Resort, and Tourism Industries
- Collapsing shelves and overhead hazards
- Injuries involving work vehicles like trucks, forklifts, and order pickers
- Machinery dangers
- Tool dangers
- Burns and electrical shock
- Exposure to hazardous substances
- Ventilation issues
- Unmaintained stairwells
- Slip-and-falls on puddles or trip-and-falls on debris left in workplace
- Falls from great heights
- Exposure to elements
- Back and neck strain
Injured victims without strong evidence and properly filed claims can end up with far less than they need to cover every medical bill. They might also walk away without enough to help with living expenses for their families while out of work. A skilled Santa Barbara County Workers’ Compensation Lawyer takes on the unfair system and seeks the most possible for a client’s injuries.
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 Santa Barbara 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
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 by filing a lawsuit against your boss.
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.
What if I can’t afford to pay a Santa Barbara 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.
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 Santa Barbara 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. Maison Law can help untangle this mess 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.
