Maison Law of Turlock represents workers who have been wounded in serious on-the-job accidents. These accidents might involve a crush injury, leaving victims with debilitating injuries and unable to work. Workers’ Compensation can help, but not everyone is treated fairly. Not everyone is approved for benefits. And when patients are approved, they don’t always receive the same level of support.
Allow a Turlock Workers’ Compensation Lawyer to represent your case or a loved one’s case, and ensure the maximum in support is secured. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about your options that may go far beyond standard workers’ comp benefits.
Figuring Out If You Will Require the Help of a Lawyer
If you suffer a serious injury at work and will miss more than just a few days on the job, you may need the help of a lawyer to earn every benefit you are entitled to. A crush injury will always be a serious injury, and even life-threatening.
And at a time when you need immediate care and help just getting through the next week, insurers and Workers’ Comp administrators can try to limit what you receive. A skilled attorney is often able to force your employer and Workers’ Comp Insurance companies to take your injury and recovery seriously. Maison Law works to make sure administrators get the whole story on what you are going through and the recovery challenges you face in the future.
These are a few of the circumstances that could indicate you need a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer’s protection and negotiation skills:
- You feel Workers’ Comp administrators didn’t offer you enough for your injury
- Workers’ Comp rejected your claim unjustly, and you need to file a strong appeal
- Your employer refused to help you file your claim
- Your employer has threatened you over your Workers’ Comp claim
- Your company brings in lawyers for your case
- A loved one tragically died due to a workplace injury
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Real Turlock Workers’ Compensation Accident Attorney
You may still be wondering if your case is worth pursuing. You may also be struggling to recover from a major accident and have little time to take on your employer and Workers’ Comp insurers.
We are happy to talk over your options with you or a family member. If we can help you earn more, we can immediately begin investigating your accident and how you’ve been treated. We can then get aggressive with Workers’ Comp administrators to demand the maximum in benefits for you. We handle all the red tape and frustrating face-to-face meetings, so that you can focus on healing and getting back to work.
The Support to Demand in a Crush Injury Workers’ Comp Claim
With a crush injury, victims can end up with long-term injuries and miss weeks or months at work. The longer recovery takes, the higher medical bills go. That prolonged recovery also leads to the loss of a string of paychecks. It’s an almost impossible situation for victims to stay ahead of. Not to mention, victims will also be dealing with a difficult rehabilitation.
A Turlock Crush Injury Workers’ Comp Lawyer must work to get every dollar of support, because doctors may not even know how long a full recovery will take.
California’s Department of Industrial Relations Injured Worker’s Handbook goes over all the different types of compensation available to most workers in the state.
This is a look at some of the support victims could receive:
- Support for all medical costs now, and the estimates on care needed in the future
- Support for therapy to help you cope with pain from an injury
- Support for the cost of therapy for diagnosed PTSD, anxiety, and depression that an accident and difficult recovery may cause
- Reimbursement for a percentage of your lost income while you’ve been out of work
- Lifelong support if you suffer a permanent physical disability (e.g., permanent paralysis or an amputation)
- 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
Crush Injury Dangers at Workplaces Across Stanislaus County
Crush injuries are usually suffered when employees on the job are caught between two immovable objects. These dangers in tight spaces are often referred to as “pinch points.”
Safe Work California reports that every year in the U.S., around 125,000 workers end up hurt by “caught” or “crush” injuries. (A crush injury is caused by workers becoming entangled in machinery.)
Scary crush incidents might occur in warehouses, on farms, in work vehicle accidents, on construction sites, and in almost any place people go to work each day.
These are a few of the common activities that cause frightening crush injuries at work sites:
- Work involving forklifts
- Work in any facility with overhead hazards, such as warehouses, barns, and even storage closets
- Work in shipping terminals and loading docks, and any work done around vehicles
- Work around fast-moving machines, such as in factories and packing plants, and in vegetable fields
- Work around trash compactors and bailers
- Work in large venues with overhead lighting and speaker risks and building material risks
An employee’s body might be subjected to extreme forces. Victims can end up with shattered bones, damaged organs, internal bleeding, spinal cord injuries, and even brain injuries.
Victims may end up at the Level II Trauma Centers in Modesto or the Level I Trauma Center in Fresno.
Important Deadlines for California Workers’ Compensation Filings
You will only have 30 days to alert your employer to an injury, or likely forfeit your right to compensation. If possible, you should alert a manager or supervisor right after a crush accident, before going to the hospital if possible. Don’t assume word of your accident has reached your employer.
The second important deadline involves filing a claim with California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation. Your employer should help you file a DWC-1 Form. This form must be turned in within a year of the accident. In some cases, the one-year deadline counts down from the day you find out about your injury or illness. The deadline could be extended if the victim is under the age of 18.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive Workers’ Compensation benefits if I’m not a U.S. citizen?
Yes. In California, injured workers receive benefits regardless of their immigration status or undocumented worker status. Maison Law can help many victims secure more support for their families.
What should I do if my employer threatens me for reporting an injury and missing work?
Employers may threaten to fire you or report you to immigration authorities if you file a Workers’ Comp claim. This behavior is illegal. The employer can be fined, face criminal charges, and have to pay restitution to the victim. Maison Law would take legal action if a business owner or company resorted to threats or took retaliatory actions.
Can I earn Workers’ Comp benefits if I’m considered a contract worker?
Part-time workers and independent contractors are often covered by Workers’ Comp benefits. 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.
What if I can’t afford a Turlock Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
You can always afford the help of Maison Law if you need it. We work on a contingency basis. It means we don’t get paid unless we win your Workers’ Comp case for you. If we lose your case, you don’t owe anything. If your case is successful, you still don’t have to find the money to pay a lawyer. Our fee comes out of the support you receive from your employer’s insurance provider.
Contact a Turlock Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Reach out to Maison Law to set up a free, no-obligation consultation after you’ve suffered a crush injury while working. It’s a no-obligation, confidential way to find out what your case may be worth and how to hold your employer responsible.
Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law, continues to protect workers in the Central Valley when they are hurt in unsafe working conditions. He has years of experience taking on giant insurance companies and government agencies to make sure injured people receive what they need to rebuild their lives.
