Maison Law of California stands ready to help anyone injured at a warehouse while on the job. Workers’ compensation support 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 After Suffering an Injury at a Warehouse?
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, especially those involving higher healthcare expenses.
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 should consult with an attorney if you feel that by handling your case yourself, you won’t secure enough in compensation to cover all of your recovery expenses. Your lawyer offers the best chance to maximize your workers’ compensation settlement check.
Maison Law fights to get 100% of medical expenses, lost wages, and rehab covered if you’re hurt at work.
Warehouse Accident Dangers and Workers’ Compensation Claims
Warehouses are such dangerous places because they are often packed to the stacked high with goods and they can be very busy places. Warehouses may be major centers of operations for packing houses, trucking facilities, processing plants, manufacturing plants, farms, orchards, and in nearly every other industry.
Employees are expected to move products quickly and often in close proximity to other coworkers. There are also machines with fast-moving parts in use and small vehicles used to move loads to bigger vehicles.
There are plenty of opportunities for injury. Yet, when employers begin to focus on profits instead of safety, the injury risk will multiply.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that in 2022 there 50 tragic deaths reported in warehouse accidents. That was a spike from the 46 deaths recorded the year before. In 2022, there were 5.5 cases of illness or injury per 100 full-time warehouse workers across the nation.
These are just a few of the ways victims can get hurt:
- Falling object injuries
- Falls from walkways, platforms, and stairs
- Forklift Accidents
- Pallet jack and electric straddle stacker accidents
- Broken pallet injuries
- Collapse injuries
- Baler injuries
- Exposure to hazardous substances
- Shock hazards
- Muscle and
- Repetitive Motion Injuries
Victims could suffer broken bones, crush injuries, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), and long-term neck and back issues. And around such and the loss of life. A Maison Law attorney helps victims and their families seek justice after such a frightening accident. We demand support for the immediate costs that victims face, and for the care that could be needed months or years from now due to a serious injury.
California Workers’ Compensation judges may not award everything families need if they don’t hear of the effects injuries have on victims and the victims’ ability to support their families. Maison Law makes sure judges understand the true extent of an injury and seek as much in support as possible on the victim’s behalf.
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 collect and the manner in which you file your claim.
Some cases are decided by a Workers’ Compensation judge and your ability to accurately explain and document 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 Warehouse 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
- Proving that an employer’s negligence was to blame
- Keep 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
- Handles this entire frustrating process while you are allowed to focus on healing
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. A Workers’ Compensation judge checks over the fee to make sure 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.
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.
Contact a California Warehouse 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.
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.
