Roseville Workers’ Compensation Attorney
If you have been recently injured in a workplace accident, you may be unsure what steps to take to protect your health and well-being. California law allows injured workers to file workers’ compensation claims so they can recover lost wages, pay for medical care, and death benefits for those who die of fatal work-related accidents.
Although California employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, they often try to deny injured workers their rightful benefits. Suppose you or a family member have suffered workplace injuries and are struggling to receive compensation. In that case, you must hire an attorney to ensure you receive the fair treatment you deserve.
The Weinberger Law Firm of Roseville, CA, has extensive experience successfully helping injured workers file compensation claims. Contact our law offices today to schedule a free initial consultation with our skilled workers’ comp attorney, who will evaluate your claim professionally.
How Does California Workers’ Compensation Help Injured Employees?
California’s workers’ compensation program allows injured workers to receive benefits from employers should they be hurt on the job. The program eliminates the need for employees to sue employers if they have been injured and pays for medical treatment and lost income.
Injured employees can seek medical care, such as doctor visits, testing, prescriptions, and medical equipment.
The benefits an injured worker may receive depend on the extent of their injuries and how long they may need to be off work.
Some essential benefits provided to injured workers include:
- Temporary disability benefits: Financial compensation provided to employees who have suffered on-the-job-related injuries. Temporary disability benefits pay a portion of the employee’s lost wages while recovering from their injuries
- Permanent disability benefits: Benefits paid to employees who are deemed to be permanently disabled and are unable to return to work
- Supplemental job displacement benefits: Benefits in the form of vouchers given to employees that pay for job retraining if they are unable to return to the same type of work they performed before being injured
Understanding what workers’ comp benefits may be appropriate for your injuries can be confusing and challenging to navigate independently. Do not hesitate to contact our law offices today to discuss your legal needs and learn how we can help.
How are Workers Compensation Benefits Decided?
One of the most common questions workers’ compensation lawyers receive concerns the difference between temporary and permanent disability benefits. Although both types of benefits are meant to help workers who have suffered on-the-job injuries or illnesses, there are distinct differences and eligibility requirements.
Temporary Total Disability Benefits
Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits are for workers who have suffered work-related illnesses or injuries. TTD benefits are calculated based on two-thirds of the injured employee’s weekly wage. As of 2024, in California, the minimum TTD benefits is $242.86, with the maximum being $1,619.15, even if two-thirds of the injured employee’s weekly wage would total more than the maximum allowed.
The doctor overseeing the workers’ comp case determines the amount of TTD benefits received by the injured worker and what the employer can do to accommodate work restrictions. Employer accommodations may include placing employees on light duty. If an injured employee can return to full-time work, their workers’ compensation benefits will likely end.
Permanent Disability Benefits
Permanent disability benefits are for workers with a lasting injury that prevents them from returning to work and earning a living. They are divided into two groups: permanent partial disability (PPD) and permanent total disability benefits (PTD). Injured workers also typically receive benefits equaling two-thirds of their weekly wage.
PPD benefits are paid based on the extent of an injury or illness for workers determined to have a permanent but partial disability. Conversely, PTD benefits are granted to workers whose injuries prevent them from ever returning to work and are paid for the rest of their lives.
Understanding how workers’ compensation benefits are determined can be confusing, especially if you are trying to focus on recovering from your injuries. Contact The Weinberger Law Firm in Roseville, CA, today to discuss your work-related injury with a qualified legal team member.
What Medical Expenses are Not Covered By Workers’ Comp?
Most employees who file claims expect that the medical expenses related to their injuries will be covered under their workers’ compensation benefits. However, this is not always the case, so knowing why specific medical bills and expenses may not be covered under workers’ compensation is essential.
Reasons why workers’ comp may deny benefits for medical expenses include:
- The claim did not contain sufficient information detailing the work injuries
- The injured employee was treated by a healthcare professional who was not on the employer’s list of approved medical providers
- The injured employee waited too long after the accident occurred to pursue medical treatment
- The employer’s accident report differs from what the employee detailed on their workers’ compensation claim
To ensure that workers’ comp covers your medical expenses, contact our experienced Roseville injury lawyer to schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help. Depending on the circumstances in the case, we can help you file an appeal where we can present medical evidence that supports your claim and ask that the costs be paid.
Why Would a Workers’ Compensation Claim Be Denied?
Aside from specific medical costs being denied, many injured workers also find their entire claim rejected. A workers’ compensation claim may be denied for several reasons, such as not filing a claim on time or being treated by an approved physician. Having a claim denied leaves injured workers scrambling to figure out how to pay living expenses and obtain medical care.
Some of the other primary reasons why a workers’ comp claim may be denied include:
- The injury or illness did not occur at work or job-related duties
- The claimant never sought medical treatment for their injury
- The claimant was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident
- The injury resulted from a pre-existing condition
- The injury was the result of horseplay or roughhousing
One of the best steps to help prevent your claim from being denied is to seek legal assistance from an attorney with a proven track record of handling workers’ compensation cases. Do not delay; contact our law offices today to schedule an appointment to review your workers’ compensation claim.
Why Do I Need to Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer to Help Me File a Claim?
As with other personal injury cases, many injured workers do not see the need to hire a lawyer to help them file a workers’ compensation claim. However, California’s law regulating workers’ compensation can be overly complex, making it challenging to understand without legal training.
One of the most significant advantages of hiring a Roseville workers’ compensation lawyer is that they can assist you with filing a claim and act as your legal advocate to protect your rights.
A workers’ compensation attorney can assist you with filling out a claim and confirm that all necessary information is included to reduce the risk of being initially denied. One of the most common reasons claims are denied is that they are incomplete or missing vital information.
Additionally, an attorney can assist you with gathering evidence that will support your workers’ compensation case or handling an appeal should your claim be denied.
Do not risk your health and livelihood trying to handle a claim alone. Instead, turn to The Weinberger Law Firm, which has comprehensive experience dealing with the California workers’ compensation system and employers.
What Makes Your Law Firm the Best Choice to Handle My Workers’ Comp Legal Needs?
The Weinberger Law Firm has a proven reputation for helping injured workers who need help filing workers’ compensation claims. Our personal injury law firm understands the legal complexities of workers’ compensation cases and knows what it takes to get results.
Since its establishment in 1991, our law firm has a long history of representing injured workers and helping them obtain the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve. If we agree to take your case, we will walk you through every step of the legal process to ensure your legal rights are protected and you feel confident about the future.
As with other legal issues, individuals who seek help filing workers’ compensation claims achieve better results than those who choose not to have legal representation. Our dedicated workers’ compensation insurance attorney and legal team never back down from a fight and are passionately committed to helping you have the peace of mind you deserve.
Contact our Roseville, CA, law offices by calling 916-619-0955 and ask to schedule a free no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal needs and how we can help.