Maison Law can help with a Workers’ Compensation case involving a serious head injury or Traumatic Brain Injury. If you have suffered a brain injury while working in Visalia or Tulare County, contact a Visalia Workers’ Compensation Lawyer for a free consultation.
Deciding When to Call a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Accident victims may not need a lawyer’s help if accidents only involve very minor injuries or a slight concussion, and only a few days missed at work. But a serious head injury can involve much more time in the hospital and in therapy. This causes a spike in medical costs and usually leaves victims missing a lot more time at work. It makes securing the maximum in weekly benefits that much more important for victims.
A lawyer can collect evidence of what you’ve been through and make sure Workers’ Comp administrators know the challenges you’ve faced and what lies ahead. This attention to detail can mean earning much more in a Workers’ Comp check and being able to count on those checks for longer…until you are fully healed.
We can often earn victims much more when their accidents involve these types of head injuries:
- Serious scalp lacerations
- Skull fractures
- Intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain or outside the skull)
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (including serious concussions)
- Penetrating wounds
The Brain Injury Association of America explains that a concussion is considered a milder form of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). However, a severe concussion can still take a year or more to heal and, in some cases, cause permanent brain damage.
These and other devastating injuries must be accurately communicated to an employer’s Workers’ Compensation insurers so that victims receive everything needed for physical and financial recovery. Victims can always file claims themselves, but an experienced attorney can often help them win more for their recoveries.
Taking Advantage of a Free Workers’ Compensation Case Consultation
Any injured worker in the Visalia and Tulare County area can contact Maison Law to speak to a real lawyer and go over their case. This no-obligation meeting is also available to the families of workplace accident victims. We can help families figure out their next steps if a victim can’t speak for themselves or has passed away due to a workplace injury.
This meeting with a Visalia Head Injury Workers’ Compensation Lawyer is completely confidential. We want to help you navigate through this difficult time, even if you find that you don’t need to hire us. We’ll go over all of your legal options. And if you do need our help, you shouldn’t worry about how Maison Law gets paid. We don’t receive anything unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the benefit check that your employer must provide.
Determining What You Should Receive in Workers’ Comp Benefits
When administrators decide what you should receive each month in benefits, they’ll have to total up everything you’ve been through. It’s up to your lawyer to also call attention to the challenges you may face in the years to come. That may include injury relapses, additional surgeries, and more lost hours on the job. You may even be forced to change careers eventually due to the needs of your injuries.
Workers’ Comp administrators have a set list of the hardships they should provide benefits for, but the question always becomes, will they provide enough each week and for as long as you aren’t fully recovered?
The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) Injured Worker’s Handbook explains what benefits factor into the checks sent to your account:
- 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 level isn’t set in stone, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive Workers’ Compensation benefits if I made a mistake at work and caused my accident and injury?
Yes, you can receive assistance, even if you accidentally caused your injury. Workers’ Comp is generally a no-fault benefit as long as you were hurt on the job. You should still be eligible for support checks unless it’s discovered that you purposely caused an accident. You may also have trouble winning support if you were impaired at the time of your injury or if you purposely ignored safety hazards.
How long can I wait to report my injury at work?
You have 30 days to inform your employer of an injury. You should alert a manager or supervisor of your accident immediately if possible. California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation must also be alerted to an accident within a year of your injury.
Could I win Workers’ Compensation benefits if I’m not a U.S. citizen?
Yes, workers in California can earn 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.
What can I do if my boss threatens to fire me if I report an injury?
Employers may threaten to fire you or demote you for filing a Workers’ Comp claim. Any threats or retaliation are illegal. The employer can be fined, face criminal charges, and be forced to pay restitution to you. Maison Law would take legal action if a business owner or company resorted to threats or took retaliatory actions.
Contact a Visalia Workers’ Compensation Attorney
A workplace accident can leave victims feeling vulnerable and fearing for their jobs. Maison Law never wants workers to feel like they’ve been abandoned.
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.
