San Fernando Valley Workers’ Compensation Lawyers in Southern California
The Law Offices of Sef Krell has over 20 years of experience representing employees in Los Angeles County and throughout Southern California in workers’ compensation claims. If you have been hurt on the job, or suffer from a work-related disability or illness, we can help you.
California Workers’ Compensation Benefits Overview
California law requires employers to pay workers’ compensation benefits to employees when they are injured or become ill due to work. California’s workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, which means that you do not need to prove that your injury was caused by another person in order to receive benefits, and you may be entitled to compensation even if you were at fault in the incident that led to your injuries. Workers’ compensation insurance provides the following six basic benefits:
- Medical care – Medical care benefits are provided to help you recover from an injury or illness caused by your work.
- Temporary disability benefits – Workers’ comp provides payments for lost wages if your injury prevents you from working.
- Permanent disability benefits – If you are permanently and totally disabled from all types of employment, and not merely from the position that you held before your injury, you may be eligible for permanent total disability benefits, as well as Social Security disability benefits.
- Vocational rehabilitation – For employees injured before 2004, vocational rehabilitation benefits cover job placement counseling and possibly retraining if you are unable to return to your previous job and the employer does not offer other work.
- Supplemental job displacement benefits – For employees injured in 2004 or later, these vouchers help pay for retraining or skill enhancement if you do not completely recover and do not return to work for your employer.
- Death benefits – Payments to the employee’s spouse, children, or other dependants upon the death of an employee.
Seek Immediate Help with Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim
Within one working day of when you report your injury or illness, your employer must give or mail you a Workers’ Compensation Claim Form. It is important to carefully read all of the information that comes with the claim form, and then fill out and sign the “employee” portion of the form. Fully and accurately describe your injury and include every part of your body affected by the injury. Upon giving the completed form to your employer, you have officially “filed” your claim.
The workers’ compensation claim process can be slow and confusing if you do not know exactly what documentation and reporting is necessary to support your claim. It is important to completely and accurately provide supporting information in order to avoid having your claim questioned, delayed, or denied.
Contact an Experienced San Fernando Valley Workers’ Comp Attorney for Help
The attorneys at the Encino Law Offices of Sef Krell can help you with your workers’ compensation claim, as well as assess whether there may be a separate personal injury claim for third party liability for your injuries. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
