Maison Law of California stands ready to help anyone injured while working as an order picker operator. Workers’ compensation support helps those hurt while on the job in warehouses, 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 all medical bills and support their families during recovery.
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 While Working as an Order Picker Operator?
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, an accident involving a powerful machine like an order picker often results in more serious injuries.
When your injury is more severe, like a broken arm, a deep wound, or a brain injury, medical bills will be higher and the fight to prove who was to blame becomes more complex.
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 also 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.
Your lawyer also 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.
Your Maison Law California Workers’ Compensation Lawyer fights to get 100% of medical expenses, lost wages, and rehab covered if you’re hurt at work.
Accident Dangers for California Order Pickers
With the rise of online shopping, people with the skills to operate an order picker and to gather the contents of an order quickly have become increasingly important. Forklift operators and order picker operators certified to do this work must compensated for their duties, but they also must be able to count on a safe environment to work in.
Order picker operators may work in an order fulfillment center, a warehouse, a packing plant, a stockroom, or some other setting. A stock picker machine makes it easier for employees to reach products high on shelves and pick up heavy loads much more easily.
But these machines move quickly, have protruding metal parts, and carry heavy loads. They present many different risks, especially for workers under pressure to quickly complete order pulling and package handling. Business owners and corporations can ignore safety to put profits first and end up getting a worker hurt.
These are some of the factors that can lead to scary order picker accidents involving drivers and other workers:
- Speeding order picker hitting pedestrians, coworkers
- Unsafe turn and tip-over hazards
- Unbalanced loads
- Overloaded stock pickers
- Overhead hazards, such as precariously placed products and stock
- Collapsing stack of goods
- Broken pallets
- Improperly trained driver
- Improper maintenance on order picker machines
- An order picker manufacturing flaw
Employers may deny their responsibility in an accident, and give you far less time off than you need. They could even fire you for your injury. What’s more California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation may only pay for one night in an emergency room and cover a few weeks of support while you can’t work. Unfortunately, your injury may require months in support, instead of days.
Strong legal representation can often secure much more in compensation for you than you could win yourself. If you feel a California Workers’ Compensation Lawyer can maximize the support you receive, you won’t need to worry about how you’ll afford to pay your attorney. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the support workers’ comp or your employer must pay you.
How Can a Lawyer Help Me Earn More for a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
There are several safeguards a skilled attorney provides during the workers’ compensation process. Demanding the most for your lift truck injury is just one way a lawyer can help. Victims can also need protection from their employers when they start acting unfairly and illegally.
These are only a few of the attorney’s duties:
- Protects the victim’s rights
- Investigate and collect evidence to support the victim’s claim
- Keep track of deadlines
- Files the victim’s claim correctly and list all hardships to be compensated
- Represent the victim before a workers’ compensation judge
- Negotiate for the maximum support available based on similar past cases
- Makes sure victims receive every benefit available
- Protects victims from retaliation
- Protects victims if they are fired unjustly after an injury
- Files a lawsuit against negligent employers if Workers’ Compensation support won’t be enough
- Handles this entire frustrating process while the victim is allowed to focus on healing
More information on what to do if you are hurt in a California warehouse accident.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 California Wrongful Death Attorney would explore the family’s options to hold an employer financially responsible for the tragic loss of life.
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 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 Order Picker 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. Maison Law can help untangle this mess while giving you the peace of mind to focus on healing.
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.
