Maison Law of Turlock represents workers who have suffered Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) on the job. Workers may have been left to pay their own medical bills and stress over the paychecks they’ve had to forfeit. Workers’ Compensation can help, but not everyone is treated fairly, and not every patient receives the same level of support.
Allow a Turlock Workers’ Compensation Lawyer to represent your case and ensure you receive the maximum support as you recover. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about your options that may go beyond standard workers’ comp benefits.
Determining If You Need a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
If you suffer a serious injury at work and will miss more than just a few days on the job, it’s a good idea to go over your accident and your case with a skilled attorney. A brain injury beyond a minor concussion would likely be a case that would turn out better with Maison Law’s help.
These are a few of the circumstances that could indicate you need a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer:
- Your case will require a lot of investigation and evidence gathering at your place of work
- You feel Workers’ Comp administrators didn’t offer you enough for your injury
- Your Workers’ Comp benefits will run out before you are fully healed and can pay all of your bills
- Workers’ Comp rejected your claim unjustly, and you need to file a strong appeal
- Your employer has threatened you over your Workers’ Comp claim
- Your company brings in lawyers for your case
Your attorney takes action and makes sure administrators hear your entire story and what you’ve been through. Maison Law wants to make sure they know about everything you’ve been through after your accident, so Workers’ Comp can make a fair decision on the size of your benefits check.
Determining What You Should Receive in Workers’ Comp Benefits
The severity of your injury, the level of medical bills built up, and the time you miss at work would usually be the best indicators of what you can hope to earn in a settlement.
These are a few of the factors that must be considered when determining the size of a settlement check:
- Medical costs paid for by your employer’s Workers’ Compensation insurer
- Support for therapy to help you cope with pain from an injury
- Support for diagnosed PTSD, anxiety, and depression that an accident and difficult recovery may cause
- A percentage of your missed paychecks replaced
- Lifelong support if you suffer a permanent physical disability (e.g., a permanent cognitive issue like memory loss, or difficulty making decisions)
- Support to help you retrain for a new career if your injury leaves you unable to perform your previous job duties
- Death benefits for families who lose a loved one to a workplace accident
This support is never guaranteed, and workers with very similar injuries can come home with very different benefit levels. In many cases, it’s up to a skilled attorney to force Workers’ Comp insurers to look at the whole picture with your case, including potential injury complications, leaving victims in need of support for longer.
The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) Injured Worker’s Handbook explains more about the options for victims.
Traumatic Brain Injury Dangers at Work
A Traumatic Brain Injury results from a blow to the head that interferes with the function of the brain.
A TBI might result from one of these hazards in an office or worksite:
- Blunt force trauma caused while working around fast-moving machinery at a factory or around farm equipment
- A collision involving a work vehicle, like a truck, a forklift, or an order-picker
- A slip-and-fall on a stairwell or in an office hallway, with victims striking their heads on the floor or on a sharp edge
- A fall taken on a stairwell or from a great height in a barn or warehouse
- A falling overhead object
- An explosion caused by a chemical or fuel buildup.
The brain’s ability to process information, recall important facts, and control body parts might be disrupted for injured workers.
Research from USC shows that a TBI can leave behind changes in the victim’s brain structure that are similar to the effects of Alzheimer’s. Workers can have trouble remembering how to perform their work duties. They might have trouble focusing and struggle with making important decisions while on the clock.
Victims may try to wave off the injury and work through their dazed thoughts and blurry vision. But they can allow a serious problem to get worse when not visiting the ER at Emanuel Center. Victims should worry about their safety first, and not the cost of care. In most cases, Workers’ Comp insurers will have to cover these health expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I earn Workers’ Comp benefits if I’m considered a contract worker?
California allows part-time workers and independent contractors to earn Workers’ Comp benefits in some cases. If you’ve been seriously hurt, but aren’t a full-time employee, it’s a good idea to talk over your eligibility with a Stanislaus County Workers’ Comp Attorney in a free, confidential case consultation.
Could I win Workers’ Compensation benefits if I’m not a U.S. citizen?
You don’t have to be a citizen to earn Workers’ Comp benefits. Workers receive benefits regardless of their immigration status or undocumented worker status. Maison Law can help many victims secure more support for their families. We also take quick action if an employer illegally threatens to report an employee to immigration authorities if they file an injury claim.
How long can I wait to report my injury at work?
Try to alert your employer immediately. If you must leave for the hospital, make sure to alert a manager about what happened. If you wait longer than 30 days to inform your employer of an injury, you may lose your chance to file a claim. California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation must also be alerted to an accident within a year of it happening. This notification would usually be handled by the employer, but you should double-check that it’s being taken care of.
What if I were clumsy or careless at work and partially caused my accident and injury?
Workers’ Compensation benefits are “no-fault.” It means you can usually receive help no matter who caused the accident.
Contact a Turlock Workers’ Compensation Attorney
A workplace accident can leave victims feeling powerless and alone. Maison Law never wants workers to feel like they’ve been abandoned.
Workers who suffer serious brain injuries on the job should receive full support as soon as possible. They need to focus on healing and returning to work, and not on their bills. Maison Law is often able to pay these bills by securing much more in a claim than they could usually win themselves.
Reach out to Maison Law to set up 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.
We also understand that families who have medical bills to pay and are dealing with lost paychecks won’t usually have the money to hire a lawyer. That’s okay. Maison Law doesn’t ask for any payment up front. We only get paid if we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the benefits insurance companies are forced to provide.
